PSY512 :Gender Studies and Feminist Movement

 PSY512  Gender Studies https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sdkiDsaC6S5KJwkYK-FvcMB_97geGBVO?usp=sharing

INTRODUCTION

 

Today we have loads of research evidence available that explains both masculinity, or male roles, and femininity, or female roles.

There are two Divisions of APA that directly deal with these issues:

Division 35: Society for the Psychology of Women, established 1973.

Division 51: Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity, established 1995.

Gender:

The perception of being a male or a female.

“Gender” versus “Sex”:

Gender refers to the psychological aspect whereas sex refers to the physiological or physical aspect of the same phenomenon.

“Gender” refers to culturally constructed categorization of “maleness” and “femaleness” or masculinity and femininity.

Biologically based distinctions between males and females are referred to as “Sex” of the person.

Who makes us behave as males or females?

Human-beings are born as male or female babies, BUT they become masculine or feminine as a result of child rearing practices and socio-cultural variables.

Gender roles:

Expectations of appropriate behavior for males and females set by a society. Gender role expectations are very similar across societies.

Gender differences:

Actual differences between males and females in terms of average capacity, ability, or typical behavior.

Gender stereotypes:

“Widely held beliefs about females ’and male’s abilities, personality traits, and social behavior”

(Weiten, 2001).

Feminist Movement

Christine de Pizan:

•                     Generally considered the first feminist writer.

•                     1785: The first scientific Society for Women established in Middle berg, Dutch, and Republic.

•                     1791: “Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen”.

•                     The “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen” (1789) was paraphrased.

•                     It was the French revolution’s central document.

•                     1792: Mary Wollstonecraft: “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”.

The modern feminist movement emerged from the west.

A member of men as well as women contributed to the cause of improving women’s status in the society, in the political, economic, and social spheres.

All societies were patriarchal, male dominated, where women were generally oppressed and home bound.

Women were denied the right to franchise, to go for education, and profession. Woman was treated as a second rate citizen with limited or no ability, little or lower grade intelligence and non-trustable skill.

•                     19th century Reform Movement was a landmark in the history of women liberation.

•                     1848: New York: The first Women’s Rights Convention

•                     J .S. Mill wrote “The Subjection of Women” in the mid-1800s. He was influenced by his wife Harriet

•                     Taylor.

Emmeline Pankhurst formed WSPU/Women’s Social & Political Union..

•                     In the East Qasim Amin an Egyptian jurist is known as the Father of Egyptian feminist movement.

•                     In 1899 he wrote “Women’s Liberation” and proved to be a very influential writer

(Tahrir ul Mar’a).

WAVES OF THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT

First wave feminists

The early feminists, who initiated the movement.

Second wave feminists

By this time, women in most countries had been granted the right to franchise and to contest election for public office. These feminists were active after 1960.They were working for equality, both economic and social. They fought for the right to contraception, birth control and sexual liberation. Sexual liberation became a much debated issue and was criticized by many feminists.

Third wave feminists

Third wave movement emerged in the 1990’s.The earlier feminists failed to see and deal with variations within women. Third wave feminists try to see how different groups of women may be having different needs, and circumstances, and requiring different solutions. Womanism, Queer theory, and Post Modern Feminism are a part of this wave.

Feminist Movement

 

A movement or way of thinking that proposes, advocates, supports, and struggles for social equality of the two sexes. The difference between men and women should be looked into from a “gender” perspective rather than a “sexist” perspective. The difference between the sexes is ascribed or inherent but the gender abilities are attained. Society is the seed bed of our gender roles, gender Identity, and gender stratification.

Feminist movement had its roots in struggle for enlightenment, women’s rights, and legal and political rights.

The feminists demands     :

a) The significance of change in mindset of people or in society

b) All human traits are found in all humans

c) Equal rights and elimination of gender stratification.

d) Curbing and bringing to an end all forms of violence against women.

e) Promoting sexual independence.

Forms or Varieties of Feminism

1.      Liberal Feminism :( 1960s- 1970s)

Liberal feminism had roots in classic liberal thought; women should have the same rights as men.

2.      Radical Feminism:

•         Cultural notion of gender needs to be eliminated.

•         Men are the oppressors and women oppressed.

•         Racial or social class oppression follows the same model.

3.      Socialist Feminism:

Rather than seeking liberation at individual level, men and women should be together in this pursuit.

4.      Cultural Feminism:

•         Social change is a must.

•         Societies need to accept and appreciate traditionally feminine values.

• Woman suffrage movement & its ultimate success brought about major changes in terms of women’s status as well as their self- perceptions and vision.

The First World War was also a turning point. Many women who never worked outside home started working. But the end of war meant joblessness for many women. In piece time, the jobs were to be left for the soldiers returning home. Still many women carried on with nursing, farming, blue collared jobs & other traditional occupations. At the same time during the world war many women entered occupations that used to be restricted to men alone e.g. mechanical work. In many communist & socialist countries women were bought at equivalence with men in many regards.

Feminist movement saw tough times & discouragement in countries like Germany or Italy, in the early 20th country.

Women’s Movement in the Sub-continent:

• Began in the 1920s

• AIWC: Established in 1927: All India Women’s Conference was the flag bearer

• The initial agenda was females’ education

• The fullest developmental of an individual’s latent capacities along with the ideals of motherhood was emphasized. (motherhood education )

• Later on social transformation was also included in their agenda.

·   Later on common curricula for all

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE (VOTE RIGHT)

It was a reform movement for attaining the goal of suffrage to women .The movement had political and social aims to achieve.

·         Suffragists: supporters and leaders of the suffrage movement. Any person, male or female, who supported suffrage for women.

·         Suffragettes: Female supporters of the movement.

Initially equal (equal importance of both votes)rather than universal suffrage (everyone has right to vote is of equal importance ) was the demand.

·         Equal suffrage: Supporting the cause of abolishing the tradition and practice of graded votes.

·         Universal suffrage: Right to vote without any discrimination. In many countries and parts of world, women’s suffrage was granted muc before universal suffrage; so women in these parts of the world had the right to vote before the men and women of some other races in various parts of the world.