Feminism:the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. Patriarchy: a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.
We Should all be Feminists:
The History and Fundamentals of Feminism
What is feminism? What does it mean to different people?
“The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.”
Feminism is actually many feminisms that are as diverse as there are women.
What ispatriarchy?
“The cultural and societal systems of power that privilege male power and oppress and disadvantage women. Patriarchy also reenforces gender roles that may marginalize different types of men in different ways as well.”
There is difference between patriarchy and men
Men benefit from patriarchy even if we are working against it or don’t buy into it
Lots of people perpetuate patriarchy without doing it intentionally
Some men perpetuate patriarchy because they feel entitled to certain power
“Patriarchy knows no gender” – both men and women can enforce patriarchal roles
External and internal oppression
This includes gender roles placed on men
Michael Kimmel: On Gender
The Three Waves of Feminism
First Wave (1830s – 1900s)
Focus on women’s sufferage (getting the right to vote)
In Canada, some people say women got the right to vote in 1917, but this is not totally correct. White women got the right to vote.
Asian women did not get the right to vote until 1948.
Aboriginal women didn’t get the right to vote until 1960.
Also consider women’s equal property and contract rights
Second Wave (1960 - 1980s)
Focussed on workplace, sexuality, family, and reproductive rights
“Women” should be allowed to leave the home and work if they wish
Equal pay for equal work
Focused on domestic violence
Focused on birth control and abortion rights
Third Wave (early 1990s - present)
A reaction to the perceived failings of the Second Wave of feminism (which was very white and excluded all sorts of women, including women of colour)
Has extended into and focuses on :
Gendered violence (including sexual assault and rape)
Queer theory
Abolishing gender roles and stereotypes for all people
Reclaiming derogatory terms (like “slut”) - consider how many insults are feminine.
Conflicting explorations of the morality of sex work
Gender and identity beyond the binary
Intersectionality
What is Patriarchy?
Chauvinism: excessive or aggressive support for own’s own sex. Misogyny: ingrained prejudice against women.
Bechdel test
The Mask You Live In:
“Rape is a crime not of lust, but of violence and power.” ~Susan Brownmiller
What is sexual assault? Sexual assault is a crime of power and control. The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behaviour that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Some forms of sexual assault include: ● Penetration of the victim’s body, also known as rape ● Attempted rape ● Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator’s body ● Fondling or unwanted sexual touching
What is rape?: a. The crime of using force or the threat of force to compel a person to submit to sexual intercourse. b. The crime of using force or threat of force to compel a person to submit to some other sexual penetration. c. Other unlawful sexual intercourse or penetration, as with an unconscious person or person below the age of or incapable of consent.
Consent:
An enthusiastic, voluntary, YES!
Not implied.
Not the absence of a "no".
Can be revoked at any time.
Rape Culture:
Rape Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.
Being Presidential:
Victim Blaming:
What is Feminism Really? A Summation:
Briones published the illustrations on International Women's Day (celebrated on March 8) for her family, friends, and Facebook fans as a powerful response to Quebec minister Lise Thériault publicly rejecting the feminist label. The original comic was in French but has since been translated into Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, and Spanish. ~Alicia Barrón