An Introduction to Feminism

11.19.13
Jason E. Glass
Superintendent & Chief Learner
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Introduction & Overview
 About Dr. Glass…
 Outline for today
1. Introduction
2. Learning Target & Criteria for Success
3. Defining feminism
4. Major goals and movements of feminism
5. Source material: “What happened when I started a feminist society at school”
by student, Jinan Youris
6. Exit Ticket – 3 writing options

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Learning Target & Criteria for Success
 Learning Target
- Students will understand the major goals of the feminist movement across time;
critique feminist theory; and relate feminism to their own lives.

 Criteria for Success

- Students will develop an “exit ticket” from class in the form of a written position
statement about their agreement with the major goals of feminism; make
connections to other social and civil-rights movements; or relate the ideas of
feminism to their own lives.

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Define: Feminism
Feminism is …

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Major Goals of the Feminist Movement Across Time
Basic Assumption:
“Throughout history, women have struggled to gain equality, respect, and
the same rights as men. This has been difficult because of patriarchy, an
ideology in which men are superior to women and have the right to rule
women.”
Definition of Feminism:
Feminism is a movement that includes women and men who wish to see a
world where discrimination based on gender and the idea that men are
superior to women is abolished.
-Tess Lantos

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Feminist Theory Argues…
 Women are oppressed by patriarchy economically, politically, socially,
and psychologically.
 Women are marginalized, ridiculed, disempowered, abused, exploited,
disrespected, and objectified by the patriarchal society.
 All western civilization (including American) is deeply rooted in patriarchy.
 Gender issues play a part in every aspect of the human experience.

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 3 Historical Waves of Feminism
 First Wave – late 1700’s – 1920’s
- Leading influencers: Mary Wollstonecraft (Vindication of the Rights of Women);
Susan B. Anthony
- Major ideas/ goals: Suffrage; public participation in democracy; economic
opportunity

 Second Wave – 1960’s – 1990’s

- Leading influencers: Betty Friedan (The Feminist Mystique); Gloria Steinem (“Ms.”
Magazine)
- Major ideas/ goals: Sexual and reproductive rights; job and harassment
protections for women; challenge of the domestic/traditional role for women;
access to education; Equal Rights Amendment

 Third Wave – 1990’s - now

- Leading influencers: Gloria Evangelina Anzaldua & the “new mestiza”; Lady Gaga
- Major ideas/goals: Recognition of different racial experiences among women;
embracing trans-gender/trans-sexuality; embrace of the feminine form; embrace of
many kinds of sexuality; self-acceptance
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“What happened when I started a feminist society at school”
 Altringham Girls Grammar School – Who Needs Feminism UK - Facebook

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Scoring Rubric
1. Fails to meaningfully interact with and respond to the question.
2. Responds to the question incompletely or demonstrates major
misunderstandings of key concepts.
3. Responds to the question directly, demonstrating a basic understanding
of key concepts.
4. Responds to the question fully, demonstrating a high level of
understanding of key concepts; making connections to other learning and
experience.

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Exit Ticket
 Answer one of the following three sentences in a short narrative. You
should rely on what we discussed today, what you have learned in class
previously, and your own personal experiences in responding.
1. Enumerate & critique some of the major goals of the modern feminist
movement for society.
2. Based on what you have learned about other civil rights movements,
briefly perform a comparative analysis of the feminist movement with
another movement.
3. Describe how the historical goals associated with feminism might have
an impact on your life.

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