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The Perspective on Feminism: Is it still relevant today?

  • the perspective on feminism: is it still relevant today?

* Updated 2023

Gender inequality has been a big issue throughout us history. while feminism was always seen as a growing movement, it has certainly grown increasingly vocal over the last decade, in response to the  trump presidential  victory in 2016, the  #metoo  movement taking off in 2017,  supreme court justice ruth bader ginsberg’s  death in 2020 and the supreme court overturning roe v. wade in 2022. that being said, there is also some resistance toward the feminism movement in society. although fighting for an important and just cause, at times, feminists have been perceived by some as overly aggressive. the question arises as to whether gender-based inequality in america is as rampant as is often portrayed. to what extent is feminism still relevant, or does it need to change to take the cause forward, here are three arguments for feminism and three against it:, arguing for feminism:.

Body-shaming, while very real for men, is a rampant issue for women

Women are  more likely  to be affected by an eating disorder than men. The fashion and entertainment industries – and  social media  – have long contributed to the objectification of women. This is reflected in society, where female celebrities are body-shamed for not having what’s considered the ideal body type (and this also includes  men !). It’s gotten so normalized that there are endless articles about celebrities “ fighting back .” However, their replies do not cancel out the  negative cultural messages  to young and older women. Even being too thin  breeds criticism  and  skinny shaming , as some have learned.

Women still face unequal treatment in the workplace

While some women have managed to break the glass ceiling, they are few and far between. For example, the  Fortune 500 list  of companies released in 2022 included just 44 companies with female CEOs – yet this was considered a record number. Also, in addition to getting paid less ( 82 cents  for every dollar a man earns), women are still often given – and expected to do – menial tasks in the workplace. In  office meetings  as well as in  online meetings , women are discouraged from voicing their opinions and are listened to less than men are. In fact, women employees were experiencing condescension from their male coworkers so much that a new term was coined for it:  mansplaining . Apparently, women get mansplained to  six times a week . With such a negative, sexist office culture, we can’t claim to have a society that treats women equally.

Violence against women is still a huge issue

Every 9 seconds , a woman in the U.S. is beaten or assaulted.  One in three women  has been the victim of severe violence by their intimate partner. Also,  one in five women  will be raped at some point in their lives. Global campaigns like the  #MeToo Movement  and Time’s Up have brought more attention to the issue of sexual assault, especially in the workplace, but it’s not enough to stop the violence; many women still don’t get the help that they need due to lack of funding. While the trials and convictions of Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein and R. Kelly brought much-needed awareness, justice and condemnation about systematic sexual assault, women still don’t always  feel safe to come forward (especially not after Cosby’s conviction was overturned ). Feminism can contribute to efforts to make society even more aware of violence against women.

Arguing against Feminism:

More women than men go to college and graduate from high school

According to the  Pew Research Center , more American women enroll and graduate from college than their male counterparts. Additionally, according to the U.S. Department of Education, high school graduation rates are in girls’ favor as well. Having a better education as well as a degree are key factors in obtaining well-paid and stable jobs. Good jobs, which allow for richer lives, tend to require better job experiences and degrees. If these trends continue, the average woman will have far more career opportunities and therefore a higher standard of living than the average man. It seems that it’s better to focus time and energy on female empowerment through education than through any feminism movement itself.

Some efforts hurt the feminist cause by being perceived as ‘anti-man’

When Dr. Matt Taylor gave an interview about the progress of the Rosetta space probe, he attracted a wave of feminist criticism for his shirt, which depicted semi-clad women. Taylor ended up  tearfully apologizing in a video . Some responded by claiming that a scientist being brought to tears over a t-shirt design is perhaps not the best way to fight for women’s rights. Similar mixed emotions were raised as a result of the crack of “Manspreading,” the practice of sitting with one’s legs spread apart. Seen as a display of male posturing and ego, journalists and  bloggers  attacked it as a patriarchal issue. Many argue that when feminists fixate on men’s poor behavior, especially when unintentional, it  hurts the feminist movement  and distracts from tackling more fundamental issues.

Is Feminism focusing on the right topics that are most in need of attention?

India’s horrendous female infanticide rate , the fact that  28% of Niger’s girls are forced into marriage before the age of 15, or that  female genital mutilation  is still globally widespread are all critical issues that require movements to fight in their name. Not to mention that human trafficking is still prominent, throughout Europe and even in  America . If the feminist effort being made in the West went into more pressing female-oppression issues also in other countries, perhaps an actual life-saving and -changing difference could be made, which would more easily unite the nation around the “feminist” flag.

The Bottom Line:  Issues like workplace inequality, sexual harassment and body-shaming show that we are not beyond the need for feminism, but the movement shouldn’t come at the price of hurting men. Where do you stand on feminism? Would you call yourself a feminist?

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Feminism in the 21st century: Relevance and challenges

essay about feminism in the 21st century

Feminism, the belief in social, political, and economic equality of the sexes, has been a prominent movement for over a century. While great strides have been made in advancing women’s rights, the struggle for gender equality continues in the 21st century. In this article, we will explore the relevance and challenges of feminism in the modern era.

Relevance of Feminism in the 21st Century

Despite progress in women’s rights, gender inequality still exists in many areas of society. Women face discrimination in the workplace, politics, and access to education and healthcare. The gender pay gap, sexual harassment, and violence against women are still prevalent issues. These problems persist globally and are not limited to specific cultures, regions, or socioeconomic classes.

Furthermore, the 21st century has brought new challenges for feminism. With the rise of social media, online harassment and abuse against women have become rampant. The proliferation of artificial intelligence has led to gender bias in algorithms and automated decision-making systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities.

Feminism has responded to these challenges by expanding its scope to include intersectionality. Intersectionality recognizes that women experience oppression differently based on their race, class, sexuality, and other identities. The movement has also embraced new forms of activism, such as online organizing and viral campaigns, to raise awareness and drive change.

Challenges of Feminism in the 21st Century

Feminism faces several challenges in the 21st century. One of the biggest challenges is backlash from those who perceive the movement as a threat to their power and privilege. Anti-feminist groups have emerged, spreading misinformation and attacking feminist principles. This has led to a polarization of public opinion, making it difficult to build consensus and make progress on gender equality.

Another challenge is the lack of diversity within the feminist movement. Historically, feminism has been dominated by white, middle-class women, leading to the neglect of issues facing women from different backgrounds. The movement must address this issue by amplifying the voices of women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups.

Finally, feminism faces the challenge of balancing global and local perspectives. While the movement seeks to promote gender equality globally, cultural differences and local customs must be taken into account. Feminism must ensure that its solutions are context-specific and do not impose Western values on non-Western societies.

Feminism remains relevant in the 21st century as gender inequality persists and new challenges emerge. The movement has responded by expanding its scope to include intersectionality and adopting new forms of activism. However, feminism also faces challenges such as backlash, lack of diversity, and the need to balance global and local perspectives. To overcome these challenges, feminism must remain inclusive, adaptable, and responsive to the needs of all women. Only then can we achieve true gender equality.

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essay about feminism in the 21st century

Twenty-first Century Feminism

Forming and Performing Femininity

  • © 2015
  • Claire Nally 0 ,
  • Angela Smith 1

Northumbria University, UK

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University of Sunderland, UK

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Front matter, introduction.

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Back Matter

Editors and affiliations.

Claire Nally

About the editors

Bibliographic information.

Book Title : Twenty-first Century Feminism

Book Subtitle : Forming and Performing Femininity

Editors : Claire Nally, Angela Smith

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137492852

Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan London

eBook Packages : Palgrave Media & Culture Collection , Literature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)

Copyright Information : Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2015

Hardcover ISBN : 978-1-137-49284-5 Published: 27 February 2015

Softcover ISBN : 978-1-349-50468-8 Published: 27 February 2015

eBook ISBN : 978-1-137-49285-2 Published: 27 February 2015

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XII, 190

Topics : Gender Studies , Feminism , Cultural and Media Studies, general , Media Studies

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COMMENTS

  1. Reshaping Gender Dynamics: Contemporary Feminism in the 21st ...

    This essay explores the key aspects of contemporary feminism in the 21st century and its profound impact on reshaping gender dynamics. One of the most remarkable aspects of contemporary...

  2. The Perspective on Feminism: Is it still relevant today?

    There exists gender-based inequality in America, but is it as rampant as is often portrayed? To what extent is feminism still relevant, or does it need to change to take the cause forward?

  3. Feminism in the 21st century: Relevance and challenges

    Feminism remains relevant in the 21st century as gender inequality persists and new challenges emerge. The movement has responded by expanding its scope to include intersectionality and adopting new forms of activism.

  4. What Is Third‐Wave Feminism? A New Directions Essay

    Catching a Wave: Reclaiming Feminism for the 21st Century. Boston: Northeastern University Press.

  5. Femininity in the 21st century - ScienceDirect

    In this review, I have provided a brief overview postfeminist sensibility, as a defining concept for making sense of femininity in the 21st Century, as well as two areas in the wider cultural landscape where postfeminist sensibility has adapted to emerging changes.

  6. (PDF) Waves of Feminism - ResearchGate

    The article analyzes the entangled history of feminism and women’s history over the long period from the emergence of feminist thought to the challenges and changes of the 21st century.

  7. NEW FEMINIST ACTIVISM, WAVES AND GENERATIONS - UN Women

    useful is the idea of feminist ‘waves’ as a way of peri-odizing the history of feminism? These questions are explored first through examining the characteristics common to past and contempo-rary feminisms and dissecting the issues associated with periodizing feminism in terms of ‘waves’. In the

  8. Twenty-first Century Feminism: Forming and Performing ...

    This collection of essays considers the ways in which feminism is still an important issue in twenty-first century society. Looking at various forms of literature, media, and popular culture, the book establishes that contemporary images of femininity are highly contested, complex, and frequently problematic.

  9. The F word: is feminism necessary in the 21st century?

    The 21st century prides itself on claiming equality for the sexes, politically, socially, and economically. The 20th century gave women in many countries the right to vote, to sit on a jury, to a seat in the House of Lords, and much more.

  10. The Three Waves of Feminism: A Surfer's Guide - Owlcation

    Kimberlé Crenshaw. Crenshaw is a prominent figure of the third wave of feminism. She coined the term "intersectionality" to describe the ways in which different forms of oppression, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia, intersect and create unique experiences of oppression for marginalized groups.