What is Feminism?
According to Mrs. Chancey, the meaning of Feminism is
1. The theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
2. Organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests
In Mrs. Chancey's article, she noted that there are 3 waves in Feminism.
The first wave are the "equity feminists" which women's seek to promote have equal treatment in the society.The second wave are which women's hope that there is no line between women and men. However, in nowadays, we can see the third wave of feminism. Women tend to be not so conservative than previous time. As one third-wave feminist Amy Richards of feminist.com writes that,
There are many definitions of what a feminist is--the simplest and probably the best is what is listed in most dictionaries--"a person who believes in the full equality of women and men." This means anyone--male or female--who supports this idea can be a feminist. As for [the] goal of feminism, [it] is equality--and that means both that women do what men have done (be fire fighters and corporate executives) and that men do what women have done (be stay-at-home fathers and secretaries).
From that, we know that in nowadays, the role of women and men can be switch. As women can play the men role in the society that we can see women can form their own business, getting more respect in the society. In otherwise, men can play the rose of women as a "housewife" staying at home and taking care of their children.
Resources: : http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/LAF_Theme_Articles_13/What_Is_Feminism_61006.shtml
I found a book "Approaches to understanding visual culture" by Malcolm Barnard from The One Academy's library probably can be use in my essay. Inside the book, I have picked the chapter of Feminism: Personal and Political that Bernard has discuss.
The visual culture means ‘the visual field has begun to be explored with thoroughness and global understanding unique in the history of human self-reflection’
In the chapter, Barnard gave an example of the book of As Long as it's Pink: The Sexual Politics of Taste Illustrates author , Sparke connect her personal experience over the last thirty year to class and gender structure . She said the popular culture such as fashion had provided variety of styles which she could refer to and form her own personal style of dressing.
Barnard wrote down there are two assumption of the women role in media. The first assumption is that, the primary role of women as they are the domestic service to husband, children and home. As Sparke note that it's the division on the sexual of labour. The role of men and women diverse in a clear line that men are usually do not do housework however the women does which it can be link to what Mrs. Chancey noted of the first wave of feminism . In advertising, designers assume that women are the sole user of home appliances. However in the second assumptions, that domestic appliances make women's live easier.
Bernard note that,
Advertising stereotypes women as ‘mother ,cleaners,cooks,and nurses’. It also portrays idealized and ‘fantasy’ version of femininity –‘ the immaculate designer kitchen with superwomen in control’, balancing the roles of career woman and perfect wife.
However, he also noted that,
Women wearing these fashions are not passively
receiving and consuming the meanings of the clothes they wear. Nor are they
using fashion to express an already-existing class or gender identity. Instead.
They are constructing their own versions of femininity and class identity from
the styles that are available.
References:
Found the Barnard that discuss of the feminism and I've copy some points that may help inside my essay.
Chancy. (2011) What Is Feminism?. [Online] Available at: http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/LAF_Theme_Articles_13/What_Is_Feminism_61006.shtml [Accessed: 14 June 2013].
Found this article very useful that helps me understand more of feminism that have 3 movements in the pass.
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