Feminism Article Review

This is an article by Kate Hughes that is based on a qualitative year-long study of young women and their perception of feminism. The author intended to establish if there are any changes in perception of gender within the personal lives of the women after they took the Women's Studies program (Hughes). It is clear that gender perceptions are based on an individual's culture and upbringing with different cultures having different views on the roles of women. This article articulates this clearly and the author has managed to demonstrate how these perceptions change within a short period of time. The women were first interviewed when they began the program and a follow up was done 9 months later. The responses by the interviewees initially were reserved and most of the young women felt they were being influenced by their cultures. However, during the second interviewees, the responses differed from their first interview and most of them had a different perception of gender roles.

The author conducted a study with a group of 20 undergraduate students who were taking Women's Studies within the university. The participants were from different cultural backgrounds i.e. Anglo-Australia, Croatia, German, Greek, New Zealand, Philippines, Turkey, Ukraine, Italy, Malta, and Vietnam and they were all aged between 17 years and 20 years. The purpose of the study was to establish the perception change on gender within the society and individually. From the article, it is clear that most of the women believe they had more freedom than their parents or grandparents. Most of the women had initially indicated that men had more power and freedom than women, but during their second interview this perception had changed and they all seemed to have the same notion that men and women are equal (Hughes). Before the program, the participants believed that culture was the main determinant of these differences. However, after taking only one semester of the course, their perceptions were altered and they no longer saw culture as a hindrance.

The author assumes that the women changed their perception because of the course they were taking, but it is possible that the women were also influenced by the western culture. The women were mostly children of immigrants and they were no longer bound to follow their strict culture this might have led them to adopt the new wave and changing their perception in regards to gender within the society. The course undertaken has some effect on how the women understand gender within the society and it might have contributed towards the change in perception, but it would be wrong to state that the change was purely based on the course only. Through their education, the women will better understand the different gender roles and they are better placed to influence their children resulting in the change of culture and tradition.

During the first interview, the women did not see themselves as being feminist in any way. However, during the second interview, a majority of them accepted they were more part feminist due to their change in perception. The interviewees were willing to create a distinction in that they were not radical feminists, but their perceptions were definitely altered after taking the course. The author does believe that the course strengthens the young women and most of them have indicated they enjoyed attending the program. The women might feel liberated and have a better understanding of the term feminist. There are women who were not certain if they were feminist before they started the course, but their perception changed after only one semester. For example, Louisa did not think of herself as being feminist before the course, but this changed after taking the course. She defined herself as feminist and provided the same reason (Hughes). It is possible that the course does increase the participant's awareness of feminism but does not strengthen the idea.
References
‘I've Been Pondering Whether You Can Be a Part-Feminist’: Young Australian Women's Studies Students Discuss Gender. Women's Studies International Forum. 2005. Elsevier.