Women’s Movements: Then and Now

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Table of Contents

Introduction
“We Should All Be Feminists” by Adichie
Shepherd’s Discussion on Women’s Movements
Conclusion

Introduction

The current essay’s purpose is to evaluate and analyze the following reading materials in terms of feminist studies and women’s movements: Adichie’s Ted Talk “We Should All Be Feminists” and the first chapter of Shepherd’s book “Gender Matters in Global Politics”. First of all, short summaries of the texts will be provided, and then the analysis will be produced by answering the assignment’s questions.

“We Should All Be Feminists” by Adichie

The author presents her experience of sexism and explains what she understood from it, how it affected her life. Adichie argues that the word “feminism” carries negative connotations, and, consequently, affects the deep meaning of the concept badly. She talks about children’s education in terms of feminism; the difference in men’s and women’s experiences of the term, and understanding the issue; the recognition of gender inequalities.

Concerning my personal experience with the word “feminism”, I share Adichie’s central argument that the concept carries several negative meanings. Mainly, it can be felt in conversations with older people. Some people see it as a threat to family institutions and traditional values. Others point out the exaggeration of the issue and do not believe that men and women are still not treated equally in many spheres. These common misconceptions can only be dispelled through education processes. It is crucial to explain from the early ages what exactly feminism is.

It is vitally important to mention that the term “feminism” is surrounded by numerous myths. However, if we look at the universal definition, it represents feminism, as the theory of economic, political, and social equality of the sexes. However, some other scholars highlight the fact of the female’s oppression in defining feminism. In my personal view, these two approaches do not contradict each other, as the conversation of gender equalities implies that the sexes are not always seen as equal. Thus, I hold the opinion that feminism is the belief that all people should have the same rights regardless of their sexes.

Feminism and Development

Another crucial topic in terms of the women’s rights discussion is the role of women in development. Women have only been included in global development recently (the second half of the 20th century), and up to these days, this does not apply to all countries. There are numerous issues concerning the exclusion of women from global development, such as the absence of universal legal protections, underrepresentation in the labor market, underpayments, harassment, and violence in the workplace. It is vital to examine the role of women, as it is beneficial for improvements in development. Economic equalities and education for women are highly advantageous to economies, as they can contribute to business processes. Moreover, by including women in economic development, the situation with women’s rights and gender equalities is highly likely to be improved. Consequently, from the points discussed above, it is clear that it is inevitably important to address development through the lens of feminism.

Shepherd’s Discussion on Women’s Movements

In her book, Shepherd addresses two women’s movements: The Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp and the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. The first one is a series of protest camps that were organized in England between 1981 and 2000. The movement was exclusively female and was established to protest the placement of nuclear weapons at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire. The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, the second movement established in 1977, is an association of Argentinian mothers who protested to get information from the government concerning their missing children.

Even though two groups were formed for different purposes, they also possessed similar ideas. First of all, it should be said that both movements relied on gender stereotypes. The Greenham women declared that women-only actions could guarantee that the movement does not carry any violence. Concerning the Mothers and their stereotypes, it is the way they have seen parental responsibilities. At that time, that was true that overall, mothers were involved in the life of their children more than fathers. Secondly, the two movements shared similar ideas of the importance of women’s participation, demonstrating that they have the rights and strengths to protest and protect their interests. For instance, the two groups stood out and challenged the social norm of those days that women should stay home and do nothing. They showed that they have the right to participate in politics and express their opinions rather than leaving it only for men. However, the two movements received different public reactions for violating and challenging existing social norms. The Mothers were more successful in their actions: in the media, they were described as courageous and fighting for human rights. Whereas the Greenham women were represented as criminals and deviants, as they cross the boundaries of social norms more extensively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present paper addressed the issues regarding the term “feminism” by analyzing the work by Adichie “We Should All Be Feminists”. Moreover, world development was presented through the lens of feminism. The last part of the essay was focused on Shepherd’s discussion on the two women’s movements. The work demonstrates the importance of a correct understanding of the feminist movement and its complex history.

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Women’s Movements: Then and Now

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