Intro to Feminism

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?
--> Laura Bates started the Everyday Sexism project to rise awareness in sexism which happens everyday without people actually realising. She started the project after she was sexually harassed, verbally abused and experiencing sexism everyday.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?

--> Everyday Sexism is linked to the concept of post-feminism as they are people who still think sexism is a major issue in today's society and want to stand up against it and stop it. Feminism is definitely still required in western societies as the introduction of the new President of USA has lead to the increase in sexist comments as well as sexist beliefs. There are people who still believe in sexist views and therefor feminism campaigns still need to be held to go against these views.

3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project?

--> New technology is essential for Everyday Sexism as it allows women from all over the world to share their experiences where they have been sexually harassed or abused. However this has also led to the increase in cyber bullying and negative comments on this campaign from men who believe in sexist view points.

4) Will there be a point in the future when the Everyday Sexism project is not required? What is YOUR view on the future of feminism?

--> I think later in the future the Everyday Sexism project won't be required as people who have realised by then that all people deserve equal rights and that their shouldn't be a difference in rights between women and men. However their will always be people who believe the opposite to society therefore this project may still be required in the later future for people who still protest equality between men and women and want to disturb this.


The Fourth Wave:     


1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?
Networked Feminism is another phrase for 'Fourth Wave'. It includes the use of social media and the internet to raise problems around sexism. The use of using hashtags creates and raises a lot of popularity around that topic and is easily accessible by anyone across the world allows feminist around the world to raise awareness.

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 

  • First wave: early 20th century, suffragette movement (right to vote).
  • Second wave: 1960s – 1990s, reproductive rights (pill), abortion, equal pay.
  • Third wave: 1990s – present, empowerment, reclaiming of femininity (high heels, sexuality etc.).
  • Fourth wave: 2010 – ongoing, use of new technology and digital media (e.g. Twitter) for activism.

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.


Everyday Sexism
Everyday Sexism was created by Laura Bates in 2012 with the aim to raise awareness about sexism in the modern day. She started the project to prove that sexism still exists in today's age and that women are still experiencing inequalities in society. Her project received a lot of coverage on all social media and grew in popularity with women across all over the world to share their sexist encounters. Everyday Sexism became one of the most popular campaigns and websites with users from across the global sharing their experiences. 

HeForShe
HeForShe campaign focuses on the male support to help stand against gender inequality. This campagin was started to show that modern sexism is not about promoting matriarchy but solidarity. By using modern technology has allowed this campaign to grow in popularity through social media. The Q&A session on Twitter has raised a lot of awareness for this campaign and allowed itself to promote itself through social media.

FCKH8 Campaign
This campaign focuses on the modern representation of women and huge social inequalities which they face throughout a day to day bases. Videos on social media help promote this campaign and allowed it to be recognized as one of the most popular digital campaign. However this campaign is in fact a profitable company which attempts to sell t-shirts.

The Girl Can
This was the first fitness campaign for women which doesn't shame or exclude them through social media where they can share pictures and videos of themselves without the exploitation of women's fitness and body shaming. This campaign however has been heavily criticized by female activists themselves who still believe that this campaign goes against feminism and still exploits the women's body in fitness.

4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?
I agree with the concept of a Fourth Wave as the development of new technology has allowed women from all other the world to share their experiences and attempt to raise awareness and make a stand from social media against sexism. However this has also caused and allowed people to be anonymous and make negative and sexist comments which go against feminist view points.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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