FEMINISM: THEN AND NOWTHEN: Social/Politically radical movement Women’s suffrage Forceful attempt to gain gender equality Involved violent activism

NOW: New individualist identity Woman liberating herself Disregards collective

ambition

CONCEPTIONS OF FEMINISM

Why do we still need Feminism? Aren’t women already liberated?

Fear in being labelled a feminist in today’s society

Negative connotations Associated with violence and male-hatred

General feminist stereotype:An angry woman with hairy legs, ready to blame men for everything

THE MODERN FEMINIST Modern public figures such

as Beyoncé glamourise feminism.

Feminism becomes linked

to women’s independence and self-respect. As her some of her hit songs suggest:

Who run the world? (girls)All the single ladiesFlawless

• Utilising an attractive, feisty approach for young women.

SELLING FEMINISM

Feminism today appears to be mostly associated with women finding confidence within themselves, rather than being a concern about social, political and economic inequalities that continue to exist between the sexes within society.

Modern day feminism addresses personal issues that commonly face women –such as body image and relationship status.

Feminism has become a reason to sell and buy things –such as Beyoncé's music and Jessica Valenti’s book

“Capitalism, which in a sense knows no

morals, couldn’t care less about the

positive, happy, ‘feminist’ reclaiming of sex so long as it

makes a buck out of skimpy nightwear

and thongs” (Power, 2009).

INTERSECTIONALITY

Intersectionality recognises the varying, “multi-layered facets” that exist in each, individual woman's life.

Race, gender, class, ability and ethnicity

Feminism as a collective endeavour that recognises women all face different hurdles within life –not all feminists are the same

“Today’s feminist movement is said to be in danger of losing momentum

unless it recognises that

not every feminist is white, middle class, cis-

gendered and able bodied”

(Vidal, 2014).