Feminist Frontiers Essay, Research Paper
Feminism is defined as an organized activity on
behalf of women?s rights and interests. To me,
this statement encompasses all women; regardless
of race, class, ethnicity, sexual preference, age
or religion. While I agree that these factors do
influence and shape a woman?s individual
experiences, I believe that women everywhere are
oppressed just for being biologically different
than males. In Feminist Frontiers, it is stated
that ?women everywhere suffer restrictions,
oppression, and discrimination because they are
living in patriarchal societies? (1). Why then,
are many feminists centered on these factors? I
believe that in order for there to be a successful
women?s liberation movement, all women, regardless
of race, class, etc., must come together in order
to achieve equality.
In reaction to the Million Man March orchestrated
by Farrakhan, Joan Morgan states, ??moved by the
awesome sight of so many black men of different
classes and sexual orientations gathered together
peacefully for the sole purpose of bettering
themselves? (51). If African-American men of
different classes and sexual preferences can
congregate to demonstrate a common goal, then why
can?t women seem to do this? If black men, ?the
one group in this country most likely to murder
each other?(Morgan, 51) can manage to show a
unified front, then why can?t ?feminists? seem to
get past class and race for the betterment of all
females?
Pharr seems to agree with this, asserting that
racism has been one of the major causes of the
failure of the women?s movement to make permanent
and meaningful change (25). The women?s
liberation movement is beginning to gain strength
again because there are women who are now
expressing ideas about ?liberation for all women?
(Pharr, 26). I agree with Pharr, that women have
to examine racism, classism, etc to see how
everything is connected (26), yet women cannot get
stuck on these issues if serious change is to be
made.
I do understand that feminism and ?femininity? is
different for women of various races, classes, and
sexual preferences. Being an upper-middle class
WASP-y white female, feminism meant acquiring an
education, obtaining a career, and being
emotionally and financially independent (Morgan,
58). Race and class didn?t figure into my
feminism because they weren?t issues I dealt with
on a daily basis. Learning to change my own oil
or fixing my own flat tire made me feel like an
independent superwoman. I realize that growing up
African-American or Hispanic would change my
concept of what it means to be a woman, what it
means to be a ?feminist?. Being a woman for a
middle-class black woman might include ?providing
financial support for her children or taking an
active and influential role in her church and
community, yet still being stereotyped by dominant
white culture? (Feminist Frontiers, 1).
Isn?t feminism not just about ?analyzing the ways
that social structures shape and restrict the
lives of women?(Feminist Frontiers, 2)? I do
believe that it is important to report upon the
inequalities faced by different groups of women
but it is more important to examine the ways that
women have been ?oppressed and victimized based on
gender?(Feminist Frontiers, 2). Isn?t this the
essence of feminism? Job discrimination, sexual
harassment and violence are undeniably pivotal to
gender. These are ways women are oppressed, just
for being biologically different than males. This
is the reason I consider myself to be a feminist.
In order to exercise control over our own lives
and resist social constraints (Feminist Frontiers,
2), women must know ?that we won?t get there until
everyone gets there; that we must move forward in
a great strong line, hand in hand, not just a few
at a time? (Pharr, 26).