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Feminism, meaning and characteristics

Know what is feminism, what's the actual meaning of this term and know its characteristics.

Feminism, meaning and characteristics 

           Feminism is based on historically and culturally concrete realities and levels of consciousness, perceptions and actions. Feminism is articulated in different ways depending on local situations and issues. Feminism can be defined as an awareness of women‘s oppression and exploitation in society, at the place of work and within the family, and conscious action to change this situation'.Feminism is an awareness of patriarchal control, exploitation and oppression at the material and ideological levels of women's labour, fertility and sexuality, in the family, at the place of work and in society in general, and conscious action by women and men to transform the present situation. Anyone (woman or man) who recognises the existence of discrimination on the basis of gender, male domination and patriarchy and who takes some action against it, is a feminist.

        In earlier times, feminists struggled for the democratic rights of women, the right to education and employment, the right to own property, the right to vote, the right to enter parliament, the right to birth control, the right to divorce etc. In the other words, earlier feminists fought for legal reforms. The struggle was, essentially outside the home and family. Today feminist has gone beyond demanding mere legal reforms to the discrimination, they are working towards the emancipation of women. Feminism denotes the struggle against women's subordination to the male Within the home, against their exploitation by the family, against their continuing low status at work, in society and in the culture and religion of the country, against their double burden in production and reproduction. In essence, this, present-day feminism is a struggle to achieve equality, dignity and freedom of choice for women, a struggle to control our lives and bodies within and outside the home. Feminism is a doctrine advocating social and political rights for women, equal to those of men. In the words of Saskia Wieringa,'Feminism is also a discursive process, a process of producing meaning, of subverting representation of gender and creating new representations of womanhood, of identity and the collective self. She says in her book 'Subversive Women' that feminism carries multiple meanings. Feminism is not a one-dimensional social critique but a multi-layered transformational, political and ethical practice. Characteristics of feminism.

Feminism and Its characteristic Features


1. Feminism is a modem movement to promote the full equality of women with men and the high valuation of women as a human being.
2. Feminism is both a personal, inner struggle as well as its public manifestation.
3. Feminism is individual action as well as organised effort/movement for the attainment of women's rights.
4. The global idea of feminism refers to the belief that men and women deserve equality in all opportunities, treatment, respect and social rights.
5. Feminism is a multi-dimensional practice.
6. Feminism supports the right of women on the grounds of political, social and economic equality of man.
7. Feminism speaks with many voices. As it touches all aspects of our social and personal lives, feminist concerns and expressions are varied.
8. Feminism is a form of equal worth between idea and activism.9.Feminism lS multi-vocal and multifocal.
10.Feminism has developed varied ideologies and strategies
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