Ty Wilson

Feminism

I am here today to talk about Feminism, and why it’s important in today’s society. First, let’s ask ourselves this:

What is feminism?

British suffragist and journalist Rebecca West famously said, "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people." In other words, feminism is a commitment to achieving the equality of the sexes. This notion is not exclusive to women: men also have a stake in overcoming the restrictive roles that deprive them of full humanity. (www.redletterpress.com) Now let’s look at the two different “types” of Feminists.

--Socialist feminism (which can also be termed Marxist feminism or materialist feminism) traces the oppression of women to inequalities that developed in connection with the class system of private property. Socialist feminists view gender inequalities as intrinsic to the capitalist system, which makes vast profits off women's unpaid labor in the home and underpaid labor in the workforce. Like racism, homophobia and other forms of bigotry, sexism divides the working class and thereby allows the capitalists to make super-profits. Because these different forms of oppression have a common source, they also have a common solution: socialism. Socialist feminists seek to eliminate the capitalist system and replace it with socialism, which collectively shares the wealth created by human labor and has no economic stake in maintaining exploitation. Socialist feminists believe that the leadership of women and other oppressed people in a worker-run democracy will be able to root out chauvinist practices and psychology quite quickly. Radical Women is today's leading socialist feminist women's organization. Since its inception it has called for multi-issue organizing strategies, independent from capitalist political parties, that prioritize the needs of the most oppressed women. Radical Women is affiliated with the Freedom Socialist Party, a revolutionary socialist feminist party of men and women. (www.socialism.com)

--Reformist feminists believe that gender inequality can be eliminated through legislative or electoral reforms without the need to alter the capitalist system itself. Groups such as the National Organization for Women and NARAL/Pro-Choice America typify reformist feminism. Because they limit their efforts to what can be achieved within the current system, they orient primarily to more privileged white, middle class women many of whose needs can be at least partially or temporarily ameliorated by reforms. Their approach is single-issue and aimed at swaying politicians and donors.

As you can see, the Feminist movement has its advantages and flaws, but the long term social benefit: gender equality. Many people - male and female - argue that changing what’s been deeply rooted in society since, well, forever, is the wrong move. I disagree with this, it’s the fear of change that leads people to criticize feminists, and many have prophesied a hypothetical “feminist takeover” in which women outnumber men in the workforce. While there would undoubtedly be a rise in women working due to better wages (women today usually have lower salaries compared to men), there are still many who will stay home to either care for their children or out of a simple desire to not work because of their partner earning enough wages to support them.

Due to the struggles that feminists throughout history have endured, many women today now have rights they didn't have fifty years ago, such as the right to better wages and the right to vote. Though they still face sexual harassment and discrimination in their day to day jobs, and many are attacked when they have the audacity to make their opinions on various issues heard. I support feminism because I support equality, and you can be male or female for that.