First-Wave Feminism

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20 TH - CENTURY FEMINISM

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Transcript of First-Wave Feminism

Page 1: First-Wave Feminism

20TH-CENTURY

FEMINISM

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Waves vs. Waterfalls

This section will cover the first of three major “waves” of feminism.

The word “Wave” is used to categorize feminism because it illustrates the forward motion—and then resistance or loss of motion—of the women’s movement(s). It helps to understand this movement in by thinking of the motion of an actual wave (in, toward the sand, then back out).

As each wave of feminism pushed forward with progress and change, the result was often a "backward” motion (or a standstill) so to speak. In women's studies, this is called a backlash.

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First Wave: An OverviewThe efforts of women in the 19th century that led to the passage of women’s right to vote in 1920 is often referred to as the First Wave of feminism.  First Wavers were primarily concerned with women’s equalities, specifically the right to vote, which is why it is similar to a political theory.

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First-Wave Feminism: Getting Started

1. 1840s – 1850s reform movements that coalesced with Seneca Falls Convention in 1848

2. Led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lecretia Mott, and others.

3. Main focus was the right to vote

4. Led primarily by white women who supported restrictions based on race and property ownership

Left: Lucretia Mott (1793-1880); Above, Elizabeth Stanton (1815-1902)

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Declaration of Sentiment: How Did It Work?

1. Relied on 15 “facts” that proved “the history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her” (562)

2. Passed 12 Resolutions, arguing that “woman is man’s equal” and that *men* should encourage women to speak, teach, participate in religious assemblies.

The latter strategy is important because it recognized the need for both men AND women to participate in “zealous and untiring efforts” of equal rights.

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Seneca Falls Convention – Declaration of Sentiments

Based on the Declaration of Independence

Placed the onus on women to take action to protect themselves for the future

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First-Wave Feminism: Founding Beliefs

Right to vote is a necessary tool for all other aspects of emancipation; this focus had advantages and disadvantages:Advantages

1. Concrete reform2. Mobilizing effect3. Symbolized participation of women—as individuals—in public life.

Disadvantages

1. Required approval of male voters/politicians.

2. Forced to adopt any argument necessary (often invoked traditional gender roles)

3. Intensified racism, nativism, and class bias

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First-Wave Feminism: Confronting other Oppressions

Multiplicity of Oppressions: the process by which multiple forms of oppression—race, gender, class—are connected.

Because of this multiplicity of oppression, sexism is “indissolubly linked” to other forms of oppression, abuse, and inequality (557).

Anna Julia Cooper, African-American feminist activist, (1858-1964)

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First-Wave Feminism: African American Voices

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883): former slave; religious speaker; anti-slavery activist; feminist

Sojourner Truth

• Delivered famous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” (1851)

• Effective rhetorical appeal based on religion (i.e. women’s roles in birthing and caring for Jesus)

• Instrumental in developing consciousness raising (sharing of personal experience) as a political tool

• Demonstrates the emotional and intellectual force behind women’s rights movement, even for women who had little or no formal education

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First-Wave Feminism: The Cult of the “New Woman” and The Vote

“New Woman”: early 20th c. image of woman as self-reliant and engaged with the world.

In 1920, 19th Amendment is passed, granting women the right to vote

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Defining Feminism The term “feminism” is

introduced in the U.S. (approx. 1910)

Feminism: distinguishes suffragists from those who argued for the “full integration of women into” all aspects of “social, political, and economic life” (Kesselman 557)

“We want simply to be ourselves…not just our little female selves but our whole big human selves” –Mary Jenny Howe, 1914, at the meeting entitled “What Is Feminism”

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First-Wave Feminism: After the Vote

1. Legal and accessible birth control

2. Expansion of educational opportunities

3. Crusade against lynching and other race-based violence and injustice

4. Fight for improved working conditions

Goals of the women’s movement became more diverse, with leaders organizing smaller groups focused on other issues affecting women:

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First-Wave Feminism: Backlash and Indifference

1930s

A. Women’s movement loses numbers and influence

B. Many women are indifferent to their newfound right to vote

C. Women who do vote, work outside the home, and/or participate publicly in political movement are harshly criticized

D. The Depression results in legislation restricting the employment of married women (Ruth 499)

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First-Wave Feminism: The Legacy

1940s – World War II prompts patriotic movement that relies on women’s work in factories to support war efforts. Two major consequences are:

1. A lasting shift in attitudes about women’s aptitudes and proper roles

2. Married women workers demonstrated work-family balance

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First-Wave Feminism: The Legacy

1950s – With war over and men needing to return to their jobs (and thus their “proper” gender roles), the focus returns to the nuclear family, which requires women back in the home.

These images were advertisements designed to encourage women to buy household items that could then be used to signify what good mothers and wives they were, as evidenced by their clean houses and shiny new appliances. Redirecting women’s attention to what they could buy was supposed to make the idea of returning to the domestic sphere a more appealing idea.