Research Question
How has the feminist movement affected today’s society? How do feministic ideas are reflected civil society?
One of the major contemporary issues is feminism which was long debated to discover its influence on modern society. Feminism is a spectrum of ideologies, political and social movements aimed at expanding political, economic, personal, and social rights for women or overcoming sexism (Rani, 2020). It is vital to investigate how the feministic ideas are reflected in modern civil society and how it has changed people’s lives.
Supporting Arguments
- Undoubtedly, one of the fundamental changes is the emergence of women’s suffrage and the opportunity to hold high positions in politics and run the state. Women have fought long and hard for these rights. Thanks to the first wave of feminism and the work of suffragettes, women’s suffrage were introduced in New Zealand and the first women deputies were elected in Finland (Rani, 2020).
- Equally important is the opportunity for girls and women to obtain higher education and education in general. If girls were admitted to universities or colleges, it was usually only in boarding schools, where they were trained not as workers and scientists but as good wives and mothers. The first female to enter the university was Julie-Victoire Daubier’s who was admitted to the University of Lyon in France in 1861 (Rani, 2020). The girl became a bachelor and influenced the fact that already in 1866, women received the right to take the highest state exam in all higher educational institutions of the country (Rani, 2020). Thanks to feminism, higher education for women has become a familiar and natural phenomenon.
- An important issue in the patriarchal world was marriage and the role of women in it. Due to the exaggeration of the importance of marriage in the lives of girls, many of them were unable to get a job because of marriage or get married because of their work. Marriage for women was put in the forefront, while work was not important, because females had to take care of the family, and in general, most areas of activity did not seem to be women’s business. But despite all the prejudices, women made their way into politics and the diplomatic service. An example can be Alexandra Kollontai – the world’s first female ambassador. She was a prominent member of the feminist movement and a champion of equality.
Opposing Argument
Feminism was viewed as a controversial movement since many men started to consider their rights as limited. The critics argued that the changes and legislative reforms have gone too far and that they now have a negative impact on married men who have children. For example, it has been repeatedly pointed out that the rights of fathers are infringed in court hearings on custody issues. Typically, the preference in matters of child custody is most often given to mothers, rather than to fathers. In this regard, organizations, the purpose of which was to fight for the rights of fathers, began to form.
Conclusion
Feminism has had a significant impact on the legislative system and the society in general. Altogether, it was mainly aimed at the empowerment of women. As a result, despite the long struggle, women were able to secure a good level of education, a profession, and a decent salary. Today, ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities is the prerogative of the state itself and international communities.
Reference
Rani, S. (2020). Feminism and its impact on woman in the modern society. International Journal of Professional Development, 9(1), 39-42.