Feminism and gender equality in twentieth-century society

Feminism

During the progress of the last century, the concept of feminism has, like almost everything else, significant evolution. Apart from the fact that it has branched into many subtheories, including literature and socialism, feminism as a movement has also become a very diverse concept in society itself. The variety of perceptions associated with the movement is an example of the diversity of views that inevitably comes from growth. For this reason, analyzing anything from a "feminist" viewpoint becomes more complicated than may initially be suspected. For the purpose of this essay then, the basic premise on which the beginnings of the movement are grounded will be used as a starting point: the fact that women wish to be seen as equal - as opposed to either superior or inferior - to men. These equal status relates only to functions and actions within society, rather than to obvious physical differences. The given list of gender issues will then be analyzed according to this premise.

The Social Paradigm of Male Courtesy and Female Safety

Many phenomena in society currently accepted as common male courtesy towards a female spouse, girlfriend, date or acquaintance might be seen from a feminist point-of-view to be indicative of a paradigm assuming females to be inferior.

Such actions include a male in any situation, such as at school or at a store, holding the door for a female to pass through. When seen from an extreme feminist point-of-view, this might be constituted as indicating that a female is either too weak, inferior, or even superior to open the door for herself. The same is true of a male standing back to allow a female to walk through a door to for example the post office first. It can be constituted as weakness on the part of either the male or the female.

The important point is however not necessarily that either gender is displaying weakness as compared to the other. Instead, the feminist objection here is to the fact that such actions predispose society towards inequality between the genders. While it is obvious that, when a situation arises where both persons arrive at the door at the same point, one of them should stand back and allow the other to enter first, this person should not necessarily be the male. In a truly equal society, the woman should be allowed the choice to let the male enter first, and vice versa. Courtesy should thus be the equal requirement for both male and female, without dictating the specific actions of either.

Related to the above are issues of female safety. Certain interactional paradigms within society imply that women are more vulnerable and physically weaker than men. Examples of this include a man always walking to the left of a woman for protection, women who never walk in the streets at night time, and always carrying a cell phone whenever they are out, while men do not necessarily take such precautions.

From a feminist viewpoint, especially the first-mentioned paradigm above is simply absurd. Women are equally vulnerable and indeed equally strong as men when simply going out for a walk. Furthermore women are neither trophies nor animals or children that need protection from outside elements. The second paradigm is a little more difficult to simply discard as absurd. Still, when approached from a different angle, it is easy to once again make the assertion that any man who is physically unfit is as weak as a woman in the same physical state when faced for example with a gang of robbers. A physically fit woman on the other hand would also be in as good a position to defend herself as a man who takes regular exercise. Another issue that needs to be taken into account is the location of the street that is never walked at night. In some areas it is simply advisable for both men and women to not venture out after a certain hour. Once again, the ideal is equality - women are as capable (or indeed as incapable) as men to defend themselves. It depends on the degree of fitness and self-defense training rather than gender.

Gender Roles in terms of Family Planning

As mentioned above, the feminist view for the purposes of this essay is the equality of female status and duties to those of males. This is especially important in terms of family planning; an area where females have particularly been oppressed for so long. While it is thus advisable for both parties to agree on the number of children and the means of birth control, clinics should not perpetuate past inequalities by requiring proof of a husband's permission when a wife requires sterilization after having two children. Being the bearer of children, the woman should be in control of her own body and her own choices rather than being dictated to by a man. Here feminism recognizes that there are certain obvious physical differences between men and women. Not all things can be shared between the genders, and feminism requires that this be recognized and honored, rather than being used as a means of oppression.

Birth control however is an issue that can be a shared responsibility between the genders. To expect the female to take sole responsibility for birth control, raising and caring for children, including preparing children for the school year, is unacceptable according to the feminist paradigm of equality. These are things that could and should be shared by the male partner in the household.

The Feminine Physique

It was mentioned above that feminism acknowledges certain physical attributes that are not shared between the genders. The movement also advocates that these should not be used as a means of oppression. Similarly, women should also not use phenomena reserved for the female gender alone to evoke either sympathy or a claim to superiority. Feminine phenomena such as menopause and menstruation, while often inconvenient and painful, should be celebrated for being unique to femininity. These are issues that cannot be controlled at will, but how they are dealt with and used is up to the woman.

More choice is involved with issues such as breastfeeding and clothing. According to the feminist ideal, women should be allowed a choice in terms of issues such as breastfeeding. Modern technology and development have made such choices possible - formula milk can for example be bought in stores to either supplement or replace breastfeeding. Thus, while breastfeeding is not anti-feminist in itself, the woman should be aware that choices are available, and that she can make those choices without guilt or shame.

The same is true of women's clothing. Wearing a bra on a regular basis is no longer a sign of male oppression. This is again an issue of choice. If a woman chooses to wear a bra for the sake of convenience or comfort, or indeed chooses not to for the same reasons, this is entirely acceptable from a feminist viewpoint.

The Status of Females in Society and at Work

While great strides have been made for feminism over the last century, some inequalities do still exist both in the workplace and in general society. Both at home and in the workplace for example the male is often assumed to be the main decision maker. This is evidenced by the phone calls received in many homes asking for the male head of the house. In the workplace women are subject to the same treatment. Newly hired employees for example, if hired by a female, would ask if the male "head" of the firm approved of the hiring. Another instance of this is where the company is founded in a male name, and a woman later acquires the company. Calls would then come for the man who is no longer part of the business.

From a feminist viewpoint, all of the above are instances where the inferiority of the female is assumed based on no more than the fact that she is a woman. Such assumptions are the result of a social paradigm of female oppression that lasted for centuries. Women have proved their capabilities by taking jobs such as being the CEO for insurance companies. There is thus no reason to assume their inferiority on the basis of gender.

It is thus unacceptable to assume inferiority or weakness either in the workplace in terms of seniority or indeed at home in terms of needs. A man who works long hours but requires his female partner to get a good night's rest is an example of such assumptions. In terms of feminism, such actions and assumptions do not allow for the fact that women are equal to men, and should be treated as such.

In conclusion, the feminist viewpoint is not that the obvious differences between men and women should be ignored in favor of the equality ideal. Instead, the point is to accept each gender on its own terms, and to above all recognize everybody as equally human, capable of a variety of skills that should not necessarily be connected to gender divisions.