Opposing Views Of Feminism By Christina Fisanick

Following is a review of a book entitled Feminism (Opposing Viewpoints) edited by Christina Fisanick and published by Greenhaven Press on 2008. The book is of non-fiction genre and has four chapters – each comprises of an average of two issues written by various experts. The book offers interesting discussions of both opposing views on particular aspects of Feminism. The book aims to provide readers with a greater understanding of the issues discussed and appreciate the complicatedness although presumably seen as straightforward issues.

The first chapter looks into the definition and concepts of Feminism. The first article by Sally Haslanger and Nancy Tuana talks about Feminism as a complicated concept – there are arguments on the nature

The first two articles by Stephanie Cleveland and Barbara Dority talk about whether or not pornography is harmful to women respectively. Cleveland views that pornography degrades women and sex by commodifying women as “sexual objects” while Dority argues that pornography barely exploits women as they have freedom of expressions. The next two articles by Kimberly Klinger and Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) organisation discuss whether or not women have the rights to be prostitutes respective. Klinger mentions that prostitution offers women and society to benefit from industry practices regulation through legalising or decriminalising while CATW is against prostitution. The last two articles by Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR) and Frederica Mathewes-Green focus on whether or not women have the rights of abortion. CRR argues that all women are entitled to safe and legal abortions in lieu of basic human rights as opposed to denial of the rights of unborn children to live. The issues in the second chapter answer to how feminism impacts female sexuality and reproduction by highlighting the both sides of views on pornography, prostitution and

The first two articles by Arrah Nielson and Stephanie Seguino discuss about the wage gap between men and women. Nielson asserts that this disparity happens as women choose less working hours in order to spend more time with family while Seguino argues that it due to gender discrimination. The next two articles Economist’s staff writer and Lindsay McNutt talk about whether or not glass ceiling exists in workplace respectively. Economist asserts that change is essential in considering women for top positions while McNutt argues that low confidence and educational qualification affect women from holding top positions. The issues in this chapter answer to how Feminism affects women’s role in the workplace by highlighting the demand of equality of treatment in workplace