For my Spanish class, we were given an assignment to write an argumentative paper. I've been trying to come up with a topic, and today I suddenly thought that 'Why Feminism Still Matters' or 'Why We Still Need Feminism' would be great for it!
The problem is this: I'm essentially still a "baby feminist", and while I have some ideas for points to discuss, I'm worried I may be missing some important ones - I'm reading Jessica's "Full Frontal Feminism" right now, but haven't gotten very far in it yet.
Here are the ones I've thought of so far:
- the rape epidemic
- the wage gap
- statistics for eating disorders in girls + the image of the "ideal woman" pushed by mainstream media
What am I missing?
Are there any sites, articles, etc. you would recommend for me to look at?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions! :)
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Please don't ever believe that just because you're a relative newcomer to Feminism that your voice doesn't matter as much as others. People like you are vitally important. Use the works of others, certainly, but take them to form your own views and add to the wealth of information so that we might all be enriched in the process.
I'm not sure how extensive your assignment is, but if it were mine to write and I was new to the field, I'd read a second-wave tract like The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan as a means of discerning how much progress we may or may not have made in fifty odd years, and then read a more current publication by means of contrast. I have always been a big fan of Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy.
I'm sure others will have helpful sources as well.
Good luck.
I really REALLY loved Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy, so I just want to second that. It's a really fast read, and she spends a lot of time talking about the history of the movement, as well as addressing current problems that we as Feminists face. Also, I will warn you, that if it is not an extensive assignment, delving into The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan is a huge task, especially if you're doing it solo.
Honestly, if it's a small assignment, just following the news and the feminist blog sites: feministing.com, http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/, http://reproductiverights.org/ (just to name a few...check ads on each of the sites, many feminist bloggers guest write elsewhere or feature ads on sister sites). By reading those sites, you'll have more than enough info from current events: just by talking about recent violence against women (Rihanna just spoke out about her abuse on the news... and did an awesome job taking responsibility for her role as a role model even though only 20 yrs old), the Stupak amendment and the whole health care debate (check out http://www.awomanisnotapreexistingcondition.com/), and a report just came out and was addressed this morning (Mon, Nov. 23) on Democracy Now, about how climate change disproportionately affects women in the Third World (you can download it on itunes podcasts, or look up their website).
So hopefully that helps to get you started. I tried to focus on small stuff (articles and websites) because I know starting several books can be intimidating, especially if you don't know what direction you're trying to go. Nothing beats comprehensive arguments that come from literature, but you'll find other book recommendations on a lot of those sites. OH! Don't forget to check out bell hooks, and make sure you look up some info for other feminists of color--it forces you to see POWER (be it white, male, colonial, imperial etc) as an entity, not just gender.
GOOD LUCK!
Thank you so much!
I'll definitely have to check out "Female Chauvinist Pigs" - it sounds like a lot of people are recommending it.
Not to turn this into "What about teh menz?!" but you could also throw in a little something about how feminism isn't just about women, but men too. Not as the whole paper, but as a more encompassing complement to a larger subject.
For example, how the Madonna/whore complex and the idea that girls sleep around or have sex because they're insecure doesn't just paint women to be stupid, supplicating balls of insecurity, but it also means that all those guys who are "getting some" aren't getting it because they're attractive or confident - it's because those women are just oh so desperate. The idea is that if it weren't for that, those men wouldn't have the skills to get a lady to consent.
Personally, I'm most fascinated by the Madonna/whore complex, which is why I brought it up. And it also depends on your teacher and how feminist they are/aware of what feminist means.
i think using your own experiences can help you a lot too. Why do YOU still need feminism? What misogyny have you encountered in your daily life?
congratulations on being a feminist. You have a lot going for you and you should remember that everyone's voice counts as long as its loud and proud. I'd second reading the feminine mystique as well as Female Chauvinist Pigs. I would also recommend packaging girlhood and where the girls are, even if you do not need to use them for the assignment. The power of the written word is an amazing thing and one people do not often recognize. I would say that a key issue that you missed is bodily autonomy. That covers health care (including reproductive rights) and sexual freedom (meaning we can say yes or no whenever we feel like it for whatever reason). Good luck on your paper. I hope your teacher is willing to listen to what you have to say.
Thanks, I hope so too! Based on some of the things we've discussed in the class over the last few weeks I think she'll be receptive :)
It's a Spanish class? If you're looking for something Spanish-language specific, do some reading on maquiladoras and the Juarez murders. They tie together both sexism in the workplace and violence against women.
For me, it seems like feminism is still relevant because the easy part is over, in a way--we've gotten most of the sweeping, systemic changes needed. What's left is the more insidious, individual and cultural issues that can't be addressed by such broad-reaching measures. The culture that got us to needing feminism in the first place isn't dead yet, and I think that's largely where we're at. We need to get people to realise that just because legally, women are equal, doesn't mean that in society we are actually treated as equals. Laws may not curtail us the way they used to, but society still does.
Political representation seems to have been missed, represetation of women in the media
How about access to affordable birth control?
Or access to paternity leave or family medical leaves. Taking leave to take care of a new child or a sick family member can serious hurt your career in some places, whether you are a man or a woman. Women do the majority of caretaking, so this issue affects them disproportionately.
Some of my "faves"
-the wage gap and how it persists (and sometimes increases) with more education.
-the division of labor in most homes--research clearly shows that when women have full-time jobs, they still do the majority of domestic chore and child care.
-the current health care debate has revealed that many think that women have "extra parts" and should pay more. Can you imagine a roomful of mostly women discussing how the male reproductive system has "extras" and they should pay more!?!
-the over-representation of women (young women especially) as victims of violent crimes, sexual assualt, child abuse, and incest.
-the emphasis on attractiveness and all the media that informs women how to look younger, prettier,etc (BTW--I didn't know that my forehead shouldn't have creases until Botox began its marketing campaign.
-the over-representation of women in poverty.
I could go on but it's getting depressing...