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The Essential Feminist Reader Summary

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The Essential Feminist Reader, by Estelle B. Freedman, has brought me into the feminist problem that I possibly never known before. Freedman has pointed out the injustice of women, and the condition of women life being demoted throughout the world history. In “The Essential Feminist Reader”, Freedman combined varieties of the excerpts from many authors such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Qasim Amin, Mary Astell…etc. By offering this book, Freedman leads the reader to the history of sexuality that woman is a victim. Freedman had wanted us to understand how women were being demoted by men in a long period of time. When we look deeply into the book, we possibly comprehend what the women of that time endured and experienced. By combining those fragment from
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The nature of womanhood, or what we perceive as the inherent proclivities that govern only those born as a woman, is often the base argument for the unequal treatment of the female sex. Women are weak, natural-born mothers, unfit to do much else beyond simple household chores and rearing children. This portrait of women seems almost comical in its antiquity; however, we cannot disregard the past, as it shapes the present. The question of the nature of womanhood is rarely allowed nuance, which is a shame, because womanhood can be many, often contradictory things. Instead, the traits we often associate with womanhood stem from society’s projection of what women should be, not necessarily what they are.

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One of the most well-known entertainers of the world, Beyoncé, is part of the best singers in the music industry. She is, somehow, considered to be a great example of the Feminist movements for showing off the talents of the femininity. The Feminist Movement started in the 1840’s, but it didn’t really expand until the 1960’s after Betty Friedan’s book The Feminine Mystique was published. In that book, Betty encourages women to change the way society view them as the ideal employment for them is to stay at home mom and wife voice their opinions and fight for equality of the sexes.

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The work is not yet complete, and is evident by looking at the domination of women throughout the centuries, specifically the 19th and 20th century, which was the height of the women’s rights movement. By analyzing two literary works from two different eras, “The Yellow Wallpaper” written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the late 19th century and “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” written by Adrienne Rich in the mid-20th century, one can conclude that while there have been improvements to women’s rights, there is still discrimination prevalent. Although set in two different time periods, the main

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Words such as ‘unspoken assumption’, ‘insidiously’,‘exaggerating’, and “preoccupation” show suspicion towards the topic of women's rights and movements . In addition, the author also gives emphasis towards the downfall of men’s rights by including details such as “special privileges and protection to women” and “men’s supposed mistreatment of women”, thus showing how the author is directly opressed by the fight for equal rights. The author sees men's rights and their struggle with oppression as them being expected to have traditional cordial manners and fall into the traditional role of the patriarchy of the family, and decides to ‘debunk’ feminism by using these few points against a legacy of hatred, oppression, and misogyny that created

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Women throughout history have undergone specific personal experiences that have constrained them within a society that epitomizes the dehumanization of women through forced social expectations. My mother reiterates this continual theme as a woman in the US and abroad who have experienced constraint from living in a man's world but has also benefited from woman’s liberation within her culture/home life, as well as, education/the workforce. Through each of these three aspects of her life, she was able to experience forms of liberation, as well as, constraint based on a variety of factors which have related to many different readings we have had the opportunity to study in class. Her personal experiences have related to the experiences of many

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In Of Mice and Men and Maggie, a Girl of the Streets, John Steinbeck and Stephen Crane describe differing roles of power. In Of Mice and Men, power comes from the male workers respecting the leadership Slim demonstrates but the fear Curley brings also plays a part in having power from the men. In Maggie, a Girl of the Streets, Maggie has a false image of Pete, believing him to be sophisticated and of a higher station in life. Maggie is allowing herself to give Pete more power than he deserves. With contrasting views of power, Steinbeck demonstrates power through the men honoring Slim’s leadership and fearing Curley, while Crane displays power through Maggie’s false perspective of Pete.

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While reading Shira Tarmant’s chapter “This Is What a Feminist Looks Like” I almost felt disconnected from other feminists. I’ve always believed in equality for all genders and supporting each other without demeaning each other in the process. Why was I feeling this sense of disconnection? I realized during my readings that I didn’t make this connection not because I haven’t experienced sexism, but because growing up in small Aboriginal communities it was viewed as tradition, rather than sexism.

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During this week, we have covered numerous topics, none more prominent than the oppression of women. Everyone had different opinions, allowing me to take into account different views on the issue. In one of the texts we examined, “Oppression”, Marilyn Frye, a philosopher, debates the subjugation of women. She states the cultural customs that causes oppression of women. I do agree with her view that women are oppressed, but I do not agree that it is just women.

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These women concluded that topics such as race, gender, and class are too complex, yet they require deep discussions. This comparison points out that feminism was central to their professionalism, but it was not enough to unit all of the women. On the other hand, author Cheryl Hyde explored the strength and vitality of feminist’s five practices principles and the feminist macro-practice. Hyde’s exploration noted that feminism should call for research on feminist practitioners, increase feminist theory practice in the documentation. Still focused on feminist’s practice, author Susan Stall and Randy Stoecker examined the Alinsky and women-centered models of urban community organizing.

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As a result, a new form of social inequality based on sexuality emerged as it became apparent that women rights were deliberately and generally overlooked in favor of men. Despite recognition of fundamental human freedoms, women continued to be ruled under oppressive rules. Notably, the inequalities were extreme especially where racial supremacy was a factor. As a result, the feminist’s struggle to have women rights recognized was

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In the nineteenth century, the book attained a popularity surpassed only by the Bible. As on reviewer put it: “No literary work of any character or merit, whether of poetry or prose, or imagination or observation, fancy or fact, truth or fiction, that has ever been written since there have been writers or readers, has ever commanded so great a popular success” (qtd. in Baym 772) . This novel indicated that women writers could be economically successful and highly influential in social and political changes.

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Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun presents the rise of feminism in America in the 1960s. Beneatha Younger, Lena Younger (Mama) and Ruth Younger are the three primary characters displaying evidences of feminism in the play. Moreover, Hansberry creates male characters who demonstrate oppressive attitudes towards women yet enhance the feministic ideology in the play. A Raisin in the Sun is feminist because, with the feminist notions displayed in the play, women can fulfil their individual dreams that are not in sync with traditional conventions of that time.

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In the introduction and the first chapter of Introducing Feminist Theology, Anne Clifford explains multiple concepts regarding feminism, society and Christian theology. Throughout the chapter, Clifford discusses the coming about of feminism and how feminism lead to feminist liberation theology. Firstly, Clifford asserts that a patriarchal world is a white man’s world, oppressing women and people of color. Therefore, feminism came (in three waves) to liberate women from sexism and oppression. According to the author, patriarchy, with its dominance, creates a barrier between interdependence and equality.

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