Define feminism, and give your opinion on feminism?

Answer 1

Feminism is a movement that originated with the fight for women's right to vote in the 1850's in the United States. Until the 1960's not much had changed since women did get the vote in 1920; women didn't have the right to retain control of their property if they married; it was difficult for women to get a divorce; women didn't have access to reliable birth control; women were laughed at when they asked for safety from a partner who beat them or threatened to kill them; in many states, it was ok to rape your wife, since they were a husband's "property". Rape was considered a joke by police; it wasn't even investigated unless the woman was "upper-class". No one even mentioned incest, since children were also male "property".

So I think feminism has done US women a world of good. Here's one example of what feminists have had to deal with in the state I live in, North Carolina. I remember in the late 1980's, a woman was raped by her estranged husband (he tied her to a tree in a wilderness area and raped her over a number of days; she was almost dead by the time she got away from him) but the police couldn't do anything about it since the laws on the books said a woman couldn't be raped by her husband-she was his property. We had state representatives who agreed that women couldn't be raped by their husbands since the women were "required" to consent to their "husband's advances". (I pity their wives). Anyway, in the 80's and 90's it took a ton of work by feminists to get a law passed in NC that husbands who raped their wives could be prosecuted by the police. I've only heard the law used in NC since when a woman has been abducted by her ex or estranged husband who raped and tried to kill her...until this law was enacted, a man could rape his wife to stop the divorce process as well. If a woman separated from her husband, to get a divorce, she couldn't have sexual contact with him for a year. If her husband raped her in that year, that counted as "sex" and her year of separation started over...so sicko soon-to-be-ex-husbands would rape their wives and make sure the divorce couldn't go through...I found this out when this "strategy" was being used as well.

Answer 2

It's a broad movement (no pun intended), so it's difficult to give a general thumbs up or down about it. I'd at least say that feminism is a means to an end. Many in the movement would stress that the goal is equality, and since women are still behind in many areas, then any elevation of women's rights would be a step in the right direction of equality. However, if equality is truly the goal, then what about the excesses of feminism? What happens when men are treated unfairly? If equality is really the goal, then we should see feminists fight against all unfairness--even toward men, right? When this doesn't happen, I have a negative opinion of it.

Answer 3

Someone very near and dear to my heart changed my views on "feminism" forever. I was raised by conservatives who taught me that feminism was evil, but I have since learned that, in a nutshell, feminism is merely the support of truly treating women equally with men while still celebrating the differences between them.

I think that there are some people who use the label incorrectly...just as there are some republicans who are @$$ holes, there are some feminists who are @$$ holes. That doesn't mean that either Republicanism or Feminism is bad.

Feminism, defined as I have defined it, is the defense of women's inalienable right, endowed to them by their creator, to be free of discrimination, and to be treated equally.

I'm amazed at how the conservative Christian movement finds itself at odds with feminism. How does one reconcile this with Gal 3:28?

Answer 4

Feminism is the idea that women make a valuable contribution to society, and should be entitled to all the same legal rights and compensations as men.

Like so many other wonderful ideas, feminism has been corrupted over time, twisted to suit personal agendas.

Some of the postivie achievements of the feminist movement are: We can vote, we can attend the college of our choice, we can hold public office. We can earn a paycheck and spend it as we choose, rather than hand it over to our husbands. We can choose whether and when we want to have children . One hundred years ago, NONE of those choices were available to women.

Some of the negative outcomes of the feminist movements are: 1) increased stress, resulting from a woman feeling she HAS to balance career and family, when in reality she has a CHOICE; and 2) increased teen pregnancy and increased incidence of STDs, resulting from the sexual liberation of women. With freedom comes responsibility, and our young people are enjoying the freedom without accepting the responsibility.

Answer 5

Feminism is meant to be defined as equlaity for females yet that objective has already been acheived yet feminism continues to be here......... So i assume a team that tries to do as much because it could to learn females could a in demand definition

Answer 6

feminism is a term used by capitalist to get more work force at the costs of destrcution of social balance and family.

Answer 7

it's destroying our society, the family as the base of every society....... women and men have the same rights but are not equal.... if we all have the same rights, girls should be called for military service just like in other countries........ feminists only want rights, but not duties.

Answer 8

While most people will say it's the belief that men and women are equal, it goes beyond that.

Feminists tend to believe that there are no biological differences between male and female--they're wired the same--when it's not the case. They also believe that gender roles are social constructs, which goes back to them denying said biological differences.

I think feminism is harmful to society. To a feminist, to be "equal" a woman has to act like a man...which is more or less "admitting" that men are superior (which they're not).

There is nothing wrong with women acting feminine and pleasing their husbands. It's not slavery.

Answer 9

Hmm, feminism to me? Anything associated with what's "appropriate" for females...how vague of me. A woman who is in touch with her female characteristics and isn't afraid to show it. Like sensitivity, make-up, their walk, flirtatiousness...basically the way they carry themselves and the way they speak. I'm a tomboy and feminine when I want to be. GIRLY!!! Feminism could be seen in a gay man for example.

Answer 10

women get everything..men have to shut their trap. tie goes to the woman every time. if the man is in the right..well the woman wins anyway because of past discretions by men generations ago...men just have to deal. women can do whatever they want..if men ever complain about moral indiscretions..they are suppressing women's freedom's..... it's a great system