The 70's feminist movement seems
to have been an important stepping stone in the demands for women Equal
Rights. Events tend to have a way of changing people and their role in
society. Events often redefine the role of women in society. Inventions
too bring progress in society as well as to the individual's life.
In the late nineteenth century the
invention of the typewriter gave women a new skill and a job outside
the home. During the First World War, women who began to work in
factories as part of the war effort, found themselves a place as active
members of society. The fight engaged by Mrs
Pankhurst and the Suffragettes in the turn of the century has become
an symbol for most women engaged in equality.
The sixties, heralded by the Feminist
lobby, the Women Liberation Movement brought about a radical change in
the fabric of society. Although it took a good decade for movement to reach
middle steam awareness, the vociferous banner waving front runner Feminist
Movement were known for their demands. They wanted equality with their
menfolk. Activated by a Marxist creed, they did not, in my experience,
cater for the individual woman's need.
Looking back, 1968 was the beginning
of the women liberation movement. Cathy
Nugent in 'When Women Fought for Liberation' brings home well the atmosphere
of that period.The Marxist anti-family, anti-man slogans flying around
in the 70's did have an impact on the way I perceived equality and progress.
Alone in a foreign country with three children, it was for me a new awakening.
Having to provide financial support for my family, I quickly learnt to
become a one parent family, fight the system and create a career for myself.
In the council estate where I lived, other women did the same. We met and
help one another. Unlike the feminists we encountered at meetings, we did
not believe social progress would be achieved if the family, in what ever
setting it presented itself, was denied. As mothers, we wished to raise
our family and earn good money to do it, and then, do as much as we could
in our working life to bring about the changes we, as individual, could
make. Although I did not agree with feminist's policies, I certainly admired
their audacity, dedication, courage and convictions. They did not bring
progress to many women then, but they certainly influenced the manner in
which some coped with their changing role.
The essay I chose by Kelley
L. Ross, Ph.D. on 'Feminism'
comes from the Frisian Society Resources.
It is rather long (29 pages!). It reviews recently published books on Feminism.
It discusses the prevalent view of current ideas about early days Feminism.
A woman's role in society was defined by the Feminists on whether they
were contributors to society or not. It meant for them to have a job. Being
a housewife was the bottom pit of human society. Having children to raise
the single mother had to be responsible and self- supporting. Any help
from the state was seen as a form of 'sponging'. Any wish to rise one's
family staying at home was an impossible dream, and seen as a misplaced
emotional weakness by the feminists I met. Feminist peer pressure was real
enough and this essay translates it rather well. The woman and family theme
in this essay seem to be much in tune with my past experience of those
days. It gives an up to date information on current thought of the early
Feminism and explains well the atmosphere of ideologies of that period.
However, it goes beyond the scope of my investigation on Feminism. It takes
on board rather a lot of diverse themes. Anthropology, political economy,
philosophy, social science and so on, makes interesting reading but is
far too elaborate and confusing at time. The essay suffers from an overload
of too many back ups from diverse theories to make the point. A cut up
version would have been far more succinct and more readable. There are
good links. It might be tempting to check them out but be warned, some
are divergent and will take you away from the central point.
