Feminism
Feminism is a women movement which aims are equal rights for women and men. Nowadays women have the same opportunities as men in almost every field - it’s different in different countries and cultures, but generally we can say that now the situation is far better than it was one hundred years ago. Feminism as a serious and common movement begun in XIXth century. It was connected with many kinds of discrimination which concerned women. Women wanted to have the same voting rights, access to education, well paid jobs etc. It was quite serious e.g. in 1903 in Britain was found Women’s Social and Political Union (many similar unions were founded many countries), which tried to forse some changes in law. In 60-ties in USA Feminism, which changed name to Women’s Liberation, demanded legalization of abortion. Feminism had different effects in different countries. The most difficult was changing the law in Switzerland and Portugal (I mean here Europe, USA and other developed countries) – women got the equal voting rights just in 70ties.
Nowadays feminism is something different because, to tell the truth, women have no causes demand more rights, protest. In the most of countries women have the same rights as men (maybe without some countries form Third World, some Arab countries, where women have a lot of prohibitions, I don’t know exactly because I’m not interested in these culture, but in my opinion women there are to week to fight for their rights, I haven’t heard about any organizations, which try to change the situation of women there). Although women in Europe countries, USA and many other countries have the same rights as man, there are a lot of feminists there. They fight for equal salaries and it’s quite reasonable because it’s not fair that women on the same position earn less then men. But on the other hand, if it’s private company (we live in democracy) and if the employer wants to pay more men than women it’s his right. Feminists complain that there is little women in army (and women don’t have the same rights there) But in other hand, we can say that men are discriminated in this field of activities because in many countries there is mandatory military service. I’ve heard that some women complain that there is only few percents women in a parliament – but it’s ridiculous. And next funny thing, some feminists want to change words in e.g. polish dictionary. They complain that there are some jobs which sounds like male jobs although women work in these professions too. In polish language there is a word doctor – and it sounds very male and some women are annoyed when sb call e.g. doctor Mary Whithe, they would prefer doctress Marry or something like that.
It is very important take into account that in same cases women have more rights than men. E.g. after divorce, in the most cases children stay in mother’s care. Court rarely grand men parental rights.
My personal opinion about feminists: I don’t like pure feminist who tries at all cost to show that are men are insensitive busters who treat women as I don’t know what. We live in democracy so if women want to fight for some rights – I don’t mind, If they want to work in mines – I don’t mind too. Feminism was very important movement in last centaury but to tell the truth I don’t treat it seriously now.
Helaa