Reference no: EM133190817

FEMINIST EDUCATION FOR CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS

This topic discusses the institution legitimization and focuses on female literature. In the initial stages of the feminist movement, women were meeting in groups to discuss and share ideas. This limited the growth of feminist theory and thinking as the groups only reached a few people. Gradually feminism was allowed in colleges and universities with the majority of the professors being female. This led to a revolution in the movement demanding feminist literature and recovery of women history. Similarly, they demanded an end in gender bias in the curriculum, therefore, enabling more women to be involved in the academy. The goal of the feminist movement was to enlighten women on sexism and how it works. Institution legitimization facilitated this as women learnt about feminist thinking and feminist theory. They understood its root cause and how they could challenge it to bring equity. The classes focused on teaching gender in an unbiased perspective contrary to the previous ways. Women professors who were feminist activists encouraged feminist thinking by educating young women on sexism and ways of changing it. They used women literature and portrayed it as exciting and pleasant as men's literature. This awareness of sexism influenced critical thinking causing the political awakening of most women. However, the institution legitimization created a new challenge for the feminist movement. It led to the creation of an elite group who wrote literature work for the academic audience only leaving the rest out. The women and men who were no in the academic domain were completely disregarded with academic politics and careerism taking over feminist politics. This poses a challenge that the future feminist movement needs to address to have a successful campaign.

OUR BODIES, OURSELVES Reproductive Rights

The topic discusses the issues of sexuality and reproductive health of women. Before the feminist movement emerged, the sexual exploitation of women bodies was almost acceptable. Therefore, sexuality was a significant contributor to the formation of the movement to get sexual liberation. The movement advocated for free love and the right to choose with whom and when to have sex. However, this liberation brought the challenge of unwanted pregnancy among women of all ages and race. Therefore, women realized that sexual freedom was only possible with a focus on the reproductive health of women. Women needed to have access to safe, effective contraceptives and abortions. Safe abortions were only accessible to individual white women who had the privilege of accessing good healthcare. However, most of the women of colour lacked access and hence practised illegal abortions. Other issues were surrounding sexual liberation that was critical in enabling women to learn and understand how their bodies worked. The issues included sexual education, prenatal care, preventive health care, unnecessary cesareans and their health complications. The creation of effective contraceptives and legalization of abortions facilitated sexual liberation. However, the feminist movement faced a backlash from an anti-abortion organization that interpreted religion to disregard abortions. Religion placed women with a core reason for existence being to bear children and the organization argued on this basis. The organizations affected the poor women as they targeted the state-funded, inexpensive free abortions. The privileged white women were still capable of accessing safe abortions as they could afford to pay the expensive fee. The organization brought back the focus on abortion issues, which poses a challenge of abortion illegalization in the future.

BEAUTY WITHIN AND WITHOUT

The chapter discusses the sexist thinking that placed women value solely on their appearance. Feminists struggled to change the sexist notion that defined beauty in a particular way causing women to develop low self-esteem. Feminists acknowledged that for true liberation, women needed to embrace their appearance and develop healthy self-esteem and self-love. Therefore, they began a struggle to change the patriarchal notion of beauty that had been created by the sexists. This lead to a movement of reclaiming the health and glory of the female body of women of all shapes and sizes. This started with the changes in women dressing styles that embrace more comfort and ease. Women began wearing more comfortable clothes and shoes in different areas of life. Women started wearing pants as opposed to skirts and dresses and comfortable low shoes as opposed to high-heeled shoes. They demanded more diverse styles of clothing for women of all shapes and sizes and used their consumer dollar strength to enforce the demand. Further, the women challenged the medical industry to address the issues that surrounded women appearance and health. Feminists created health centres to deal with these issues as they faced resistance from the medical sector, which eventually gave in - this paved the way for greater care, ease and respect for women bodies.However, the struggle has been threatened by the patriarchal fashion industry and the mass media who have created a specific image to represent beauty. The mass media is presenting reed-thin and dyed blonde women as the presentation of beauty in magazines, television and movies. Women of all ages are now developing eating disorder problems by starving themselves to grow thin and be beautiful. This is undermining the struggle that feminists put up in abandoning the sexist notion of beauty. Feminists need to join the beauty industry and eliminate the sexist idea of appearance and beauty.

Questions:

1. The author highlights the challenge of elites that limited feminist political thinking created by the institution legitimization. Are women united enough to lead a successful feminist movement?

2. The author highlights that prolonged abortions and contraceptives have adverse side effects on the woman's body. Is the legalization of abortions and accessibility of contraceptives beneficial or dangerous to the young women?

3. According to the author, sexual liberation allowed women to have sex with whom and when they wanted to. Does this right make women more irresponsible and at placing them at a danger of more sexual exploitation by men?

4. According to the author, the fashion industry is male-dominated and hence the sexist notion of beauty. What are how feminists can change this notion?