Articles
Krahulik, Karen C. “Sisterhood Revisited during the Second Wave of Feminism.” Reviews in American History, vol. 37, no. 1, 2009, pp. 140–147. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40210992.
In this review, the author immediately address Hilary Clinton, the Presidential campaign she lost, and the overarching question that followed her loss: where does feminism go from here? From Hilary Clinton to Sarah Palin, we are asked what exactly is a feminist? To further the argument in the text, feminist Stephanie Gilmore states that defining feminism can be a dangerous thing.
Giving this term a definite meaning then limits the amount of work women and men have to do in deterring what feminism is. Gilmore and her novel are mentioned to give authority, and highlights the union of women of different ethnicities, how they formed and grew as alliances.
With this informational piece, I can elaborate on feminist coalition and the united front women have urged for since second wave feminism. In addition to providing a feminist theme to my zine, this can help me include women in politics and the potential we have to further implement our knowledge and voices. How have the women in politics influenced us? I’d like to expand on the women working within our government and include the women who run successful companies while campaigning for feminism.
Thompson, Becky. “Multiracial Feminism: Recasting the Chronology of Second Wave Feminism.” Feminist Studies, vol. 28, no. 2, 2002, pp. 337–360. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3178747.
In second wave feminism, the goal and focus of it seemed to be rights based rather than women having a justice based vision for change in society. In this article, Becky Thompson appeals to women of color, and white women who were antiracist, for their views on feminism and the goals of the second wave. Among Betty Friedan’s involvement and leadership in the second wave—and her famous book, The Feminine Mystique— helped solidify the rising number of white, middle-class women who were reluctant to be treated like second-class citizens in the community, in education, or in marriage. Radical changes were made, but still it focused on rights instead of justice.
Parting from second wave feminism, third wave consists of more racial injustices rather than radical dilemmas. When the author describes this wave of feminism, she states that women of color were involved on the many forefronts of feminism; additionally, she discloses the earliest organizations and groups of Asian, Mexican, Native American, African American feministic cultures. As the shift between second wave and third wave progresses, Thompson states that multiracial feminism cannot be categorized and taught as liberal, radical, or socialist. The amount of framework around multiracial feminism is greater than other other areas of feminism.
With Thompson’s help, I have found figures and organizations that I would like to feature in my zine and expand on. Furthermore, by including second wave and third wave feminism, I hope to show a chronological progression in the framework around feminism and the ultimate goal as it has changed. With this article and Laslett’s, I can also include the idea of intersectionality and why it is so important.
Laslett, Barbara, and Johanna Brenner. “Twenty-First-Century Academic Feminism in the United States: Utopian Visions and Practical Actions.” Signs, vol. 25, no. 4, 2000, pp. 1231–1235. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3175519.
The idea of our society evolving and changing seems to be highlighted within this text and states that as a society we need to envision the change we want to bring. As this third wave of feminism strikes, the women supporting and advocating for women’s rights have been raised in a world where they didn’t have to experience the grueling remarks made by non-feminists.
In third-century feminism, the conditions are admittedly different and women are graduating with Ph.D.s. It’s the first generation that grew up with feminism and never had to experience a world without it. It’s normalized for students—women— to pursue a higher degree, to pursue a dream man normally would achieve. Women’s studies has become a desired career track, and in supporting this movement, the article emphasizes the need for intersectionality to be taught alongside it.
I feel this article can be helpful in summarizing the important details that people may forget coming into the third wave of feminism. By acknowledging how the third wave has dramatically changed, I can (hopefully) create the view that women have achieved part of their goal, but not all of it. By using this article, I can show that the first and second wave of feminism has impacted the next generation and the environment they’ve grown up in. I’d also like to address the idea that the author brings into question: If the twenty-first-century feminists are capable of making the same revolutionary changes the first and second wave feminists made, are we—twenty-first century women— going to need newer strategies to correspond with the new opportunities and difficulties of today?
Summary
For this zine project, I would like to focus on feminism in the United States and the struggles women encounter daily. I’d like to incorporate their views and harrowing circumstances they experience like walking alone at night on a darkened street. Upon discussing rape and rape culture, I’d also like to address what women have to do in order to feel safe and worthy; furthermore, the double standards that are set against them. In addition to having to dress modestly to avoid rape culture, women are subject to certain standards whether they relate to the image of beauty or the other sex. To do this, I would first define what beauty standards are and how they differ between sexes. I would also compare standards related to men and how they’re interpreted as handsome or muscular. This topic of beauty standards then leads to the topic of double standards.
Double standards are eminent in today’s society and discussing them only highlights how unfairly women are treated. I’d like to address this in the business and political industry. They are not only paid less, but women are still not taken as seriously as men in a business environment. I’d also like to discuss why that is; furthermore, why are men portrayed as more responsible and ambitious in marketing than women are?
While providing examples of prominent figures and business women in the twenty-first century, I will also discuss beauty standards and reinforce the idea that women should protest principles set against them. For example, I’d focus on modeling in the early 1980s and 90s and compare them to the 2000s and today. A prominent figure I’d like to use in the modeling industry would be Oprah Winfrey or Tyra Banks as they encompass the idea of a business woman who has been successful. I want to include Tyra banks as a successful woman because she has accomplished lots and has empowered women through her advice in modeling.
By addressing Tyra Banks and other models who serve as feminists and dutiful business women, I hope to provide an overarching view of feminism through powerful figures and their view following rape culture and discrimination. By including women in my zine who face discrimination, I can strengthen the argument that the United States is improving in their diversity while also congratulating all that we have overcome.
The idea of discrimination will be partly discussed through the decades of modeling and partly through the advancement of women in politics.
By developing the foundation for this zine through fashion and culture, I’ll be including women’s rights, slavery, racism, etc. The purpose of this zine will be to highlight and distinguish the women and events that have propelled feminism in a positive way. The use of the topics related to fashion and discrimination has caused controversy in the past and by using this controversy, I can develop the view of discrimination models and women receive daily. This can then lead to the discussion of clothing brands tailoring their clothing for certain races.
To visually represent all these ideas, I plan to use forms of poetry, essays, and maybe some short fiction. I’d love to find a memoir by a woman who delegated feministic views and conferences, and if I can’t I’ll focus on interviews and old photographs.
I plan to include many photographs from the early decades related to fashion and women in the workforce, and eventually lead to the combination of both; furthermore, I’ll include women who have prospering businesses and appealing dress codes enforced at their company.
By placing pictures in my zine, I hope to create a timely ambience that improves only as women’s rights do. While including photographs, I will also include collages, drawings in pen and ink, and pencil sketches. One vision I’d like to recreate is the peeping tom key-hole and apply it to the standards women were expected of. Camera techniques could also be discussed; women are sexualized in art and that becomes the implied idea of a woman.
I hope my zine captures the transcendence of women and how we have improved as a society in this opportunistic era.
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