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Pride
and prejudice (feminism theory)
Introduction
Feminism
refers to a collection of ideologies, and movements that share common
goals and objectives to establish, define and achieve equal economic,
political, social and cultural rights for women. Feminism seeks to
establish opportunities to women equally in employments as well as
education with the aim of empowering them (berg, and Nina, 300).
Through feminism activities, women rights have been looked into and
opportunities provided to them. This makes feminism to be in a form
of social theory because it is included in the political, social and
economic context (Grunig, et al, 50). Its major aim is to fight for
the rights as well as their roles in society. This essay will analyze
the feminism theory providing its benefits in the society and the way
it comes about.
Development
and growth of cultural and social structure in the society have
played a very significant role in distinguishing the feasibility of
men and women in society. This is due to the fact that traditionally
women have been discriminated and their roles in the society were not
recognized (Suaidi, 85). This discrimination triggered harassment
among the women but feminism came to generalize women. With the help
of the theory, women rights have since been obtained and their roles
have been well defined. There have been various social criticism made
by women in society (85). This makes them feel that their social
status can be replaced through physical movements and with the help
of ideologies. This has been the major source of feminism in society.
One
of the major ways of women to fight for their rights with the help of
feminism is expressing themselves with the help of literary work.
Literature helps them to express themselves in the world of beauty
and truth (Suaidi, 86). Through literature, feminists have been able
to outwardly and inwardly support the overall idea of equal
opportunities and rights for women as they are for their men
counterparts. Literary works have therefore become a reflection of
people's lives in society. This makes it possible for women to air
grievances and fight for their rights with the help of language (86).
It plays a very significant role in modelling reality. It becomes a
clear description of reality.
According
to berg (302), feminist theory in sociology plays a vital role in
shifting its analytic lens, assumptions as well as topical focus from
the viewpoint of the male. Experiences are therefore shifted towards
the lives of women and girls in general. This is done by bringing
light on social trends, problems as well as the issues that affect
women. This is because of the overlooking and misidentifying women
roles in the society which have previously been a male-dominated one.
Feminism as a theory, focus on a number of issues that help in making
sure that women have been recognized. However, it is good to
understand that feminists do not exclusively focus on women and girls
and promote their superiority over their men counterparts. On the
other hand, it focuses on formulating favourable gender roles as well
as stereotypes. It also focuses on economic and structural changes
that will provide a better environment for women rights and
opportunities (Suaidi, 86). Through feminism, oppression and power
have been dealt with them and this makes the role of women in the
society to be outlined as having the same abilities and capabilities
like their men counterparts. Exclusion and discrimination that comes
on gender and sex basis will be reduced significantly through
feminist activities.
Basically,
feminism has been split between theory and activism (Khanna, 208).
Feminisms usually struggle with inadequacies that have been perceived
as universalism feminists (208). Through theory, the social world has
been viewed in such a way that it will illuminate those forces that
support and create oppression, inequality as well as injustice. While
doing this, the pursuit of justice and equality is promoted where all
individuals in society will enjoy their rights and opportunities
without discrimination. This is due to the fact that the perspectives
and experiences of girls and women were traditionally excluded from
social science as well as social theory. With the help of feminist
theory, experiences and interactions in the society will be focused
on well and changes will be effected in the people will understand
and see their relations, social forces as well as the problems
affecting them (Khanna, 209). In today's world, feminists'
theorists include men and women who believe that equal rights and
opportunities are important in society.
Some
feminist theories have provided a framework that is analytical in
understanding women and their location, social situations as well as
experience which is different from men's. There are some values
that are associated with femininity and womanhood (Grunig, 52). This
may be used to explain the reason behind the differences in how men
and women view the social world. Others will say that there are
different roles that society has assigned to men and women. This may
be the major cause of differences between the two genders and the
reason behind discrimination against women and girls. However,
feminists have played a very significant role in making sure that
these beliefs are done away with to recognize the women roles as
important in society.
Through
feminist theories, gender inequality has been focused on. This is
through recognition of women experience and location in their social
situations which have been different as well as unequal from those of
men (Grunig, 52). This has been a major cause of feminists to try and
fight for the roles as well as the rights of women. Liberal
feminists, on the other hand, have been at the forefront in making
people understand that men and women have the same capacity in their
reasoning. However, some men deny their female counterparts an
opportunity for reasoning as well as assuming some roles they believe
that they are supposed to be for men (Khanna, 210). These thoughts
have been the basis for dynamics that are meant to shove women and
girls in the private sphere of staying at home, therefore, excluding
them in participating in public life. It, therefore, becomes
necessary for women and some men to fight for the women rights and
showing that they have the same abilities and capabilities as their
men counterparts.
Gender
oppression has been one of the characteristics of inequality where
men and women are considered. Gender oppression means that women are
different from men and they are not supposed to assume roles that
have been perceived as meant for the male. This has made the
psychoanalytic feminists explain relations of power between men and
women. Radical feminists have also been at the forefront of looking
at women as being able to assume men roles. This is against the
patriarchal societies who oppress their women.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, feminist theory seeks to reduce women gender inequality
where women are viewed as inferior especially in patriarchal
societies. This made these theorists try and fight for the rights of
women and girls with the provision of equal opportunities in public
life. Development and growth of cultural and social structure in
society have played a very significant role in distinguishing the
feasibility of men and women in society. Feminist theory in sociology
plays a vital role in shifting its analytic lens, assumptions as well
as topical focus from the viewpoint of the male. Experiences are
therefore shifted towards the lives of women and girls in general.
This means that feminism is a split between theory and activism.
Work
cited
berg,
Cecilia, and Nina Lykke. "Feminist Technoscience Studies." European
Journal of
Womens
Studies,
vol. 17, no. 4, 2010, pp. 299-305., doi:10.1177/1350506810377692.
Grunig,
Larissa A., et al. "Feminist Values in Public Relations." Journal
of Public Relations
Research,
vol. 12, no. 1, 2010, pp. 49-68., doi:10.1207/s1532754xjprr1201_4.
Khanna,
Ranjana. Dark
Continents: Psychoanalysis and Colonialism.
Duke Univ. Press, 2004.
Suaidi,
Suaidi. "Feminism Reflected In Pride And Prejudice Novel By Jane
Austen
1813." Jurnal
Ilmiah Bahasa Dan Sastra,
vol. 3, no. 1, 2016, p. 85., doi:10.21067/jibs.v3i1.1157.
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