Power, wealth, and freedom: sexism and postfeminism in contemporary society

¶ … power and riches like restrictive chains or are they like keys to freedom and happiness?

There is an old adage that states money does not buy happiness and there is certainly something to that. At the same time, money can prevent unhappiness. When a person is poor and has no power, this station certainly contributes to their level of unhappiness. Living in poverty forces people into a cycle where they have to work to survive. They lose out on opportunities for education and social advancement. In that sense, poverty is a prison and freedom from poverty is a key to more happiness than one might have otherwise.

How does postfeminism relate to second- and third-wave goals?

Second-wave feminist goals focused on inequalities in pay and power, particularly in passing legislation to protect the equal rights of women (Gamble 2001). Third-wave feminism incorporated the differing viewpoints of women who were also members of minority groups. Post-feminism takes into account all of these dynamics while also taking up positions and perspectives that were neglected by these earlier waves of feminism. It is also responsive to the societal backlash that occurred during the period between and after the waves (Wright 2000). It endeavors to achieve the level of equality sought after during the feminist movement without using failed techniques.

3. Has sexism in society affected you in any way? If so, did you benefit or not?

I have been affected by sexism in my society. Everyone has, although they might not be aware of it themselves. In my case, I did not benefit from the sexism. One specific example that comes to mind was in high school when a member of the opposite gender cheated off of my exam paper. When the teacher graded the papers and found two that were exactly the same, the other person was questioned first and their version of events was believed. When the teacher talked to me, it was clear that the verdict was already in and that anything I sad would be disregarded.

4. It is sometimes said that people live in different cultures live in different worlds. What philosophical issues arise when people from different worlds find themselves in the same physical space?

When people from different cultures or different worlds as the saying go, converge in the same physical space, there can be many serious philosophical issues which emerge. Cultures can have very different perspectives about political, moral, or social philosophy

(Parra 2009). For example, in some cultures females are considered to be at a marriageable age at twelve or younger, but this is not accepted in the western world. When these two cultures are in the same space, they clash over which perspective will be accepted into their conjoined culture.

5. Is there such a thing as a fixed human nature? Or does human nature change with historical circumstances?

There are certain characteristics which almost all people possess, regardless of culture, such as familial bonds or feelings about murdering other members of the species (Strauss 1953). Of course, these are either heightened or negated by the influences of the culture in which they live. There are also individuals born without these innate senses, but these are aberrant. Human culture can change with circumstances and the individual culture's perspective can change as well, but those senses at the core do not.