Feminist Movement

Feminist Movement

In the aftermath of World War II, the lives of the women have changed dramatically. Women spoke their minds out and wanted to be heard. World War II brought them a new outlook on how they should live their lives. It encouraged women organize social movements such as boycotts and public marches pushing for their human rights and protect them against discrimination. Alongside, they formed their own organization representing them against the federal government like the NOW or National Organization for Women. Through the years, women have been struggling to fight for equal rights and unfortunately still exist even at the present in some areas. Yes, women’s status was not like what they used to back then, where their roles where to stay home do household chores and take care of the children. Now, women have grown to be a new person. They have accomplished their goals and work wherever they want these days. But despite of their success in the feminist movements, it was all due to their personal struggle and hard work. The feminist movement has changed women’s status in the history of our society socially, politically, and economically. The changes made, influenced the society in positive and negative outcomes.

Traditionally, women are stereotyped as being committed to only on doing household works but in our society today, they play significant roles not only at home but also in workplaces such as schools, offices, and businesses. They are now able to have the careers of their choice, and even have the same careers as men do. For example, back then being a police officer is ought to be a man’s job. Nowadays, one can see a woman entering different fields of occupation like in law, carpentry, medicine and sports. This proves that women have as equal rights as men.

Although women have attained such freedom, they tend to take advantage of it and go overboard. Women, today, are very liberated on how they present themselves in society. To be more specific, is how they dress and act or the way they carry themselves in public. For instance, Britney Spears, a famous entertainer, dresses immodestly and act wildly by doing things under the influence of alcohol such as getting married and getting annulled the next day. Unluckily, as a public figure she is being looked up to especially by young girls. They try to copy her and wear too revealing clothes and try to act disorderly. Sometimes these acts can lead from one thing to another. In the early 90’s, studies have shown that teen pregnancies occur on a regularly basis and has been severely increasing (Newsweek: Birth rates in U.S, 1991-96). As a result, this brings out a wrong impression of women to society.

Throughout the history, women were being discriminated against by ignoring or not paying much attention to them when it comes to dealing with political issues. One in particular, was the controversial issue regarding women’s right to vote. By the end of the 1880’s feminist movements did not meet their expectations due to lack of support from women themselves. “ If by the end of the 1880’s the suffragists had reached something of a stalemate, by the end of 1890’s and early 1900’s the movement had entered a completely new phase. This was largely the result of new factors in the situation: the growth of support for women’s suffrage amongst women themselves, and the increasing importance of the labour movement in British politics” (Banks, p.121). For these women, voting was becoming more like a powerful tool to be recognized in the society and understand the importance of voting and to also participate actively in the campaign. Women suffragists finally reached their goal, in which women at the present are getting more involved in politics by running for office and being leaders of the society. One good example is present senator Hillary Clinton. This former first lady is one of the top senators in the United States today. She fought amendments to the Senate bill like the imprints on drug bills and the gay rights activists. Rep. Clinton also helped a lot of people especially kids in New York City. Another example is Senator Barbara Boxer of California. She has achieved quite a few accomplishments here in California such as in agriculture where she defended farmers against unfair trade provisions, and also in education where she is helping to improve. In addition to that, politicians’ wives are getting engaged in the decision making and campaigns of their husbands nowadays.

One negative effect of the feminist movement in politics today, is that fewer women are not voting. They are taking their right to vote for granted by not voicing their opinions. Having so much freedom, women do not feel the need to vote because they are caught up with so many things in their lives that they are not even aware of the government anymore. They do not take the initiative