Rise Of Feminism Research Articles

Gender Bias in Linguistic Structures: A Comparative Study of French

Language is a form of power that can shape the cognitive thinking of its users and even serve as a tool of domination for those in authority. Historically, language has been an instrument of patriarchy, with its use under patriarchal systems that often serving to suppress women. However, in the modern era, with the rise of feminism, there has been increasing attention to issues of gender inequality. Many linguists have begun to question whether gendered languages exacerbate existing gender biases. Yet, few have undertaken comparative analyses across different language families. Considering grammatical structures and language origins, this paper will examine French from the Romance language family and German from the Germanic language family—both of them are gendered languages. This study will conduct a comparative analysis to identify the gender biases present in these languages and to explain the cognitive and linguistic causes underlying these biases. By highlighting these issues, the research aims to raise readers’ awareness of gender bias in linguistic structures.

An Analysis of the Protagonist’s Behavior in <i>Herzog</i> from Yi-Fu Tuan’s Escapism

The novel <i>Herzog</i> by the American writer Saul Bellow has received wide attention since its publication in 1964. It centers around the protagonist Moses Herzog’s life after his second divorce, in which he is often in a state of uneasiness, going from place to place to avoid problems, writing unsent letters to express dissatisfaction, seeking comfort from others when in trouble, and losing himself in memories when frustrated. According to the Chinese-American humanistic geographer Yi-Fu Tuan’s escapism theory, the behavior is in fact escapism. What Herzog really wants to escape is society, others, and himself, and escaping from place to place or person to person, and creating material world and spiritual world, are the different ways of his escapism. And during the process of escape, with embarrassment, pains, impulse and constant self-introspection, he gradually gains strength, and evolves from negative escapism to positive escapism, temporarily achieving reconciliation with reality. There are many reasons for Herzog’s escapism, among which his American Jewish identity, the turmoil of the American society in 1960s, the decline of the intellectuals’ status and the rise of feminism at that time all play a key role. Herzog’s escapism is actually a product of his time, a process of reconstruction of relationship between male and female, and a seeking-existence journey of an intellectual with different ethnicity in American society, with positive escapism born out of negative one.

Research on the Current Situation of Gender Inequality in China-From a Female Perspective

The rise of feminism has prompted more and more people in the world to pay attention to the issue of gender equality. In China, which has a large population, this issue has also become very prominent. This paper studies the current situation of inequality in China from women‘s perspective, and analyzes the current situation and reasons of inequality mainly from three aspects: workplace, education and family. The causes are analyzed from three perspectives: history, social welfare policies and family. The influence of Confucianism and patriarchal society on women, the neglect and lack of implementation of some bills of rights for women and the influence of family on women are the main causes. Corresponding solutions are proposed to address the existing phenomena. The government needs to improve women‘s employment and maternity leave policies and strengthen the family subsidies for women, innovate the pension insurance system and marital property system, and raise the social awareness of affirmative action. Equality between men and women was essential for the advancement of women and the development of society.

Gender Power Dynamics: Male Marginalization in the Works of John Nkemngong Nkengasong

Contrary to the general tendency in critical literary circles which, since the rise of feminism and gender studies, has interrogated the female condition under the yoke of patriarchy, this paper examines the extent to which the female gender dominates and marginalizes the male gender (in patriarchal societies) thereby creating the necessity to (re)exam­ine feminine power and the way it operates socially and sexually. Using ideas from Chinweizu (1990) as theoretical positions for the analysis of selected works by the Cameroonian scholar, novelist, playwright and poet, John Nkemngong Nkengasong, this paper investigates the power dynamics amongst female and male gender from two perspectives: the manipulation of male instinct and the exploitation of male inadequacies. It shows that in the selected works of Nkengsaong the females control power that formally belong men to the extent that power becomes not just a mechanism for getting what they want but also for making males to feel insignificant, irrelevant, and helpless.

Research on the image Construction of struggling women in movies and TV dramas from the perspective of social gender Theory

"This study uses gender theory and construction theory to study how the image of struggling women in movies and TV dramas has changed since the rise of feminism in China. Firstly, the research method of content analysis is used to conduct stratified sampling and coding for struggle films and TV dramas from 2013 to 2022. Secondly, it analyzes the data and finds that the female images in movies and TV dramas have changed in the past ten years, from male vassals to independent subjects. Finally, it analyzes the reasons for the changes in female images and puts forward the social problems caused by the changes in female images."

Analysis of the Impact of International Engagement on Womens Rights

Womens issues began to be discussed more and more concerning international relations after the conclusion of the Cold War, and feminism has grown to be a significant theory in the field. At the same time, the reconstructed international pattern after the Cold War also provides a new perspective for feminist research. Using documentary analysis, this paper seeks to show the reader the positive impact of international engagement on the feminist movement from three perspectives: the United Nations, international feminist NGOs, and women in diplomacy. In general, the rise of feminism has become a significant trend in a global community that is interdependent but divided, rapidly developing but in crisis, and eager to cooperate but still in need of communication. Feminism is a vital force in the governance of the international community. From the programmatic documents adopted by the United Nations to the unifying role played by NGOs and the strong presence of women in diplomacy, it has made a remarkable contribution to building an equal future for humanity.

The Embodiment and Effects of Feminism in Disney Films in the 20th and 21st

With the rise of feminism, the female characters in Disney's animated films break away from the original female stereotypes. The feminist content in Disney has evolved with the wave of the feminist movement. More and more brave, astute and independent female characters appear in movies. Compared with the simple princess movies, which tell the story of the elegant but weak princess who is rescued by the prince, these new female characters reflect the change of people's thoughts. These feminist contents promote the concept of gender equality, show the diversity of women's beauty, and deepen people's self-affirmation. However, some evidence shows that Disney characters have deformed aesthetics and tend to cause unhealthy body control. But people can improve this problem by being tolerant of beauty’s distance and paying attention to the beauty within. Parents can also guide their children to learn about women's rights in movies so that the improved Disney movies can play a more positive role.

Factors of Success of Girls in The Faculties of The Public Universities of Togo

Girls have less access than boys to the educational system in Togo. At the primary level, they perform relatively less well than boys. In junior high school and high school, the few girls who remain in school have a success rate close to that of boys. At the university entrance, there is one (1) girl for every four (4) boys enrolled, however, they do better than the boys. What explains the performance of female students in Togo's public universities? This article aims at explaining the factors of success of girls in the said universities. Based on secondary data and a literature search, it was shown that girls enroll in large numbers in predominantly literary fields and do better than boys. In addition, the main factors favoring the success of girls are: social origin modulated by age and the field of study in which they enroll. Female students from disadvantaged social backgrounds are more resilient and their good academic performance is due to the support of their immediate social environment (parents, teachers, NGOs, etc.) and the global environment marked by the rise of feminism.

The Change in the Reflection of Gender Roles from Proto-Science Fiction to Science Fiction with the Rise of Feminism: Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World and Mary Robinette Kowal’s The Calculating Stars

Before the rise of feminism, women were oppressed in the field of literature, particularly in science fiction. Despite this prejudice, Margaret Cavendish played a very important role in producing proto-science fiction with her utopian fiction, A Description of a New World Called the Blazing World, though gender problem can still be observed in the work. After the rise of feminism, with Mary Robinette Kowal’s science fiction, The Calculating Stars: A Lady Astronaut Novel, female characters, who are more active in science and technology, are depicted, even if these women still struggle with patriarchal values in a different context. Therefore, the aim of this article is to compare and contrast The Blazing World and The Calculating Stars by discussing the ways these two female writers try to achieve destroying the gender-based stereotypical roles in the field of science and technology. Consequently, what will be stressed is the change in the portrayal of gender roles within the transition period from proto-science fiction to science fiction, therefore it will be emphasized that proto-science fiction written before the feminist movement cannot overcome gender inequality in science and technology, whereas science fiction produced after feminism can break the gender-based barriers in these fields.

Reality Bites

Reality Bites

World War II and the Rise of Feminism in Martinique

Abstract L’idée que le féminisme antillais est un phénomène du 21ème siècle et qu’il est encore à ses débuts est répandue. Néanmoins, plusieurs groupes féminins ont mené des actions féministes bien avant. Lors de la deuxième guerre mondiale, Le Club féminin et l’Union des femmes de la Martinique, entre autres, ont lutté contre le fascisme, le colonialisme et l’exclusion des femmes de la vie publique. L’auteure trace l’influence de la guerre sur leur pensée féministe.

The rise of feminism in the works by Henry James: Some narratological insights

James' fiction crosses many of the artificially imposed borders and often deals explicitly with social changes and their consequences, for example, the emerging role and power of women in society. James was among the first American writers to introduce feministic issues into his works. This paper explores the theme of feminism in "The Turn of the Screw", "The Jolly Corner" and The Bostonians emphasizing that in the latter James raises the problem of possibility for women of their simultaneous self-realization in family, at work, and in social life. This is still one of the most burning issues in feministic writing thus making James relevant in the 21st century. Analysing The Bostianians and shorter works by Henry James, the paper demonstrates that the writer pays a lot of attention to the issues of female personal freedom and self-realization determined by the loyalty to the institution of marriage. James depicts the growing tendency of alienation and misunderstanding between men and women, underlined in his short works and The Bostonians.

Evaluating the Intersectionality of Women Liberation Movements

The paper focuses on how women’s liberation movements overlook women from minority race groups. The rise of feminism, for example, ignores the unique challenges faced by queer women and women of color. Additionally, women liberation movements do not highlight the plight of women from minority race groups, who are thought of as less feminine. For instance, feminist movements do not highlight the discrimination against black women, who tend to be assertive and confident, traits associated with masculinity. Moreover, women’s suffrage protests were subjects of criticism for segregating women based on race. The paper criticizes the women’s liberation movements take on intersectionality of race, strengthening the need to revisit their primal objectives, particularly feminist campaigns that ought to address plights for vulnerable women in society.

A Feministic Approach to Nora of Henric Ibsen’s A Doll’s House

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen is a significant work as a model play in the rise of feminism of the 19th century. Nora, the central female character, acts as the harbinger of feminism here. She is seen in the play as a rebellious female for establishing her own recognition as a human being. She discovers herself as a locked bird in both her father’s house and husband’s as well. She also proves that in the name of love and adoration she receives only humiliation from the male-dominated families. So she leaves her “happy home” for uncertainty as well as she leaves the community of her own people. Actually, Nora is the representative of the pioneering female world who tried to change the male-dominated social systems and to change their discriminatory outlook to the womanhood. So this study is to find out the seeds of feminism in the women waiting to be flourished with an explosion of freedom in the 19th century.

In Plain Sight: Open Doors, Mixed-sex Wards and Sexual Abuse in English Psychiatric Hospitals, 1950s-Early 1990s.

SummaryThis article investigates the consequences of unlocking psychiatric wards and allowing male and female patients and staff to mix freely in the post-war period. I argue that the sexes were allowed to socialise with each other primarily for the benefit of male patients, and that some superintendents were ‘blind’ to the dangers of sexual abuse to which female patients were exposed, especially given the growing number of male ‘sexual psychopaths’ who were being admitted to open wards. While male nurses did complain about mixed wards in the mid 1960s, it was not until the rise of feminism and patient activism that the extent of sexual abuse and violence in hospitals began to be revealed a decade later. By the 1980s, despite calls to return to segregated living, psychiatric hospitals were no longer able to fund single-sex wards, exposing many women to sexual danger and deterring them from seeking help as in-patients.

Social Diversification and its Impact on Political Stability in Iran since Islamic Revolution

Iran launched an all-round Islamization movement after the Islamic Revolution, which, however, did not achieve real success. Since the 1990s, a noticeable shift has taken place in Iranian society, featuring a kind of “mass culture“ different from the official ideology, which, in essence, represents a pursuit of diversified values and lifestyles. Due to the secularization in their day-to-day life, Iranians are becoming increasingly indifferent towards religious duties. In the field of culture and art, religious taboos have been gradually broken. With the rise of feminism and the development of female culture, the situation of women’s complete confinement to the family has gradually changed, and women’s awareness of defending their rights and interests has greatly enhanced. Due to the profound impact of the social diversification, the relationship between society and government is both tense and compromising. The social diversification in Iran may be a considerable challenge to the political stability.

The Rise of Feminism in the PKK: Ideology or Strategy?

Studies on women in nationalist guerrilla movements, such as in Sri Lanka and Angola, find that women's militancy has not lead to changes in traditional patriarchal structures. Contradicting much of the current literature, today Kurdish women have gained substantial equality in the PKK, and the Party's ideology actively promotes a subversion of traditional gender structures. Using existing interviews with militants and academic literature, I will give a nuanced view of the progressive transition of the PKK's political ideology on women. During the early 1990s, the PKK's emancipatory stance and reinterpretation of Kurdish myths were employed pragmatically to increase women's participation. However, patriarchal structures remained unchanged and female militants were merely handed over from a patriarchal family to a patriarchal party. Despite this, the autonomous Women's Army (YJAK) became a “safe space” from which self-organized and armed women actively influenced the PKK's ideology and practice. Legitimized by the PKK's own emancipatory propaganda, the YJAK pushed the party towards a more radical feminist agenda by loyally aligning themselves to the “father figure” Öcalan during setbacks in the late 1990s. The current prominence of the PKK's feminist agenda suggests female militants can undermine and challenge patriarchal structures from within the structure of a nationalist movement.

Poststructuralist-Feminist International Relations: A Point of Reconciliation?

The relationships between peace studies and international relations (IR) has never been easy. The “strategic” nature of inter-state relations in IR and its state-centric focus are some of the big challenges to the humanitarian nature of peace studies. However, the rise of feminism in IR in the 1980s has given us a new promise in opening the field of IR to a greater humanitarian focus which could take even the individual level of analysis into account. IR poststructuralist-feminism - which is understood as an IR feminist perspective which deconstruct the “common assumptions of culture” (Sylvester, 1994) including feminism itself - is particularly progressive in the sense that it does not only provide the room to problematize the basic assumptions of mainstream IR, but also room to even question the premises of the IR feminists themselves, a self-reflective quality shared by contemporary peace studies. One of the latest theoretical developments in poststructuralist-feminist IR is the “adoption” of positive psychology into IR methodology in order to take a deeper look into the mostly forgotten dimension of humans’ capability to flourish even under the most extreme condition (Penttinen, 2013). Again, this new proposal resonates with the current trend in peace studies scholarship in which peacebuilding processes are geared toward fuller ownership by the locals and harnesses their capabilities to survive. This article would like to analyze the potentialities of feminist approaches in IR, particularly those which come from the poststructuralist school of thought, as a fruitful “meeting point” for peace studies and IR. Once we identify the “meeting point,” hopefully it can bring us into a rich inter-disciplinary endeavor in the future as well as a better understanding of the dynamics of peacebuilding practices in the context of international relations.Key Words: international relations, poststructuralist feminist IR, peace studies, positive psychology, reflective practices

‘A conscientious and well-informed Victorian mother’: Elizabeth Gaskell's letters to her daughters

Unlike the majority of the major female authors of the Victorian period, Elizabeth Gaskell was a mother, and her understanding of motherhood was one of the defining preoccupations of both her life and her fiction. In her lively and intimate letters to her four daughters, Gaskell provides a fascinating insight into mid-Victorian motherhood. ‘Conscientious and well-informed’, frank and self-reflexive, Gaskell's letters reflect the social and intellectual ferment of the period and shed light on some of the most pressing issues faced by mothers of the period, including the psychological development and education of children, the Victorian crises of religious schism and unbelief, and the rise of feminism.

“One of Us”: Orphaned Selves and Legitimacy in Australian Autobiography

Orsino: And what's her histor y?Viola: A blank, my lord.-Shakespeare, twelfth night, Act II, Scene IVWhen she is brought before new south Wales Children's Court aged fifteen, sharyn Killens has already spent seven years of her life in an orphanage. she is charged with being uncontrollable, and her mother suggests to court that would be better for everyone she was placed in an institution until she is eighteen (Killens 88). so it is, with her mother's blessing, that sharyn is sent to notorious parramatta Girls' Home (in western suburbs of sydney) and from there to even more notorious Hay institution for Girls in Central new south Wales. But sharyn's history is anything but a blank, and she recounts how she filled in those blanks in her autobiography, The Inconvenient Child. Born in 1948, sharyn was illegitimate daughter of a white Australian woman and a black American sailor, but it took until 1989, forty-one years later, that her mother revealed his name. in her ten years in three state-sanctioned institutions, sharyn is physically and emotionally abused and humiliated; during a short period institutions during her adolescence she suffers an episode of multiple rape. As a stripper, alcoholic, drug addict, and, in later life, a highly successful cabaret singer on ocean liners, sharyn has only wanted two things in life: to be loved and accepted by her mother, Grace; and to know her father's identity. this paper examines selves, in which autobiographer is both in sense of not knowing one or both birth parents, and in sense of being estranged from a fully formed and completed self.Sharyn's narrative is about belonging; or, as one who feels estranged by circumstances and consequences of her life, about desire for belonging. According to social theorist elspeth probyn, if you have to think about belonging, perhaps you are already outside (8). that is, at one level, seeking belonging already positions seeker on outside. this might be social, but it also ref lects a self-identity in which one's connectedness with people, families, communities, and an almost infinite number of other possibilities for identity formation is forged. rupture between world and self-identity is, in part, what i mean by orphaned selves. of course, sharyn is also in sense that her biological parents take very little active part in her upbringing, but i am more interested in desire for completion-that is, to inscribe oneself into a genealogical history-and repercussions of orphanhood for self-identity. in addition to The Inconvenient Child (2009), i will also consider Robert dessaix's A Mother's Disgrace (1994), Gordon Matthews's An Australian Son (1996), and Kate shayler's The Long Way Home (1999) with its sequel A Tuesday Thing (2004).SEEKING COMPLETIONInstitutional dwellings such as foundling hospitals, poor houses, orphanages, and asylums have a long and infamous history. By early twentieth century, in Australia as elsewhere, it was considered more beneficial for children to be boarded rather than housed in asylums for destitute; whereas this idea of boarding out had been based originally on teaching a child a usefulness (usually exploiting their labor), notion of adoption for love took hold, becoming known as sentimental adoption (Forkert 25). For children born out of wedlock, their lives were begun filius nullius, literally the children of no-one (Marshall and Mcdonald 4). Adoption law was state-based, and it was not until rise of feminism in 1970s-and with legislation protecting rights of unmarried women-that there was a significant shift toward women keeping their children. With this came impetus for legislation to allow adoptees and birth parents to find one another, followed by legislation enabling rights of access-e.g. …