C Mag Simplifies: Feminism

“The biggest misconception is that it’s somehow anti-man, and that’s simply not the case.”

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SO WHAT IS FEMINISM? Feminism opposes women’s placement below men in society, along with the prioritization of men’s opinions of what is best for women without consulting them. It’s a head-on challenge to patriarchal social organization, thought and control mechanisms. Feminism’s ultimate goal is to end masculine supremacy.

FEMINIST THEORY? Feminist theory focuses on the social roles, political viewpoints, interests and experiential aspects of the lives of women to better understand what exactly contributes to the oppression of women.

AND WHO’S THE LADY IN THE DRAWING? Rosie the Riveter represents every woman who had to take over the war manufacturing while the majority of the men were off fighting in World War II. Many women had to replace their previous jobs with more pressing ones that were traditionally carried out by men.

PRO TIP! Many feminist scholars agree that feminism and gender equality are not the same! According to Karen Offen, it’s a “subtle but profound distinction” —  equating the two diminishes feminism’s focus on ending oppression.