What is Feminism

What is Feminism

1. The word Feminism was first used in the 1890s. It is the belief that women and girls should have equal rights with men and boys.
2. The 3 waves of feminism are suffrage and temperance movements, the 2nd wave of feminism was the Womens Liberation Movement. The 3rd wave of refers to the period we are in now which is the empowerment of women.
3. In my opinion the womens movement is all based on change and equal rights for women and girls.
4. Women do function differently to men both physically and mentally, but this doesn't mean they can't perform the same tasks equally well as men.

Raising the Issues

1. From the 7th Century women gained new rights in traditional Arab society. The Prophet Muhammad (c570-632) decreed that women had rights to divorce, to child maint. and to inherit land and property.
2. "The Enlightenment" (c1650-1789), philosophers question tradional relighious beliefs. They challenged the absolute power held by monarchs and a society in which peoples social position was based on birth rather than on merit.
3. The Declaration of Independence stated "that all men are created equal and ... have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". France wrote a similar declaration 13 years later. In both America and France, these rights did not extend to women, slaves, natives or gypsies.
4. Both women were arguing for a right to equality in education and in marriage. They both argued that women needed extra rights. Olympe de Gouges was executed in part because of her suppport for womens rights.
5. The Temperance group were fighting for anti-alcohol because it destroyed homes and families. They believed that somens right and concerns would always be neglected when governments were elected only by men.

Campaining for the Vote

1. Social reform issues were women fighting for the vote and the right to run for Public Office. Also for anti alcohol because it destroyed families.

2. Suffragists were fighting for women to be able to vote and to run for public office.Feminists believed that womens rights and concerns would always be neglected when governments were elected only by men.

3.It believed women inferior that they would jump up on the table if they saw a mouse and that the Lady Mayor was only there to sew buttons on.

4. The arguments for voting were that womens rights were not being addressed as governments were run by men and that women wanted the same rights as male voters.

5. The anti-feminists argued that one of the most powerful weapons used to discourage women in public life was ridicule, it leads women to mistrust themselves and could deteriorate into bitter abuse. They also argued for reproductive rights such as contraception and abortion, family allowances, education and respect.

6. The mother and daughter team founded the WSPU with one aim and that was votes for women. Both were arrested and jailed many times and at times fled to france to avoid arrest. Both women were brilliant speakers. Two sisters were involved with womens working class in London's east end and the other was involved with Women in the Union.

7. The first world war made women choose between loyalty to their country and their international feminists links. Most chose patriotism and there was another delay in the push for the most basic of womens rights.

8. Women were allowd to finally work, women stepped into the jobs that the men left behind, including factory work on public transport and the public service.

Australian Suffragettes

1. They argued for the vote.

2.Temeperence groups were anti alcohol because it destroyed homes.

3. SA 1894, WA 1899, NSW 1902, Vic 1908.

4. The first wave of feminists were concerned with peace rather than war and concern for the weak.

5. They said women were to good and high minded to sully themselves with political matters which should be left to the men. That giving women the vote would be dangerous and theat it would destroy feamle purity and undermine male authority.

6. They portrayed women as empty headed creatures that were only interested in marriage, clothes and babies. They were called hyenas in petticoats.

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