Many researchers and scholars used the term “Feminism” and
they tried to define and explain it differently. Some of them use it to
refer to some historical political movements in USA and Europe. Whereas, others refer
it to the belief that women live an injustice life with no rights and no equality
Zara Huda Faris explained this idea, as: “ Women need feminism because there are women
who suffer injustice ”
The term " Feminism ‟ has a long history; it represents women's problems and suffering in addition to their dreams in equal opportunities
in societies controlled by man i.e. his power, rules, wishes and orders. Lara Huda
Faris added also: “ women have traditionally been dehumanized by a male dominated
society, which they call patriarchy; and that has been always better to be a man ”
The term feminism has a history in English linked with
women's activism from the late 19th century to the present, it is useful to
distinguish feminist ideas or beliefs from feminist political movements, for even in periods where
there has been no significant political activism around women's subordination,
individuals have been concerned with and theorized about justice for women.
Despite of the painful segregation and the hard inequality,
women were able to stand up each time and they were able to speak and express
their problems, feelings and wishes. In addition, women were able to spread it in all
over the world, make it a symbol of equality, and make all people believe that men and
women deserve equality in all opportunities, treatments respect and social rights.
The term Feminism appeared in France in the late of 1880s by
Hunburtine Auclert in her Journal La Citoyenne as La Feminitè where she
tried to criticize male domination and to claim for women's rights in addition to
the emancipation promised by the French revolution.
By the first decade of the twentieth century, the term
appeared in English first in Britain and then in 1910s in America and by 1920s in the
Arab World as Niswia. Feminism originates from the Latin word femina that
describes women's issues.Feminism is concerned with females not just as a biological
category, but the female gender as a social category, and therefore feminists shared
the view that women's oppression tied to their sexuality. This was so because
women and men's biological differences reflected in the organization of society, and
based on these differences, women have treated as inferior to men. Whether as a theory,
a social movement or a political movement, feminism specifically focuses on women's experiences and highlights various forms of oppression that the female
gender has subjected in the society. During a long period in history, woman was not
considered as equal citizens, they suffered from bad treatments, discrimination and racism
under man domination and rules. In spite these problems, they could challenge
them and prove themselves over the society.
Woman in the past was living unequal and unfair life. She
was prevented from doing any political, social and economical activities and
her only job is being a housewife who takes care of home and children. At that time,
woman was under the control of man who dominates all the fields in which he
represents the symbol of power.
After all those problems, suffering and misery woman in the
entire world started to find ways to improve herself and to change her
position in life. They tried also to join their efforts, dreams and wishes to form a
universal idea that speaks about all women in any place in the world this leads to the
appearance of Feminism.
By the coming of Feminism, woman was able take back her
rights in addition to changing her negative image. Feminism proves that woman is
capable to play important roles the same as man. Moreover, the most
important goals of Feminism were giving woman her total freedom in addition to equal
opportunities in the representation of the political and social events.
This modest work tries to give an over view of Feminism and
how it developed from being an idea or a belief to becoming a theory with
standard goals and principles.
The first chapter of this work was theoretical, in which we
presented the definition of Feminism in addition to its origin and its different types.
It presents also some famous waves of Feminism in which it tackled the famous leaders of
each one of them and more importantly, it gives its principles and goals. This
chapter speaks also about the suffering of Muslim and Black woman.
The second chapter indeed gives more importance to role of
woman and her achievements in the political, social and the economical
fields. It shows also the status and the role of woman in the decisions making in addition to
restating the common obstacles that can
any woman face when looking for her rights. This article contains the best examples of Feminism success that are a group of
woman leaders mainly in politics, society and science.
The key message of
feminism in the 21st century society should highlight choice in bringing a
personal meaning to feminism is to recognize others’ right to do the exact same thing.
Women all over the world nationally, regionally and globally should be able to
embrace this powerful message of feminism and be able to create a positive
meaning of their own womanhood and femininity. However, despite feminism being
a strong successful movement, inequality and exploitation of women still exist
and sadly there are women today, who are trapped in a society which doesn’t
value them and leaves them neither choice nor freedom to express their views
and rights.
शिवानी मिश्रा
शोध अध्येता - वाणिज्य संकाय परिसर,
दीन दयाल उपाध्याय गोरखपुर विश्वविद्यालय,
गोरखपुर उत्तर प्रदेश, 273001
Note - इस लेख के संदर्भ में कोई भी प्रश्न आप सब शिवानी मिश्रा जी से कमेंट बॉक्स में लिख कर पूछ सकते हैं।