Women
This lesson covers the application of feminist principles to every aspect of life, including the social, political, and business domains. The main arguments are inquiries into how the world would look if feminism was integrated fully with standard human rights. Feminism is as much about changing men as it is about changing women, meaning that feminism implies a breakdown of patriarchal values. A feminist future is one in which all people and all cultures are equal. The principles extend far beyond the needs of white women. Evidence that authors use to support the arguments include references to the ways feminism has already helped women achieve some degree of parity in some specific sectors, whether that be the number of tenured professors at universities or the increased likelihood of having a female president.
The greatest strength in this lesson is the need for hope and creativity. Both men and women can work together to create a better society that leaves behind the patriarchal values of the past. However, the weakness of this lesson is that it is idealistic. In California or other parts of the United States, it may be more foreseeable for a feminist and egalitarian future than it is in other parts of the world. It works in Sweden, because Sweden is small and homogenous. Feminist ideals are unpopular in general in other parts of the world because traditional values are patriarchal. Those traditional values supplant feminism...
Moreover, there are too many diverse voices, and each person's idea of an ideal world is going to be different.
In spite of this, the information gleaned from this lesson can be easily applied to every area of life. Treating people with dignity is the beginning. It is important to envision the practical applications of feminist principles. Young women need to say no to negative images of women, and cease buying into the stereotypes. It is critical to continue fighting for equal pay, and for the transformation of corporate cultures into more collaborative environments in which women's voices are heard more easily because men no longer dominate the dialogue and discussions. The goal is to transform the balance of power.
Race, class, and gender are all interrelated, which is why the information in this lesson can be applied to every other aspect of life. Access to the means by which to possess and use power is the key to a feminist future. My emotional response to the lesson overall is mixed, because I do not have a clear vision of how power can be more equally allocated at this point in human evolution. I have a pessimistic view because I see that seven billion people are too many, and the existing stash of weapons and cash too great to cause the men who control those things to let go. The best we can hope for as feminists in this society is to change our small worlds: our communities and our local areas.…
