The term Post feminism has been around for decades now and implies to many that the fight for women’s equal rights is over and their aims have been achieved.
Equal pay, top jobs, and a sizable portion of women in parliament are just a few of the endeavours accomplished.
Definitions Not Certain
The arguments vary. Some supporting the thesis but many others adamant that a lot more action is needed. But the debate is not to be that simple as the definition of post and feminism are still in question.
The term ‘post’, as in postmodern and postmarxism, implies to many an end to a certain era and the beginning of a new one. However feminists such as Maria Damon say this is not necessarily the case and it would be better to view it as continuum with a revision of the original concepts. She prefers the term third wave.
Others point out that past feminisms were the domain of middle class white heterosexual women and that the term should be extended to include ethnicity, gender, and other classes. As these social groups still do not benefit from the gains of those women.
For example working class women do not generally gain empowering employment and it is the capitalist system that creates their inequality.
Feminism Misunderstood
Another reason why the postfeminist notion may be flawed is that the popular conception of feminists is largely a media interpretation and a lot of women see it as too radical and anti-men.
As the term is generally misunderstood it could be said that women’s rights are still an issue to be resolved. As author Natasha Walter says, young girls are being sexualised not liberated.
She says that young women of today can be much more that just bodies. She is critical of the pornography industry saying it has violent undertones and that young women are not exploring human relationships.
Equal Rights Still an Issue
Equality activists in the art world, ‘The Guerrilla Girls’, state that women’s equality still has a long way to go. They point out that female artists are still paid less than their male counterparts and get far less recognition.
Feminist writer Deb Morgolin also does not think that the feminist cause is over. She thinks that there is a lack of interest due to today’s women taking for granted past feminist achievements, things like sex discrimination and women gaining access to medical school. She said “I don’t buy post feminism at all.”
Maria Damon explains that the term ‘post’ does not necessarily mean a rupture with the past she calls it revisionism.
To these critics the feminist struggle goes on for full recognition of women’s equal rights. A struggle that some say has been fought for longer than is commonly thought.
Feminism's Long History
In the online magazine ‘Herstoria’ the history of feminism is traced right back to the 15 century. They found that women scholars were calling for girl’s education in Europe. Also Italian writer Christine De Pizan wrote books about great women of the past.
They cite Mary Wollestonecraft’s book ‘A vindication of the Rights of Women’ written in the 1700’s And show how the struggle has led to many reforms such as the right to vote in 1914 and the equal pay act.
The argument goes that feminism is not over because there are new struggles for other socio/economic groups, such as working class women, and races, and genders. It is said that sexual liberation is an extremely narrow freedom.
Young girls need to look at what has been gained in the past and fight for new causes such as changing men’s attitudes and develop a better understanding of human relationships.
Sources: altx.com
thescotsman.scotsman.com
hersstoria.com
Gerald Gilbert - Though coming late into writing I have been a freelance journalist since qualifying on a home study course with a distinction. I have been ...
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