Who are you calling a feminist? Once a popular social movement at the forefront of the struggle for universal equal rights, feminism has lost support in recent decades as women have either felt feminist issues have been resolved or that the label "feminist" no longer applies to them. But as feminist activist Gloria Steinem reminded the University community in her speech last Thursday, feminism is not dead - and the fight for equal rights for women is not over.
Steinem has been a leader in the feminist movement for decades, founding the National Organization for Women and Ms. magazine. Times have changed since 1963, with the publication of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, launching the second-wave of feminism. Friedan's book refuted the notion that a woman's place must be in the home. Since then, the women's movement has taken many strides that are important to remember and appreciate during March, which is Women's History Month.
For example, there are more women in the workforce than ever before - and they occupy prestigious positions such as doctors, lawyers and business managers. Just a few decades ago, some of these jobs would not have been available to women because of existing discrimination. The expansion of women in the workforce is a sign that the feminist movement has made great advancements. Women have also become more active in government. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Attorney General Janet Reno are only two examples of women in government. It may be only a matter of time before a female president is seated in the Oval Office.
Similarly, women have gained important equal rights advancements through court decisions. In 1973, the Supreme Court's landmark ruling, Roe v. Wade, guaranteed the right of women to secure a safe abortion. But in the following 26 years, women have watched as right-wing legislators eroded the rights Roe v. Wade established with amendments making obtaining a legal abortion much more difficult in several states - especially for poor, teenage and married women.
But with all the advancements in the feminist movement, a backlash has occurred in recent years. In her 1996 book, Feminism Is Not the Story of My Life, Elizabeth Fox-Genovese chronicled the stories of many women who feel that the feminist movement no longer applies to them. A recent Time magazine cover suggested that feminism is dead, brought down by the likes of T.V. shows such as "Ally McBeal." And as Steinem pointed out in her speech on Friday, feminists are often labeled today as "anti-man and anti-sex," a label that most women will shy away from.
Despite the many advancements for women in the workplace, the majority of powerful positions are held by men - and on average, men receive better wages. Equal pay for equal work will be a major issue in the feminist movement in the future. And despite the increasingly large number of women in government, men still outnumber women by a large margin - hardly representative of the actual population.
Steinem said women have achieved a "legal identity." Now they must achieve "equality." The feminist movement is far from dead - it lives on to improve upon the changes that have already been made. Steinem's work has drastically improved the quality of life for women over the past decades. But as she said last Thursday - and as existing injustices demonstrate - the fight for equality and respect is far from over.
03-16-99
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