Valencia, Ma. Yosha D.

3E1

Feminism
The Empowerment of Both Genders

Abstract:
This paper aims to let the readers know what Feminism is all about. It aims to
make the readers know what feminism truly meant and this also includes the
three main perspectives of Feminism. This would make us more aware that
gender inequality really exists in this world and we cant neglect its
existence. Simone de Beauvoir, the existentialist philosopher from France
talked about what women can do. Feminism is not just fighting for womens
rights but it is also a call for freedom.

I.
Feminism has been an issue for so many years thats why we cant
question the existence of it. There are a lot of movements today and
one movement is the HeForshe campaign initiated by Emma Watson.
What is Feminism and what does it fight for? Feminism is a complex set
of political ideologies used by the womens movement to advance the
cause of womens equality and to end the sexist theory and practice of
social oppression. There are 3 main perspectives in feminism thinking
and these are:

1. Like other liberal thinkers liberal feminism is based on the idea that
a just society results from the free choices of educated and aware
people.

They argue that social problems arise primarily from ignorance and
social constraints on freedom of choice. Gender inequality, then,
results primarily from socialization that forces people to grow up with
distorted and harmful ideas about males and females and from cultural
ideas that restrict peoples freedom to freely choose how to live their
lives. Liberal solutions typically focus on changing ideas and cultural
practices, such as rewriting textbooks or reforming legal codes.

2. Marxist feminism makes a direct causal connection between

capitalism and the subordination of women. This perspective believes
that women are an exploited class in the capitalist mode of production,
both by their husbands within families and by employers in the paid
labor market The strongest criticism of this thinking is the fact that
patriarchy predates capitalism by several thousand years and therefore
cannot be understood as a product of capitalism. This perspective also
ignores the fact that male dominance continues in non-capitalist
countries such as China.

3. Radical feminists believe that gender inequality is a result of the

collective efforts of men to dominate, control, and exploit women.
Violence against women compulsory, and the organization of the
traditional family are all viewed as ways to ensure male dominance
through female subordination to and dependence upon men.

II

Simone De Beauvoir, an existentialist philosopher asserted that women

are as capable of choice as men, and thus can choose to elevate
themselves, moving beyond the immanence to which they were
previously resigned and reaching transcendence, a position in which
one takes responsibility for oneself and the world, where one chooses
one's freedom. Many women also stated what Simone has said. Not
just philosophers but also reformist and authors and even celebrities.

III.
As what I have said before, Feminism has been an issue for many years
and this hasnt stopped. Women should stand up and fight for their
rights and discover the things that they can do. We should empower
women just like how we empower men. In this modern world, there are
a lot of opportunities waiting for both genders but are just hindered by
our minds. Men should uplift the women and women should uplift the
men. Feminism is not just for the women, but for all.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_de_Beauvoir#Sexuality.2C_existent
ialist_feminism_and_The_Second_Sex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism#Men_and_masculinity
http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2014/9/emma-watsongender-equality-is-your-issue-too
http://sociology.about.com/od/F_Index/g/Feminism.htm