Structuralism: A Feminist Analysis
Structuralism originated in opposition to phenomenology: instead of describing experience, the goal was to identify the underlying structures that make it possible. In place of the phenomenological description of consciousness, structuralism sought to analyse structures that operate unconsciously. Structuralists were a group of primarily French thinkers who, in the 1950s and 1960s were influenced by Ferdinand de Saussure’s theory of language and applied concepts from structural linguistics. Structuralism first developed in anthropology (Claude Lévi-Strauss), then in literary and cultural studies (Roman Jakobson, Roland Barthes), psychoanalysis (Jacques Lacan), intellectual history (Michel Foucault), and Marxist theory (Louis Althusser). These thinkers never formed a school as such but it was …show more content…
But that is only one strand of feminism, which is less a unified school than a social and intellectual movement and a space of debate. On the one hand, feminist theorists champion the identity of women, demand rights for women, and promote women’s writings as representations of the experience of women. On the other hand, feminists undertake a theoretical critique of the heterosexual matrix that organizes identities and cultures in terms of the opposition between man and woman issues. Feminist criticism has, in many ways, followed what some theorists call the three waves of feminism:
1. First Wave Feminism - late 1700s-early 1900's: writers like Mary Wollstonecraft (A Vindication of the Rights of Women, 1792) speak about the inequalities between the sexes.Susan B. Anthony and Victoria Woodhull are activists who contribute to the women's suffrage movement.
2. Second Wave Feminism - early 1960s-late 1970s:Writers like Simone de Beauvoir and Elaine Showalter belong to this
Ida B Wells First Wave Research Paper
662 Words | 3 PagesDuring the 1st Wave of the Feminist Movement, that began in 1848, one of the biggest issues was attaining the right to vote or suffrage. During this time another huge issue was that of the treatment of African Americans in the country. One of the influential women that fought for both the women’s movement and abolitionist movement during the 1st Wave was Ida B. Wells. Ida B. Wells, an African American woman, born in 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi to parents who were former slaves that were very active in the Republican Party during Reconstruction. Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had not had any effect on their lives until 1863.
Suffragettes Dbq Essay
871 Words | 4 PagesThe women who fought for suffrage are known as suffragette. The suffragette that were
How Did The Eureka Stockade Affect Australia
966 Words | 4 PagesThe Eureka Stockade was the key event in the development of Australian democracy and Australian identity. It was the first time Australians struck back on unfair rules and laws and actually got what they wanted. The rebellion was caused by the Goldfield workers (the diggers) who were opposed to the governments miners' licences. The licences being a simple way for the government to receive taxes from the diggers. Every digger had to pay the fees even if they did not find any gold, and after a while with no profit, it became very hard for people to pay.
Women In The 1960s
473 Words | 2 PagesThe social and cultural movements of the 1960s began to upset the traditional “norms” of gender constructs, family and social structures, racial biases, and portrayals of white suburbia that existed in the 1950s. In February 1960 black college students in Greensboro, North Carolina sat in on a “white’s only” lunch counter, as similar sit-ins began to happen in other southern cities as well. In 1961 the Freedom Rides which supported integration in transportation, began taking place on buses. In August 1963, men and women gathered in Washington DC for a “March on Washington” where they called for freedom, justice and equality, and expressed concerns over minimum wage and unemployment.
Gender Is Powerful: The Long Reach Of Feminism
318 Words | 2 PagesKylie Cunningham November 16, 2017 HIST-324 Paper 2 Introduction Women’s Rights Movement Second-wave feminism of the sixties and seventies made huge leaps for women’s rights and gender equality. Women once again were fighting for gender equality, but this time, the movement encompassed a much broader array of issues women face. A major goal of the movement was protection from employment discrimination. As mentioned by Nancy MacLean in her article, Gender is Powerful: The Long Reach of Feminism, “some of feminism 's greatest policy victories in the1960s and 1970s came as a result of using tools won by other movements,” (pg. 20). She expands on this by citing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically, Title VII.
Planned Parenthood: The Oppression Of Women
1167 Words | 5 PagesHow does this all relate to modern day issues? While the aforementioned essay within her book was not necessarily written all too long ago, feminism has changed and adapted to fit in with younger generations. As of right now feminism is currently quite the hot topic throughout the media in both western regions as well as more conservative regions. Oppression continues to remain hidden within “chivalrous” behaviors and ideals as presented by male dominated institutions that attempt to make decisions on behalf of women. Take for example, the war on Planned Parenthood and female healthcare.
Declaration Of The Rights Of Women Essay
660 Words | 3 PagesThroughout this text, Wollstonecraft discusses how close-minded society was about women and equality. She describes society as being under the impression that women and men were two different animals. Society also believed that men were free and logical thinkers that could rule and change society while women were seen as pretty objects that could bear children. Wollstonecraft’s feminist view discusses that the problem was not only men inhibiting women, but women themselves were also not pushing against the ideology that men were superior. She continues to explain her new feminist ideology that discusses changes in society that would create equality.
Feminism In The Novel 'Sula' By Toni Morrison
2006 Words | 9 PagesThis supports the argument that it is not valid to use one definition to describe feminism and use it to argue that Sula isn’t feminist literature. During the 20th century, a feminist may have advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment which “became a
First Wave Feminism Essay
726 Words | 3 Pages5). The first wave feminists are regarded as the ‘godmothers’ of feminism because they claimed for controversial and critical changes, which then became part of women’s lives (Baumgardner & Richards, 2000; Henry, 2004; Heywood, 2006, as cited in Ewig & Ferree, 2013, p. 448). They laid the ground for further following feminists’ waves and movements, as for example the second wave of feminism (1960s – 1970s). Intersectionality was one of the ground-breaking differences in comparison to the first wave of feminism. The second wave feminists included a variety of women, other than just the white-bourgeoisie western women.
Mary Wollstonecraft: A Feminist Analysis
854 Words | 4 PagesThe inequality of women has been a long-lasting issue since its existence, with the issue still persisting today. Women have gained more rights over time in great part to efforts made by feminists, however, much progress still needs to be made. Mary Wollstonecraft, often cited as one of the founding feminist philosophers, is a notable feminist whose advocacy and ideas on femininity have acted as a strong influence for the modern conception of feminism. One of Wollstonecraft’s most prominent works in regards to feminism is A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. In the piece, Wollstonecraft uses and critiques philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s work titled Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, in order to build a case in defense of a woman’s
Analysis Of Mary Wollstonecraft's Essay 'Vindication Of Women'
760 Words | 4 PagesMary Wollstonecraft an early feminist philosopher, writes about the ideals of equality and freedom both in her political rebuttal essay “Rights of Men” and her follow-up essay “Vindication of Women” in response to philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Writing the “Vindication of the Rights of Men”, has led her to explore and express her opinions about the inequality of women during the Romantic period. As the opposition to post-revolutionary sentiment, extending rights as a just act to include the upper middle class of men, over maintaining the traditional rights given to men of nobility. Wollstonecraft interjects that women are also a vital importance to society and also deserve allowances of rights.
Comparison Of Feminism In The Handmaid's Tale By Virginia Woolf
1141 Words | 5 PagesFrom the outset, literature and all forms of art have been used to express their author’s feelings, opinions, ideas, and believes. Accordingly, many authors have resorted to their writing to express their feminist ideas, but first we must define what feminism is. According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, feminism is “the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state”. As early as the fifteenth century is possible to find feminist writings. Centuries later, and although she never referred to herself as one, the famous English writer Virginia Woolf became one of the greatest feminist writers of the twentieth
Gestalt Psychology: Structuralism And Functionalism
1193 Words | 5 PagesAlthough structuralism itself struggled to pick up momentum, some schools developed in opposition to structuralism; one such school is Gestalt psychology. Gestalt psychologists were fundamentally against minimizing mental processes into individual parts (Hergenhan, 2017). They believed in natural observation of phenomena in their complete form (Hergenhan, 2017). Unlike structuralists, Gestalt psychologists believe the whole is more than the sum of parts (Hergenhan, 2017). The gestalt school believed that consciousness was far more complex than the structuralist associative framework.
Mary Wollstonecraft Criticism
10472 Words | 42 PagesCHAPTER I Mary Wollstonecraft criticism on traditional philosophy on concept of women Introduction: In this chapter I would like to discuss and present Mary Wollstonecraft`s criticism on traditional philosophy on concept of women. Feminist critique: Feminist criticism is concerned with "...the ways in which literature and other cultural productions reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women". Feminist criticism is also concerned with less obvious forms of marginalization such as the exclusion of women writers from the traditional literary canon: "...unless the critical or historical point of view is feminist, there is a tendency to under-represent the contribution of women writers" (Tyson
Feminist Theoretical Framework
1752 Words | 8 PagesThe aim of this paper is to draw out the implications of liberal feminist framework for the analysis of education. Doing this paper will discuss its conceptual basis, its typical educational objectives, strategies for change and criticism of the approach. Feminist theoretical framework addresses the question of women’s subordination to men: how this arose, how and why it is perpetuated, how it might be changed and (sometimes) what life would be without it. Middle range theories may be less dramatic and consider particular aspect of gender relation and specific sectors of life such as education, the family or politics. Feminist theories serve a dual purpose, as guides to understanding gender inequality and as a guide to action.
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