Feminism and Media
Feminism has commonly been explained as the regulation of rights to ensure that every political or social power is equal for both men and women. Over the years, women have used their media to express their need for equal rights with men, through which they have made significant developments. Association between the media and feminism date back in the 19thcentury and continues up to date. Many feminist claims that the history of feminism occurred in three significant faces across America. The first face was in the early 19th century when women had little or no control over what happened in their lives. In this period, most women were housewives with little or no education. The first face began when Elizabeth Cady Stanton signed the Seneca fall declaration giving women political rights and freedoms. During this face, feminists spread their message through newspaper bulletins and pamphlets.
The second wave began in the mid-1970s, where women were taking giant steps to ensure they had equal rights as men. In this era, women were empowered and advocated for changing their usual gender roles, such as cooking and taking care of children. Women began to form women-only organizations to support each other and empower each other (Luke, et al). Women were aired in televisions without minding their sexuality or nudity. The third wave started in the 1990s and continues using social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. In this face, issues such as lesbianism and traditional African American women role in society. The most discussed topic in the modern era of feminism is the idea of sexual inequalities between men and women. Women are much criticized in the media for nudity and exposure, while some cultures still emphasize female virginity before the marriage. Although many steps have been made in promoting feminism over the years, there is a need for more campaigns on women’s rights and equality in society.
Work cited
Dow, Bonnie J. Prime-time feminism: Television, media culture, and the women’s movement since 1970. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996.
Luke, Carmen. “Feminist Pedagogy.” Journal of Communication Inquiry 18.2 (1994): 30-47.