Feminism
United States of America is known for supporting feminism over a long period of time now. Feminism is made up of movements and ideologies with the main objective of defining, defending and establishing a state that advocates for equal political, cultural, economic and social rights of women. Feminism mainly supports women empowerment. The reason for the development of feminism was as a result of gender inequality where women were being down looked. As a result, women were unable to get important positions in politics as well as in social and economic classes. Therefore, United States of America came up with feminism so as to empower women and put them in the same social status as men.
The United States of America has been supporting feminism strongly and the efforts of the United States to support feminism are always seen and felt worldwide. United States is working on building up a nation where all the people are treated equally in all social classes that is, the political, social and the economic social classes. History shows us how women were treated as low class people even in the past. Feminism in the United States of America aims at placing women in the same level with men.
According to social conflict theory, which was developed by a Germany philosopher known as Karl Marx, the society is a place characterized by inequality thus resulting to conflicts in the society and social change. According to this theory, there are always conflicts in societies associated with gender, sex, and social status or class. As a result, the society ends up having people which are more superior to others. Feminism also relates to social conflict theory in that it is collection of ideologies and movements which support women empowerment. The aim of feminism in the United States of America in to ensure that there is gender equality, that is, women be treated bin the same way as men.
Development of feminism in the United States
Feminism in the United States of America developed step by step until it became powerful. Feminism in the United States of America is many times categorized into first-wave feminism, second-wave feminism and third-wave feminism. These categories show how feminism developed in the United States of America. United States is ranked as one of the top countries in the world that advocates for gender equality.
United States strong support for feminism has definitely contributed greatly to a high level of gender equality in the United States. Let's look at the first wave of feminism. First wave of feminism was started by Seneca Falls Convention which was the first convention of women rights. The convention was conducted at a chapel in Seneca Falls known as Wesleyan which is located in New York. This was on the year 1848 on July 19 and 20. This convention was inspired by an anti-slavery convention which was held in London and in this London convention women were not allowed to participate. This was seen as gender discrimination against women (Fernandes, 2013).
The women who were denied access to the anti-slavery convention in London were delegates from the United States. They were not allowed to participate in the convention simply because they are women. The Seneca Falls convention aired several grievances which were aimed at fighting for equality of women and men (Omi & Winant, 2014). Some of the grievances included access of women to education, professional careers as well as be granted the right to vote. Just after the Seneca Falls convention was held, another convention followed which also held in New York. The convention was named woman rights convention. The convention was crystal clear that its main aim was to for the rights of the women.
The women's suffrage movement which had started at the same time with the Seneca Falls convention reorganized after the civil war and therefore more experienced campaigners of women rights joined the movement (O'Neill, 2013). Due to the efforts of this movement, some rights of women were being granted in some states such as the rights to own property and take custody of their children. Some sates were also granting women their rights to vote. The first wave of feminism in the United States of America succeeded fighting for the women's right to vote.
The second wave of feminism started in the 1960s. During this wave women were beginning to express themselves in different forums. A writer by the name Betty Friedan wrote a book in 1963 were she criticized the idea of keeping women at home as home keepers. The writer argued that women had talents too and by keeping them at home was a waste of potential and talents of the United States (Dicker, 2008).
According to critical theory, critique to certain things in the society which are not good to the society can bring change. Critical theory is applicable to the book written by Betty Friedan which criticized the idea of keeping women at home and using them as house keepers. This book triggered more fight for women rights since it opened up to the society that women deserved freedom. The book also gave women courage to explore and shine their talents and potential. It is during this second wave of feminism that sex discrimination against women at workplaces was also banned. In addition, laws favoring women were also passed during the second wave of feminism which included the equal pay act of 1963 and the title VII of the civil rights act of 1964. The social status of women was being recognized during the second wave feminism. Women musicians started to crop up. Music is a way of communication.
The third wave feminism started in the 1990s which began by dealing with sexual harassment against women (Omi & Winant, 2014). Women were being used as sex objects. Feminism was against this and valued the dignity of women. The courts came up with laws banning sexual harassment of women. This lifted the social status of women since they could now be treated with much respect and not seen as sex objects. The third wave feminism saw the rise of female feminists which included celebrities such as Beyonce and Lady
Gaga. Female feminists were advocating women empowerment and equality for all genders.
In conclusion women deserve the right to be treated as equal as many since they are human being just like men. Women have talents and potential which should be utilized in the society. Feminism in the United States has proved that women are capable of what men can do and should be respected. In the United States of America, women have proved that they capable of uplifting the society socially by providing good leadership and teachings to the society (Bilge, 2010). United States of America has succeeded in supporting feminism