The Feminist Movement: Women Challenging Society

By: Kendra CharlesCENG WISE 106

Research Presentation

REASON FOR SELECTED TOPIC (THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT)

Interesting Topic Something Different Part of History

» 18th Century» First conference held in Seneca Falls 1848 (help start the

movement)» Belief and advocacy of equal rights for women» 3 waves

˃ 1.) Late 19th Early 20th Century+ goal of the first wave was to open up opportunities for women, with a focus on

suffrage. ˃ 2.) 1960’s and continued into the 90's

+ In this phase, sexuality and reproductive rights were leading concerns, and an ample amount of the movement's energy was concentrated on passing the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution assuring social equality regardless of gender

˃ 3.) Mid 90’s + wave dealt with improved campaigning for women’s greater influence in politics.

Background on the Feminist Movement

The Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention, 1848

The Seneca Falls Convention was the “birthplace of the women’s rights movement.”

RESEARCH QUESTIONIn what ways

did the Women’s Liberation Movement help mode and shape the lives of women of present times?

It is evident that the movement that ultimately encouraged women to fight for what they believed in or sought to happen in the future was in essence the Feminist Movement also known as the Women’s Movement.

Thesis Statement

Significance to History Women’s right to vote, equal pay for work,,

equal access to educational opportunities Social, political, and economic equality of

the sexesSupport and inspire women to pursue their

goals as individuals who deserve equal opportunity.

Support/Evidence from Scholarly Sources

• Feminism changed many women's lives and created new worlds of possibility for education, empowerment, working women, feminist art and feminist theory.... the goals of the feminist movement were simple: let women have freedom, equal opportunity and control over their lives (Napikoski).

• Many women went to college and worked professionally in the early 20th century, but the mid-20th century myth of the middle-class suburban housewife downplayed the importance of women’s education. Feminists knew that girls and women must be encouraged to seek an education, and not just as “something to fall back on,” if they were to become, and be seen as, "fully" equal (Hannam 52).

• The feminist movement changed the traditional understanding of certain aspects of society, such as marriage, education, property ownership, professional ambitions and involvement in politics (Freeman).

WHAT DID I LEARN?

I learned more about the feminist movement and women’s rights. I learned that because of the brave women in the past, women today have more rights than the women before the feminist movement had

SHORT FILM ON FEMINIST MOVEMENT Women's Rights in the 1920's - YouTube

Freeman, Jo. “Waves of Feminism.” JFC 120. September 1996: 112. Print.

Hannam, June. Feminism. New York: Pearson, 2007. Print.

Napikoski, Linda. “Goals of Feminist Movement.” August 10, 2009.

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/feminism/a/feminist_movement_goals_in_the_60s_a nd_70s.htm.

BIBLIOGRAPHY