Identities: Introduction to Feminism

Introduction to feminism: blog tasks 


Case study: Everyday Sexism

Watch this TEDx talk by Everyday Sexism founder Laura Bates:

 

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?
- Laura bates started the Everyday Sexism program because she had experience 3 separate incidences of sexual harassment within one week and it opened her eye to how this behaviour has been normalised and how if she hadn't experienced these incident in the same week she wouldn't have thought twice about them. She then began to ask around to see if anyone else had experienced this and she thought that only a few would but she found out that it was everyone she spoke to that had a story.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?
- It links to post feminism as it shows how despite the fact that women have been considered more equal than in the past, it is perceived as a way to shut away any other dilemmas or situations that may be important to shed light to.
I think feminism is still required in western societies as there are people who are vocalising their opinions and standing against what is wrong. This is evident through the amount of people who responded to her blog, coming out with their opinions and stories.

3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project?
- New technology was essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project because it she set up a website to bring attention t the issue. She thought only a few would add their stories. 50,000 women and men added their stories over the course of 18 months. This was people of different countries, people of all ages, races, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religious and non- religious, disabled and non-disabled and so on. This shows that a small thing can go a long way and that new technology has allowed for globalisation to increase as it allows different people to access the same website and share their experiences and knowledge.

4) Will there be a point in the future when the Everyday Sexism project is not required? What is YOUR view on the future of feminism?
- I think that Feminism is such an important topic as it brings light to different issues in society. It is not just about the equality of women but also men which is often overlooked when it comes to understanding the theory. I believe that we have the capacity to be at a point where campaigns like the Everyday Sexism project wont be needed but it feels like we are still have a long way to go for that. 


Media Magazine: The fourth wave?

Read the article: The Fourth Wave? Feminism in the Digital Age in MM55 (p64). You'll find the article in our Media Magazine archive here.

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?
Networked feminism
- Networked feminism is claimed to be the new fourth wave feminism that we are supposedly currently in. The aim of this wave is to tackle social equality issues found both on, and using, modern technology. There have been many campaigns and hasthatgs that have caused a spur on the feminist upheaval. This also includes user generated content website, blogs and even Twitter. Twitter playing a role in highlighting the significance of feminism using hashtags such as #WomenAgainstFeminism and #YesAllWomen.

Why is it a problem
- Many people in 2015 believed that since women have achieved laws against inequality they have now won what they have fought for, despite some believing that is not the case. In the media feminist are frequently associated with campaigners such as the suffragettes. The essence of feminism is also only partially understood. There are many different types of feminism that the definition and ideologies are often blurred. Feminist are still frequently described as 'man-haters'

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 

• First Wave - Suffragette Mouvement (Right to vote)
• Second Wave - Reproductive rights, Abortion and Equal Pay 
• Third Wave - Post-Feminism (Empowerment, reclaiming of femininity)
• Fourth Wave - Networked Feminism (use of new technology)

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.
Everyday Sexism
- The everyday sexism campaign began in 2012 by Laura Bates. This was due to the fact that she had 3 incidents in the same week where she experienced harassment. She created the campaign (online website) in order to allow people to share their story online and their experiences. After a certain amount of time she saw that over 50,000 people responded. Until now Everyday sexism is a highly visible digital feminist digital campaign mainly due to the user-generated content.

HeForShe
- The HE or She campaign is led by Emma Watson that showcases the inclusive idea of feminism. This campaign focuses on male support for gender equality; highlighting the fact that feminism is not about promoting matriarchy, but solidarity. He digital commitment means that you can pledge to help the women issues 

FCKH8 Campaign
- The movement for this came from modern representations of girls and the huge social inequalities they face.IT is a for-profit country which created a huge backlash as it seemed like they were using feminism as way of exploitation 

This Girl Can
- This is described as the first Fitness campaign for women which doesn't shame or exclude them by sharing photos, videos and quotes of women without the usual sexual exploitation of women fitness advert and without body shaming. 


4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?
- I believe that we are in the fourth wave of feminism because it is not necessarily focusing on empowerment and reclaiming femininity, in my opinion. I think that it is more focusing on raising awareness once again and making people understand and challenging the views of others whilst also fighting for the fundamental ideologies of feminism - which the equality of women and men. Campaigns like the Everyday Sexism Project for example, is seen to bring awareness to the issues women and men have to face and encourages people to make a change.