Midwestern Feminism
Having grown up on a farm in Iowa, feminism was never really a topic that people were concerned about. If a person were to visit any rural community they would see that much of Baumgardner and Richard's "Manifesta" still applies to everyday life. "...almost all of the teachers are female" (p.4). "Girls take home ec while boys take shop" (p.4). All of the principles of our district are male (p.4). Feminism is not talked about simply because the women in rural communities are typically of an older generation having grown up pre 1970's. With this in mind, I have little background of feminism and I joined the class to learn about the history and future of this continually developing topic.
It is interesting to learn about women’s' different views on feminism. Hook's idea of feminism was of a "social and political movement" (p.1-2) focusing on the idea of equality as a whole. The three readings that were assigned showed feminism throughout different centuries. I believe each story was fighting for the same cause, but by using their own little "tweaks". An idea which seems to be reoccurring is the resurgence and then dying away of feminism throughout time. It seems as though each movement gets what they want, and then fades away until their authority is questioned again. I believe this is the reason why feminism is still criticized and under attack even today. If the movement would just get a foothold and hold their position with support, then it would get the respect that it demands. My current definition of feminism follows the same road as Hooks’, but like the different authors of the movement’s history it has its own “tweaks�. Feminism is the social and political desire for people of gender and race to be alike. This definition is subject to change and I am hoping that it will change with help from the assignments and speakers that I will encounter over the course of the semester.
Comments
I like how you took definitions from what you read and heard and worked them into your own ideas to create what you believe to be feminism. You thought about it a lot more than just hearing an idea or statement and reiterating it as what you believe, you actually took it, thought about it and changed it to fit your own morals and beliefs.
In your definition though I'm not quite sure how you meant 'alike.' To me it reads a desire to change yourself to be like someone else. This gives equality, but it also ignores the huge resevior of diversity, culture and individuality people of different genders and races bring to our society. I think of feminism more as striving for the acceptance of individuality in all genders and races, to have society accept what you want to be and do with your life regardless of your born biology.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 29, 2007 12:21 AM