Feminist Movements example essay topic

Feminist Movement In the aftermath of World War II, the lives of the women have changed dramatically. Women spoke their minds out and wanted to be heard. World War II brought them a new outlook on how they should live their lives. It encouraged women organize social movements such as boycotts and public marches pushing for their human rights and protect them against discrimination.

Alongside, they formed their own organization representing them against the federal government like the NOW or National Organization for Women. Through the years, women have been struggling to fight for equal rights and unfortunately still exist even at the present in some areas. Yes, women's status was not like what they used to back then, where their roles where to stay home do household chores and take care of the children. Now, women have grown to be a new person. They have accomplished their goals and work wherever they want these days. But despite of their success in the feminist movements, it was all due to their personal struggle and hard work.

The feminist movement has changed women's status in the history of our society socially, politically, and economically. The changes made, influenced the society in positive and negative outcomes. Traditionally, women are stereotyped as being committed to only on doing household works but in our society today, they play significant roles not only at home but also in workplaces such as schools, offices, and businesses. They are now able to have the careers of their choice, and even have the same careers as men do. For example, back then being a police officer is ought to be a man's job. Nowadays, one can see a woman entering different fields of occupation like in law, carpentry, medicine and sports.

This proves that women have as equal rights as men. Although women have attained such freedom, they tend to take advantage of it and go overboard. Women, today, are very liberated on how they present themselves in society. To be more specific, is how they dress and act or the way they carry themselves in public. For instance, Britney Spears, a famous entertainer, dresses immodestly and act wildly by doing things under the influence of alcohol such as getting married and getting annulled the next day. Unluckily, as a public figure she is being looked up to especially by young girls.

They try to copy her and wear too revealing clothes and try to act disorderly. Sometimes these acts can lead from one thing to another. In the early 90's, studies have shown that teen pregnancies occur on a regularly basis and has been severely increasing (Newsweek: Birth rates in U. S, 1991-96). As a result, this brings out a wrong impression of women to society. Throughout the history, women were being discriminated against by ignoring or not paying much attention to them when it comes to dealing with political issues. One in particular, was the controversial issue regarding women's right to vote.

By the end of the 1880's feminist movements did not meet their expectations due to lack of support from women themselves". If by the end of the 1880's the suffragists had reached something of a stalemate, by the end of 1890's and early 1900's the movement had entered a completely new phase. This was largely the result of new factors in the situation: the growth of support for women's suffrage amongst women themselves, and the increasing importance of the labour movement in British politics" (Banks, p. 121). For these women, voting was becoming more like a powerful tool to be recognized in the society and understand the importance of voting and to also participate actively in the campaign. Women suffragists finally reached their goal, in which women at the present are getting more involved in politics by running for office and being leaders of the society. One good example is present senator Hillary Clinton.

This former first lady is one of the top senators in the United States today. She fought amendments to the Senate bill like the imprints on drug bills and the gay rights activists. Rep. Clinton also helped a lot of people especially kids in New York City. Another example is Senator Barbara Boxer of California. She has achieved quite a few accomplishments here in California such as in agriculture where she defended farmers against unfair trade provisions, and also in education where she is helping to improve.

In addition to that, politicians' wives are getting engaged in the decision making and campaigns of their husbands nowadays. One negative effect of the feminist movement in politics today, is that fewer women are not voting. They are taking their right to vote for granted by not voicing their opinions. Having so much freedom, women do not feel the need to vote because they are caught up with so many things in their lives that they are not even aware of the government anymore. They do not take the initiative to get to know their candidates and find out who amongst the candidates represents their outlook better. Statistics have shown that less and less women are voting in the recent years.

On a different note, Oprah Winfrey, a daytime TV host, presented a full show on Oprah targeting women, young and old, to vote. She and other famous entertainers like Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Cristina Aguilera were reaching out to women, trying to get them to register and actually vote. Women who do not value the significance of what the women in the earlier times have fought for just to get their voices heard. They have struggled to change their role in the society, to be recognized and make a difference. They paved their way to upcoming generations of young girls and women; instead this so-called generation of women does not seem to appreciate what they have done for them by not practicing and eventually continuing what they have started. At the moment, women are the primary customers of all the retail stores and other business at the malls and elsewhere.

Women regularly spend most of their money purchasing products on a daily basis, especially holidays such as Christmas which is a big help in our economy. Most women today are also entering in the business world and becoming more successful because they have the distinct skill of knowing and offering what people need especially women's needs. Before the accusations and trials, Martha Stewart was one of the very successful business women out there. She mastered women's necessities, whether be it on gardening, cooking or home products. Most of the stores out there are frequently targeting women shoppers rather than men.

They often create products and advertisements relating to women and young girls. Women are one of the significant sources that bring money to the economy of countries. On the other hand, women are getting very empowering that people only see their views and barely pay attention to men and others. It seems like everything revolves around women or all about them in general. For instance, there are a large number of different brands of clothing for women that they can purchase. Therefore, women have a lot to choose from all these competing stores.

To which leads them to paying less than men are paying for their clothes. This also applies to the economic theory which states: if the supply is higher than the demand, the price will be lower. But when it comes to men who only have a few stores to choose from, it causes them to spend more money because there is a higher demand and a low supply of their needs. The feminist movements have brought negative and positive effects to the nation today. Although it had cost some negative outcome, it is still a very significant event that greatly affected the modern society. Women today owe their freedom to the women suffragists who fought for all of the women's rights today.

Today's women should pay their respect to the women of the past by celebrating their freedom and by continuing what they have started. If it were not for the suffragists' courage and bravery, the world would have been so different from now. Without their movement, modern women would not be able to attain so much freedom such as being able to work, to get involve in politics and become leaders, and being able to own businesses. Such freedom has opened many doors for women all over the world at the present and in the future.

Work Cited 1. Banks, Oliver. Faces of Feminism. New York: St. Martin's Press, Inc., 1981 2. Guba ta, Kate.

"The New Feminism". Readings for Writers. Ed. Jo Ray McCue n, Anthony C. Winkler.

Boston, Ma: Thomson, 2000.557-559.3. Nye, Andrea. Feminist Theory and the Philosophies of Man. New York: Croom Helm, 1988.4 " Women's movement". Encarta Encyclopedia 2004.

Encarta Encyclopedia Online. 28 Sept. 2004 web.