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Historically speaking, women have been ignored and repressed globally in an effort to
systematically reduce them to a level lower than men for objectification as well as exploitation.
However women¶s groups and movements have fought against this oppression and for the
equality of women to grant them suffrage, free will, a respectable place in society as well as a
chance to make something out of themselves (Kapadia).

In a straightforward sense, feminism is the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other
rights of women equal to those of men ("feminism."). Disintegrating that one very rudimentary
definition, feminism has three components. It is a ©
©, meaning a group working to
accomplish specific goals. Those goals are  

 
  -implying that one must
be engaged with the government and law, as well as social practices and beliefs. And implicit to
these goals is access to sufficient information to enable women to make responsible choices.
(Baumgardner and Richards)

It is thought that the structures are such that women are tied down in a vicious circle making it
near impossible for them to stand up and strive for {
 (implying independent beings)
("T he Seco nd S ex, Wo man as ot her 1949"). They are rather better off in their dependent
state as the
 (implying dependent beings) as they would only be worse off if left on their
own to survive given the lack of opportunities provided to women ("T he S eco nd S ex,
Wo man as ot her 1949").

According to Carl Marx, the basic inequalities imparted upon women are, in essence, a result of
the capitalist mode of production as it gives birth to a system that is characterized by economic
inequality and unequal opportunity for women ( Engels). The feminist movement is important
in the sense that keeping in mind the Marxist view, the liberal feminist view is also somewhat
against capitalism, highlighting the importance of redistribution of wealth and provision of
above-mentioned facilities for socio-political empowerment and autonomy( Baehr).

The future of feminism significantly hinges upon the recognition of the above mentioned hurdles
that result in these inequalities. The Marxist and liberal views, among others, point out the way
forward for feminism. Feminism as an ideology is not under threat and it is rather the intent in
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execution that has made it seem like a blurred concept. The structures that cause the imbalance
can be reconstructed but it would require an undying effort from the feminist workers and
substantial government support for feminism to hold true its objective in essence. One of
Canada's best-known feminists and political commentators, Î
 
, was once asked Is
there a Future for Feminism?" Her answer was: a resounding yes, but the movement should work
to revolutionize the role of men and women  the home, as well as outside it, she orated ("IS
THERE A FUTURE FOR FEMINISM?").
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Works Cited

Baehr, Amy R. "Liber al Feminis m. " 

© ©
  
 


    . N. p., 29 Aug 2008. Web. 24 Mar 2011.
<ht t p://p lat o.st anford. edu/ent r ies/ fe minis m- libera l/>. 

Baumgardner, Jennifer, and Amy Richards. 

 
 ©
©©

 

. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010. Print.

Engels, Fr iedr ich.  



 
© 


  

 
  .
2004. Pr int .

"feminism." 
 
! 
"
© 
#
$
%&
 . HarperCollins
Publishers. 29 Mar. 2011. <Dictionary.comhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/feminism>.

Gilbert , Helen. "An I nt roduct io n t o Mar xist Feminis m. " '

(   


) 
©  ©. N. p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar 2011.
<ht t p://www. fe minist ezine. co m/ fe minist / philosophy/I nt roduct io n-t o-Mar xist -
Femin is m. ht ml>.

""IS THERE A FUTURE FOR FEMINISM?" JUDY REBICK TO GIVE INAUGURAL

LECTURE AT YORK UNIVERSITY'S NEW SCHOOL OF WOMEN'S STUDIES." *(

+,
'
$$,
,
(-( *
.$!
,/( 0

1(2
(-'$1$,'

 $,
'
,0
$-(2,(3
-
 +

-3
$!(. York
University, 01 Apr 1998. Web. 29 Mar 2011.
<http://www.yorku.ca/mediar/releases_1996_2000/archive/040198-2.htm>.

Kapadia, Faisal. "Feminism in Pakistan." 

© 23 July 2010, Print.

"T he Seco nd S ex. "  © 


/
 
 
 
)
 ©

 
%45 4.
N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar 2011.
<ht t p://www. mar xist s.org/r efer ence/ subject /et hics/ de- beauvo ir/ 2nd-
sex/ int ro duct io n. ht m>.