Feminism and Societys Acceptance - Article Example

FEMINISM: AIMING FOR SOCIETY’S ACCEPTANCE Critical psychology has been interpreted to have a number of concepts. It also has been regarded as a methodology rather than a principle. Critical psychology has been considered as “an orientation that cuts across the various sub-disciplines in psychology and is made up of diverse theoretical perspectives and forms of practice.” The main concerns of critical psychology has been pointed out to be both evaluating domineering practices of psychology that goes with the disturbing one-sidedness of authority (Hook et al 2004). A number of predicaments have been a contribution of critical psychology. With the involvement of power and psychology, this type of thinking can be related to feminism. This is when females are aiming to achieve an equal treatment and authority with males in a society where they are being looked at as a minority. Both critical psychology and feminism involves an examination of the association between authority and psychology (Freedman 2001). Females have fought for equality for the longest time. Even in a world filled with the most technologically advanced equipments and the most liberated kinds of people, there are those who still treat females as minority compared to the males. This is not just evident in the workplace but also in the society. Does the term feminism equate to rebelling against the male gender? What does the feminist approach means? Therefore for one to truly understand what the whole psychological approach is, one should be able to define what feminism is. There are several concepts that pertain to the term feminism. In 1872, there was a medical text that referred to an interruption in the development of sexual body parts and appearances in male patients. These patients were then diagnosed to be experiencing what doctors called as the “feminization” of their bodies (Freedman 2001). This initial definition though can be considered more on the medical aspect of science. During the 1800s, the term referred to the female qualities. According to Haslanger et al (2011), it was during the 1892 First International Womens Conference that was held in Paris where feminism started to mean as the “belief in and advocacy of equal rights for women based on the idea of the equality of the sexes.” It took a long period of time before the term feminism materialized. The term itself only emerged long after females started questioning their subordinate significance in the social structure. Initially, it was only the women’s social condition that females were demanding amendment (Freedman 2001). More than 120 years had passed since the conference but this is still one of the cores of the feminist approach during the 21st century. Even the most liberated minds still have that tiny doubt on a woman’s abilities and capacities. The concept and definition of the word feminism has evolved with the passing of years. The meaning of the word can be compared to an animal that adapts with its environment in order to survive. It had successfully survived years of transition from one category of psychology to another. The term feminism in a way has been feared not just by the male species but society itself. There is a rebellious connotation that follows this term as its initial purpose was to fight for women’s equality against men. Females also tend to prove that they are just as capable as their male counterparts. Though the feminists do struggle against the society to be treated equally, their ways are not always in the form of violence. Females cannot be compared to males with regards to their physical strength. Women use their knowledge and ability to prove that there are areas where females are just like males and therefore should be treated equally. It does not require physical strength to survive in a male dominated society or environment. Equality is not all about physical responsibilities. There are facets that do not require any physical intensity however it is just as important where females can be treated equally by males. There was a bit of confusion about the concept of feminism during the 19th century. It was feared then that feminism was causing gender confusion. Again, this pertained to the physical aspect of living. Feminism is not a term that only pertains to what is just being seen by the eyes. Feminism is a way of thinking. This is an aspect where males and females can be considered equal. This is the main essence of the feminist approach. It is being treated equally based on intelligence and capabilities that do not need any physical influence (Freedman 2001). This is what makes feminism unique compared to other schools of thinking. It evolves with the way society treats women. Feminism has different waves as it adapts to what is needed by females in the society. There are also diversities that make the whole concept sometimes misunderstood by other people who are not well-oriented by the perception. Sometimes feminists also have different concepts which they are struggling within themselves. Feminism as a practice does not just deliberate on sexual characteristics and relations. There are still disagreements on the precise reason why there are gender discriminations. Feminist theories have a tendency to vary as to what would be deliberated as the main reason (Hook et al 2004). Several feminist schools of thoughts have been established through the years. Hook et al (2004) detailed 5 schools of thought namely: 1) liberal feminism, 2) Marxist feminism, 3) radical feminism, 4) psychoanalytic feminism and 5) African feminism. There are different views and standpoints for each school of thought that makes the whole feminism concept complex and rich. Females had been deprived of so many things in the past. It was only in recent years that females had been given considerations in the male dominated world. Females had been treated as slaves, deprived of education and the right to vote and to choose who their husbands would be. This is how society has treated females as recorded and written in history books. There was a point in the medieval times where females were also deprived of writing. There was only 1 account of a female writer during this period and unfortunately the writer was sentenced to be burned (Watt 2007). Females are also capable to do what males can do. Women have the same number of eyes, ears, arms and legs just like men. Men may be stronger than women but it does not necessarily mean that there are things women are not capable of doing tasks that men do. Females also have a place in society and not just inside the household. It can be concluded that the term “fear of gender confusion” entered the minds of the male dominated society in the 19th century was due to the female’s realization of their capabilities. Fear may not pertain to sexuality of males and females. This term may pertain to the fear males do have when females would leave their homes and seek a position in a society. Feminism is not a sexist act. It is looking at people equally regardless of their sex. People would be given equal opportunities either for government service or corporate positions based on their abilities and knowledge (Haslanger et al 2011). It took a long time before females were given the opportunity to be educated and a longer time before they were allowed to vote. Females even waited more to be employed and given competitive salaries compared to their male counterparts. Are males afraid of women leaving their homes because nobody would be left to take care of the family or they are just simply afraid that females would realize their true capabilities? Females have been deprived of their rights long enough. During earlier times, the only place that women would be seen was either at home or at church. There were barely any females in the history books. It was only during the 20th century when females started to step out of the males’ shadow and made names for themselves. Females started to make their own reputation in the society and even in the government. There were countries that had elected female leaders with the hope of reformation. Females have their own ways of encouraging and influencing people around them. Feminism does not aim to take over the male-dominated culture and society. It is simply aiming to gain equal treatment in society and government and to be given the same rights that the males have been given. Step by step, feminists are achieving their goals of attaining the equal treatment that females have long been deprived of. When would feminists say that they have succeeded in their aim? Being elected in the government and reaching supervisorial positions in companies are just some of the achievements that feminists achieved with their struggle in fighting for equality. This is already a bonus from what the first feminists have fought for. When females were allowed to go to school and receive the same education that males have been receiving was already an accomplishment. Being given the right to vote is a major leap that the government have given females (Haslanger et al 2011). Even with such milestones and conferences, there are still those who suppress women from their social rights and treat females as subordinates. Women have struggled for the longest time to be treated equally as men. Yet, there are times that a male looks at a female as minority. The more alarming case is that there are also women who think of themselves as subordinate to men (Haslanger et al 2011). Females are more flexible than males and therefore should not think of themselves as a lesser beings. The house is definitely a female territory. Only a number of males can survive being left in a household and being able to manage it. Therefore, males need females to do the tasks. Males may dominate the corporate world but there are a number of females who are making their own marks in the business aspect of society. Though this is not a female territory, women are proving that they are just as capable as males in making professional decisions and manoeuvring a company. Such flexibility is barely shown by males when they enter a female territory (Haslanger et al 2011). Empowerment and equality start from within. If females themselves would not believe in their own aptitudes and capabilities, nobody would. Women empowerment does not mean getting full control over men. It just means that women should think of themselves as competitive entities in this society. Females have fought for their rights through time. History books may not have much written about females who have struggled for their rights and acceptance but this does not mean that they have less achievement than men. Society plays a big part in accepting what females can do. There have been major changes that society had been given women through time. Even if it took a long while, society is granting a little taste of equality to women one step at a time. Education was the biggest element that the society granted females. It gave women a chance to gain knowledge and not just be locked up inside the house to do the chores and be slaves. Education gave women the right and the tool to fulfil their dreams and experience more of what life is offering them. Critical psychology is only a modernized concept that was used by females who want to be treated equally. It does not intend to take over the world and dominate it. Feminism, just like critical psychology, would want to amend the dominating thinking of males. Both genders need to coexist in order to populate and would enable the continued existence of the human race. Females are just as important as males in the society. Women may not have much contribution in the history books compared to the men who have fought wars and liberated countries. People tend to forget that these male heroic figures have mothers who took care of them, an influential component which moulded children to be the leaders that brings life to history books. It is not a debate on which gender is better or more dominant. There is no such thing as a dominant gender for males and females need each other to be productive. Whether this would be accepted or not, there is equality between the genders. Males would disagree as well as some females would. How would mankind achieve peace if nobody would agree that males need females and vice versa to achieve equilibrium? People in the society should open their minds to see that the world that they are living in has males and females that are living and coexisting. A family would not be a family if there is no mother or no father. A mother and a father are needed to be able to build a family that can nurture children optimally. Males should listen more often to females. On the other hand, women should think of themselves as important beings with equal rights and capabilities as men and in doing so they can be better accepted by the society. If only society would open up more to the thought of equality, then mankind would achieve its ultimate goal which is peace. References Billig, M. (2008) The Hidden Roots of Critical Psychology. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Carrette, J. 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