1

Running Head: FEMINISM AND EQUALITY

Current Issues Concerning Feminism

Professor’s Name

Student Name

Date
 2
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
Current Issues Concerning Feminism

Abstract

The past few decades have witnessed an inevitable upsurge in the occurrences of numerous

debates among various analysts and critics regarding such issues as gender, Global Political

Economy, and culture. These discussions are majorly based on the impacts of grave matters as

feminism on state power and the law of a particular country. These critics have argued that the

alliances that have recently been founded by neoliberal scholars and feminists incorporated with

numerous feminist ideas on political issues have come forward to dismiss the previously

assumed fact that all women have and will always become victims of oppression and

discrimination. This argument is based on the fact that women are currently entering political,

social, and economic platforms. These feminist analysts are now advocating that we take into

consideration the impacts of spreading feminist political ideas based on a political platform and

not that of society. They have shed light on the need for an alteration regarding the

interconnectedness of the concept of feminism to law and the power of a given state. These

scholars have also done a significant amount of research on the issues of inequality and hierarchy

among women while making sure to highlight the kind of feminist political questions which

should be endorsed in the increasingly changing society.

Introduction

Today, feminists across the world are witnessing a series of developments. Various vices,

such as discrimination based on gender and exclusion laws, have now been eradicated. Women

now enjoy various opportunities in social, economic, and political platforms. However, we

cannot ignore the fact that inequalities in gender continue to be persistent in many countries due
 3
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
to various reasons. We, therefore, cannot ignore the fact that most of our countries are still far

from achieving the required standards for equality based on gender. Gaining access to high-

quality services and employment opportunities again proves difficult to many women (and some

men) due to such reasons as social status, ethnic groups, and the structure of their households. It

is no doubt that this issue of gender equality has been ignored for the past years, and these critics

are now encouraging people that such problems should indeed be questioned.

This research paper is aimed at establishing a basis for which we can determine whether

the required level of equality on all possible platforms has been achieved in the 21st century. The

arguments in this paper have been retrieved from various secondary sources, including journals

and peer-reviewed articles relevant to this topic. We further dig into different opinions, as

presented by multiple feminist critics. The subsequent paragraphs have discussed in detail the

issues and challenges facing feminism today as well as recommendations by critics on the most

effective approaches which should be used in the future.

Literature Review

According to an analyst known as Halley Janet, feminists currently walk in the halls of

power. They have played a significant role in expanding how power is exercised as well as

tracking the expansion of alliances that govern the existence of man across all levels. Another

analyst, Fraser, has described the misappropriation of feminist ideologies by neoliberal

individuals as the cunning of history (Wiegman, 21). Evidently, these critics have different

opinions regarding the concepts pertaining to feminism. However, they do agree that alliances

between them feminists and neoliberal individuals are problematic in ensuring that the obligation

of feminism toward all women is achieved. Taking this perception into consideration implies that
 4
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
it is fundamental to legalize all important feminist ideas and incorporate them into diverse

political sections.

This research paper is meant to critically analyze the emerging issues concerning

feminism and the criticisms brought forth by various feminist critics. We believe that the current

issues on this concept are different from those of the past decades. Critics are now calling for a

new foundation on the subject of gender equality and liberalism of women. Their main question

is now directed toward the kind of new ideas which are bound to reflect on the impacts of

focusing on feminist politics today (Porter, 29). Such concerns are deemed to be essential to

future researchers in this field who would like to comprehend the emerging problems facing

feminists in various political platforms. This research paper dramatically focuses on the United

States, which is the first country from which these critics come. This country is also known for

its prominence on matters to do with feminism and neoliberal issues.

The past few years have witnessed an increase in the definitions brought forth by scholars

regarding feminists. According to Snyder, it is conceivable to come up with the third wave of

feminism, which differs from the second wave by using a different strategy, which entails

individual narratives that embrace a new version of feminism that embraces a diversified opinion

on the same matter. Such an approach should be focused on the inclusion of women on various

political platforms.

Discussion

Emerging questions and the challenging issues pertaining to the concept of feminism

Recent studies indicate that there is a considerable difference when gender disparities are

studied and a comparison made on the ancient ways of life and current trends. In the twentieth
 5
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
century, formalized institutions were based on gender. The same case was applied in simple

setups within society. The societal groups which advocated for equality in gender were first

founded in the mid-1970s in the United States (Porter, 29). The second wave of feminism was

mainly propelled by the increase in the state of discrimination of women on various grounds,

such as access to social amenities and other public resources. Women had become too

susceptible to violent acts, such as sexual exploitation. They had grown to become entirely

dependent on men for everything they needed, and their worth was utterly shattered. They

eventually joined hands in protesting these awful conditions so as to bring change in the existing

situation. Currently, the support for these protests and claims has experienced a significant level

of success. However, there is still a noticeable state of inequality and discrimination against

women despite the increased success in achieving gender equality today.

Some scholars have argued that conventional feminism has portrayed some flaws,

primarily since it is concentrated on separating the issues concerning gender and those about

inequality. In the case of differences, these critics insist that some women have indeed become

successful economically by taking advantage of a system in which well-paid women are less.

Additionally, the experiences of these women on sexual dominance and oppression by the male

gender is a reflection of how much gender inequality has continued to progress (Pateman et al.,

91). These critics thereby encourage the feminists who are genuinely committed to achieving

justice on social issues to fully involve themselves with the challenges being faced by

marginalized individuals. This would imply that they have to avoid perceiving the modern world

as a place featured by male dominance and female oppression. Instead, they should acknowledge

the fact that there are numerous ways with which discrimination and inequality are manifested.

There exist multiple gaps in the situations between the privileged and the underprivileged.
 6
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
It is no doubt that such claims are irrefutable. However, little attention is being paid

towards them, and feminist politics have continued to be suppressed over the years. It is trivial

that political matters do not take into consideration all the variables at the time. Exclusion is,

therefore, inevitable in such cases. The solution to this problem cannot be achieved by

demanding that the marginalized groups be included in political platforms (Peake, 34). Instead,

forums for contesting such issues should be conceived and made legal. Some other critics are

insisting that there's a dire need for us to seek a new way with which the issue of inequality in

gender can be addressed, especially when a few women are gaining power by illegal means.

Critiquing empowered feminists: Campaigns against sex-trafficking and sexual violence

Critics have further criticized the campaigns carried out by feminists in power regarding

such vices as sexual violence and sex trafficking. This argument has been based on the fact that

various negative implications are interconnected with the relations of feminists with the law

(Kissil et al., 19). The recent increase in the dependence of feminists on the code as a platform

for promoting gender equality has resulted in the degradation of people's knowledge of the fact

that liberalism relies on how much it is practiced, instead of the guarantees provided by the legal

platforms. Everyone now believes that legal rights serve as an end and not a means of solving

such crucial issues. This situation has therefore portrayed women as people who can be sexually

violated since the law has failed to address the problems at hand, rendering women victims of

these vices. These criticisms are focused on the concept of feminism as a current project and not

the experiences of various women.

The alliances of feminism and the law have indeed resulted in negative impacts. These

impacts are contrary to the original idea of feminism based on democracy and social justice. Real

feminists who have been advocating for action to be taken against sex-traffickers and other
 7
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
oppressors against women have experienced damaging results due to their efforts (Modleski et

al., 349). Some of them have been imprisoned or have had limited access to public resources.

According to Halley, the commitment of feminism to women and social justice was initially

admissible when feminists had to speak from a particular perspective based on a marginalized

group of people. However, it is now inapplicable when the concept is conjoined with the law and

state power. Even though numerous feminists have now been empowered, the idea of feminism

is perceived as an underdog, with women being viewed as the victims. This perception is greatly

dismissing the likelihood that women could sometimes be perpetrators of conflict.

Criticizing the gendered welfare state

Feminism critics who have shown an interest in gendered welfare structures have laid

focus on the uncomfortable alliances being formed between political leaders and feminists.

Numerous individuals in the United States have come forward to critique the tactic used by

these individuals who regard themselves as real feminists to the significant 1996 law that

transformed the US social assistance (Fraser, 72). This law was considered by many individuals

to epitomize the pinnacle of the influence of neoliberal policies. The bill was meant to eradicate

social assistance and decree that the recipients of welfare, including those with young kids to

work at a particular wage rate.

Most women in various political platforms ended up going along with this law. Feminist

groups also failed to engage themselves in protests to demand reforms to be made. Einstein

notes that there are several ways with which feminism has been used to legalize ideas of

corporate capitalism by discouraging the struggles of feminists in their quest to uphold the

interests of women (Hayhurst et al., 372). He further continues to differ with the practice of
 8
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
pushing women into the capitalist economy. This is because this particular practice makes it

easier for neoliberal leaders to cut back all the programs supporting welfare among women.

Revisiting the meaning of the new feminist politics.

Feminist critics have turned to criticize the empowered feminists in our society since their

activities correspond to those of neoliberal individuals. Most critics have defined feminism as a

platform for airing and exercising political issues and practices. This opinion of feminism has

always considered as a concept which focuses on addressing issues that pertain to inequalities

suffered by women and the injustice that they continue to face (Bacchi, 55). Arguing against this

perception, therefore, implies a grave misunderstanding of the issue at hand. Hence, instead of

attempting to alter feminism into a global political project, these critics are urging us to concede

all the faults surrounding this matter and instead reframe this concept as an individual project

without any rationalizations whatsoever.

Conclusion

This research paper has helped us conceptualize the fact that feminism has now lost its

true and original meaning due to its integration with neoliberal practices. An optimum level for

achieving equality in gender issues and other socio-economic and political arenas has not yet

been achieved despite the significant success on the same matter. Several critics have emerged

during the past years to bring up various issues with which feminists have continually turned a

blind eye. These critics have mainly laid focus on the existing disparities and hierarchies among

women.

Political issues relating to feminism and which have to be critically taken into

consideration today have been brought up by these critics. They have also led people to consider
 9
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
another perspective regarding the questions on whether alliances between feminists and

neoliberal groups are worth creating. The implications of such partnerships, as well as the most

appropriate ways for which feminism can be linked to democracy without diminishing the

interests of women, are also being questioned. The current problems being faced by feminism

and which have received little attention in the past years have now been brought up by various

critics in this field. Consequently, these critics have come forward to contend against the

assumption of the second wave of feminism. They are continually working towards digging into

matters that were previously generalized in the past.

Our principal objective throughout this study was to establish whether feminism is still a

necessary concept in modern society. We have critically examined various criticisms by various

analysts to determine whether inequalities in diverse platforms have been done away with. We

have, however, discovered that equality has not yet been attained, and therefore a new strategy

on feminism must be used to solve these emerging issues. Critics have thereby come forward

with specific questions regarding various critical political issues in feminism.

The criticisms presented in this paper seem to support the fact that feminist politics

should not be mixed up with neoliberal politics. This is because of the evident negative

implications which are brought about by such alliances. Many feminists in power have neglected

the various damaging effects which many women are going through as a result of their efforts to

protest against the social injustices they face. Most women are still facing a great deal of

discrimination based on gender or their social status or race in many state institutions and even

private corporations.

Alliances formed by neoliberal elites and feminists have either directly or indirectly

affected women through such vices as sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. It is very
 10
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
depressing how such issues are being ignored by feminists who are in power. The solution to this

issue is certainly beyond the scope of this research essay. In this case, therefore, further research

that analyzes all these issues on all possible angles should be done in the future to determine how

the issue of feminism can be approached without turning a blind eye on some of its concepts.
 11
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY
References

Bacchi, C. L., & Bacchi, C. (2010). Mainstreaming politics: Gendering practices and feminist

theory. University of Adelaide Press. 34-67

Fraser, N. (2012). Feminism, capitalism, and the cunning of history. 32-78

Hayhurst, L., MacNeill, M., & Frisby, W. (2010). A postcolonial feminist approach to gender,

development, and Edusport. In Routledge handbook of sports development (pp. 369-382).

Routledge.

Kissil, K., & Davey, M. (2010). The prostitution debate in feminism: Current trends, policy, and

clinical issues facing an invisible population. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 22(1),

1-21.

Modleski, T. (2014). Feminism without women: Culture and criticism in a" postfeminist" age.

Routledge. 347-398

Pateman, C., & Grosz, E. (2013). Feminist challenges: Social and political theory. Routledge.56-

98

Peake, L., & Rieker, M. (2013). Rethinking feminist interventions into the urban. In Rethinking

Feminist Interventions into the Urban (pp. 15-36). Routledge.

Porter, A. (2012). Neo-conservatism, neo-liberalism, and Canadian social policy: Challenges for

feminism. Canadian Woman Studies, 29(3).

Wiegman, R. (2014). The times we're in Queer feminist criticism and the reparative 'turn.'

Feminist Theory, 15(1), 4-25.

 12
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY