How Feminism Relate to the World

Name Instructor’s Name Course Date How Feminism Relate to the World Introduction Globalization is changing the perception of what used to be a conservative world. Equality is the song every one desires to hear and sing on a daily basis. The desire for equality has led to feminism; where the economic, social and political contributions of both women and men are deemed equal. Also, feminism is known as a political movement that advocates for the rights and social equality of the roles of both sexes in the society (Leffingwell 2018). The roles can be at workplaces, schools, and other cultural spheres of human life; where it is perceived that the women equally contribute to the growth of all sectors of life. The feminist movement's primary objective is to ensure that women's rights and freedom are respected. Feminism movement is driven by people who believe that men and women are equal, feminist activists (Filipovic 2018). Through the activists, the movement continues to fight against discrimination against women in the society (Leffingwell 2018). The women can now walk freely and safely without fear of sexual harassment or any other form of gender-based violence. The women have a right to own property, vote and be voted, hold public offices as leaders, enter into legal contracts, have equal pay at the workstations, among other rights (Grady 2018). All these rights have been achieved through feminism movement. Feminism though has achieved much for women; people still do not understand its impacts on the world. History of Feminism In understanding the origin, the progress and achievements of feminism in the world today, its history must be properly understood. Feminism movement began in 1848 and is still gaining more momentum in the fight for women’s rights (Grady 2018). The history of feminism is divided into three phases; the phases are referred to as waves. The first wave began in 1848 and ended in 1920, it was concerned with women’s right to vote; the movement was famously known as suffrage movement. The second wave began in 1963 to 1980s; it was concerned with women’s legal and social rights; what is known as women’s liberation movement. The third phase began in 1991 and was a continuation of the second wave. In the third wave, the failures of the second wave were addressed. First wave (1848-1920) The first wave occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century, the suffragettes' movements. This was a West's political movement and the first to be sustained by women in history. In the first wave, daring women would protest in a number of ways, including walking and lecturing fellow women on their right to vote (Grady 2018). The activists who led this wave were constantly arrested, ridiculed by the public and sometimes face violence from the public domain (Graddy 2018). The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 which was held in a church in upstate New York marked the beginning of the first wave (Finnerly 2017). In the convention, the women discussed their rights, civil, religious and social condition. From the convention, women resolved that they had a right to vote and henceforth will pursue the right (National Park Service 2018). The convention was led by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton who believed people have a universal right to vote, irrespective of race, origin or gender (Anand 2018). The movement later turned to be white women's affair using racial issues as the basis of their strength (Grady 2018). The white women did not only fight for the right to vote but also right to own property, education and equal treatments at the workstation (Bradford 2017). The first phase was successful when the Congress ratified the 19th Constitution Amendment granting women the right to vote (Rafique 2017). Second Wave (1963-1980s) The wave began with the release of The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, writer, and feminist (Grady 2018). The book was against the idea that women’s place was in the kitchen and the house; instead, the writer believed that it was a world's perception. The writer believed that women could perform other tasks using their intellectual faculties and creativity. The Book was read by close to three million women and the idea that women required equal social rights quickly spread throughout America (Grady 2018). The book inspired the beginning of the women’s Civil Rights Movements; where the American women began the fight to occupy better roles in the society (KhanAcademy 2018). The movement had remarkable achievements as Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed (Kessler 2016). The Act prohibited discrimination against women in the workplaces and the society; through the Act, women were not to be exposed to sexual harassment or any form of sexual discrimination. The Act also granted women the liberty to work outside homes; the women were supposed to be seen as contributors in American’s history, socially, politically and economic (Uffalussy 2018). The second wave failed to achieve some of its objectives and hence the need for the third wave. The Third Wave (the 1990s) and the Present Wave The third wave of feminism started in 1991 and the founders rejected the idea that it was a feminist movement (Jackson 2018). According to Brunskell-Evans, women were for a long time taken as sex toys and this notion had to be changed (2015). Apart from beauty, Brunksell-Evans argues that women have brains and can contribute constructively to the development of the world. The third wave embraces the cultural diversities around the world; according to Sheber (2015), sexes and racial diversities should be embraced. In conclusion, the third wave is basically pointing to race and sex as diversities around the world and nobody should be victimized because of the difference in sexual orientation. According to Hall, in her article, A comprehensive guide to the feminist wave published on the Evening Standard (March 6, 2018), the present wave of feminism is driven by social media. Through social media, women can share and condemn sexual harassment, discrimination against women and other forms of violence on women. Through social media, women can also organize meetings to discuss the accomplishment the feminism waves have so far achieved. Through observing the achievement of feminism fight women are encouraged more to continue fighting for their rights. Feminism and the World politics According to this paper, world politics ranges from state politics to international politics. According to Sara, she portrays that women have suffered discrimination in the political realm (2018). Women's contribution to the world politics has been ignored for a long time (Butale, 2015). Ignoring women is especially significant in international relations, particularly during peacebuilding process after conflicts. Sara (2018) in her article, Introducing feminism in international relations theory, notes that during conflicts, women suffer substantially from violence, sexual harassment, and trauma among other adverse effects. Therefore, there is a need for the immediate victim to participate in the peacebuilding process; this calls for feminism movement. The introduction and successes of feminism waves have seen women join the political fields (Schnall 2017). According to Schnall, the number of women vying for elective positions is on the rise. The increase of women’s interest in politics has been fueled by the emergent of campaign funds donor institutions; which are at the same time supporting feminism. Schnall, in her article, notes that there is a dramatic increase of women who want to contest for public offices. The increase though is benefiting women; it is also bringing democracy maturity into politics; since feminism, waves fight for equality around the world. In the world, sexes and races are natural occurrences which no human being has the power to change, and therefore, nobody should be discriminated from holding an office (Brunksell-Evans 2015). All sexes have brains and can reason to make outstanding decisions. According to an article published on the CFFP website (February 2018), Gendered Media Representations in International Relations: Part 1, a leader should be capable of making moral decisions without discrimination. Women have been seen as leaders who can influence the world positively from their moral reasoning; the best example is Times 2015 person of the year, Angela Merkel (Vick and Shuster, 2015). According to Vick and Shuster, Merkel has good leadership qualities which must not be magni...