Feminism: A Graphic Guide

Cathia Jenainati, Jem Milton, Judy Groves

• Publisher: Icon Books
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781785784910
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Feminism & Feminist Theory
• Index: Social Sciences

What is feminism? Why are we still talking about it, and what can it tell us about ourselves, our societies and prejudices? In this unique, illustrated introduction, we'll explore the early history of conscious struggle against sexist oppression, through the modern "waves" of feminism, up to present-day conversations about MeToo, intersectional feminism, and women's rights in the Middle East. We'll look at critical theory, popular action and the social and cultural forces that affect attitudes toward gender, women's lives and the struggle for equality. And we'll hear about the contributions of pioneers like Mary Wollstonecraft, Simone de Beauvoir and Kimberlé Crenshaw. As we'll see, feminism is at once global, local and individual.Written by Cathia Jenainati with illustrations from Judy Groves and Jem Milton, Feminism: A Graphic Guide engages with the heated debates taking place in our homes, workplaces and public spaces -- and the work still to be done.

What is Feminism?

Any attempt to address this question invariably faces numerous challenges. Where to start, who to include, what to leave out and when to stop are all important considerations. This book provides an overview of the development of feminist activism in the Anglo-speaking world. It specifically outlines feminist thought in Britain, the Commonwealth and the US, and it refers to international contexts where relevant.

The book acknowledges and intends to celebrate the variety of feminist perspectives which have developed throughout women’s history, taking as its premise bell hooks’ famous definition.

FEMINISM IS THE STRUGGLE TO END SEXIST OPPRESSION.

Feminism: A Graphic Guide traces some of the historical and social developments of this struggle.

Is Feminism Still Relevant?

From 1970–78 the UK-based Women’s Liberation Movement conference had campaigned for:

1. Equal pay
2. Equal educational and job opportunities
3. Free contraception and abortion on demand
4. Free 24-hour nurseries
5. Legal and financial independence for all women
6. The right to self-defined sexuality and an end to discrimination against lesbians
7. Freedom from intimidation by the threat or use of violence or sexual coercion; and an end to the laws, assumptions and institutions which perpetuate male dominance and aggression to women.

In the years since the WLM disbanded:

THE #ME TOO MOVEMENT EXPOSED WIDESPREAD AND HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR, FOLLOWED BY REVELATIONS IN OTHER SECTORS.

ONE IN FIVE LGBT PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED A HATE CRIME OR INCIDENT BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND / OR GENDER IDENTITY IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

Feminism enables concerted collective efforts to address discriminatory practices that pervade our personal and professional lives. Feminism in the 21st century is no longer a marginal activity but a way of life that men and women subscribe to.

What is Patriarchy?

One starting point for thinking about feminist activity is coming to a consensus about what the term “patriarchy” means. A useful definition is provided by Chris Weedon.

“PATRIARCHAL REFERS TO POWER RELATIONS IN WHICH WOMEN’S INTERESTS ARE SUBORDINATED TO THE INTERESTS OF MEN.”

“THESE POWER RELATIONS TAKE ON MANY FORMS, FROM THE SEXUAL DIVISION OF LABOUR AND THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF PROCREATION TO THE INTERNALIZED NORMS OF FEMININITY BY WHICH WE LIVE.”

“PATRIARCHAL POWER RESTS ON SOCIAL GIVEN TO BIOLOGICAL SEXUAL DIFFERENCE.”

IT IS A GREAT GLORY IN A WOMAN TO SHOW NO MORE WEAKNESS THAN IS NATURAL TO HER SEX, AND NOT BE TALKED OF, EITHER FOR GOOD OR EVIL BY MEN.

Patriarchy is an ideology that is manifested in practice by the subordination of the interests of women to those of men, especially when it comes to biological reproduction, labour politics and legal rights.

The term “feminism” came into English usage around the 1890s, but women’s conscious struggle to resist discrimination and sexist oppression goes much further back.

Biology is Destiny

As early as the 4th century BC, Aristotle (384–322 BC) declared that “women were women by virtue of a certain lack of qualities”. His predecessor the Greek historian and army general Thucydides (c. 460–400 BC) had some advice for women.

Early thinking about the difference between women and men was based on essentialist ideas about gender which maintained that women’s and men’s differences are a result of biology. The belief that biology is destiny suggests that, in comparable situations, men exhibit “masculine” psychological traits such as aggressiveness, rationality and assertiveness, whereas women will exhibit “feminine” traits such as gentleness, intuitiveness and sensitivity. These differences, it was believed, translated into particular patterns of thought, feeling and behaviour specific to each gender.

Logic or Emotion?

Essentialism sees men as able to think logically, abstractly and analytically, while women are mainly emotional, compassionate and nurturing creatures.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE SEXES IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL ORDER.

Essentialist thinking had repercussions on women’s private and public lives. In private, essentialist ideas were translated into rules of conduct for the woman as wife, mother and daughter. In public, it was believed that women’s participation should be limited and strictly controlled by a masculine representative of authority such as husband, father, the clergy, the law.

Essentialist ideas about women permeated Western thought for centuries and proposed that there is a natural, biologically determined essence of the feminine that is universal and unchangeable.

“WOMAN IS FICKLE AND ALWAYS CHANGING.” VIRGIL (70–19 BC)

“WOMAN IS AN IMPERFECT MAN.” THOMAS AQUINAS (1225–74)

“FRAILTY, THY NAME IS WOMAN!”

Feminists have long fought to dispel such myths about gender.

Early Modern Feminist Activity

Early Modern (1550–1700) English society was founded on the rule of the father.

MAN IS THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD …

… JUST AS THE MONARCH IS THE HEAD OF STATE AND JESUS HEAD OF THE CHURCH.

Women had no formal rights and were not represented in the law. Even if some women were able to receive a higher ...