The Modern Ideology of Feminism - Literature review Example

The Conversation Essay Literature based on the perceptions and thoughts of feminism views have long been considering social distinctions made between gender roles as a depiction of differences between males and females. Unastonishingly, a similar notion I could observe in the studies of Gretel Ehrlich in About Men and Susan Brownmiller in Femininity, and related to my personal life experiences. On one end, Ehrlich, in her writing took the example of a cowboy to reflect upon the gender identities and differences persistent in the then society, on the other hand, Brownmiller was focused on providing a more realistic purview of the segregation made between the males and females. Going through these writings, I could apparently observe the strong reflection of physical attributes associated with the social positioning of females and males, which I was able to articulate from my close association with an American born Russian friend of mine as well as with an Indian American friend. During our regular meetings at her home as well as in college, I could easily observe the gender differences persisting within their society, even though partially influenced by the Western culture of America. As much as I noticed, these differences were much provoked by the physical constraints and segregations made within a male and a female within the society. On the contrary, to me, the American society presents a much different and polarized view on gender differentiation. When relating the same with the view given by Ehrlich and Brownmiller, I could observe that not in al grounds do their arguments hold attention in the modern era. Nevertheless, incorporating the studies in my personal experience triggered a question in my mind that – What does feminism thoughts perceive, if considered its fundamental ideologies? Is it not too much concentrated on the bodily constructions of females and males that make them fulfilling to each other and thereby structure the modern ideology of feminism? With reference to the study presented in Gretel Ehrlich, a better understanding to the difference can be developed, wherein the author has been strongly concentrated on occupying her readers’ minds with the masculine features of a cowboy, who is much desirable among women owing to his “rugged and tough, ….kind and tender hearted” nature (Ehrlich 251). However, as I went through the writing, I noticed that the author also did not spare a chance to depict the comparatively weaker but distinctive position of women in the American society. As Ehrlich (85) writes: “For all the women here who use “fragileness” to avoid work or as a sexual ploy, there are men who try to hide theirs, all the while clinging to an adolescent dependency on women to cook their meals, wash their clothes, and keep the ranch house warm in winter”. As per my understanding, in this quote, the author is trying to reveal the degree of interdependency amid the males and the females in the society, which persisted quite apparently but distinctively within the cultural periphery. As Ehrlich describes, men are dependent on women due to various needs and vice-versa, with their sexual motifs being in common. Today as well, such an association is undeniable within the modern American society, but that does not mean women to be less imperative in the society as compared to men. Women have dignified positions in the American society today, although the fact might differ in context to other cultures such as the Middle-Eastern and the Asian cultures, which I could observe when comparing myself with my friends belonging to these backgrounds. Nevertheless, as per my understanding, this particular thought gives a strong controversial indication to men overpowering women, as it is on this note that Brownmiller (1984) also seems to be in agreement with the same idea in her writing of About Men. To be asserted, Ehrlich (199) stated – “The iconic myth surrounding him [the cowboy] is built on American notions of heroism: the index of a man’s value as measures in physical courage”, wherein Brownmiller (13) in her book Femininity asserted – “No matter that these visitors never arrived on cue, I had learned a rule of gender identification. Men were straight-edged, sharply pronged and formidable; women were softly curved and held the food in a rounded well”. Visibly, About Men by Gretel Ehrlich and Femininity by Susan Brownmiller provide quite a distinctive but related understanding about democracy and gender roles in the early modern and contemporary society, perhaps because both seem inspired by the thought of ‘hegemonic masculinity’ that refers to the characteristics of men and women exhibiting the dominating position of one on the other. I do believe that the concept has influenced various social elements those have further contributed to shape the fundamental principles of the modern society, as also supported by Connell and Messerschmidt (843). Although, when relating to my personal experiences, I disagree to the point of hegemonic masculinity as persistent in today’s society wherein women are not only respected within their family as a decision-maker, but also in the corporate and other domains of the modern civilization, positioning themselves hand-in-hand with men. For instance, when describing the concept of a cowboy, Gretel Ehrlich tried to highlight the rural life of Wyoming in About Men. Correspondingly, Ehrlich signified the characteristics about cowboy and its culture. At the same time, the author highlighted the complexities of the gender principle in relation to gender inclination in his statement: “The geographical vastness and the social isolation here make emotional evolution seem impossible. Those contradictions of the heart between respectability, logic, and convention on the one hand, and impulse, passion, and intuition on the other, played out wordlessly against the paradisical beauty of the West, give cowboys a wide-eyed but drawn look” (Ehrlich 254). Ehrlich’s description thereto, demonstrated the concept of cowboy as macho and very much masculine, which although physically powerful than a woman, can fall to her knees for his physical as well as emotional desires as a son, as a brother and above all, as a man. My observations in this regard reveals that perhaps it was a true fact in the era of my grandmother and grandfather when a major portion of the society was following the rural inhabitant culture, it has become almost vague today when its major part has become urbanized and much open-minded. As I could observe, the macho culture of the cowboy in a society defined varied characteristics of men, who possessed resilience, patience and instinct for their survival, which, with the expansion of urbanization and open-culture has also transmitted within the feminine part of the society, making the concept of hegemonic masculinity become partially vague. Thus, to an extent, these arguments depict those physical differences to have formed the key to social positioning of both males and females. My perception to the aspect often guides me to the fact that feminism ideologies are more about the equal opportunities for men and women in the society. However, greater emphasis was on the physical appearances of women, which differentiated them from men in the society – at times giving them control on men but again, empowering men at the end, which fails to reside as a fact in the current scenario of the American culture. This particular notion becomes apparent with the thought presented by Brownmiller, where the male character of her story narrates: “Men were straight-edged, sharply pronged and formidable, women were softly curved and held the food in a rounded well” (205). Although a preliminary understanding of the quote would reveal only the stress provided by the author to highlight the physical differences between the two sexes, a critical perspective will be required to identify the depth carried in the narration to echo social differences yet persisting amid boys and girls – amid men and women. If considered this particular notion as a true fact, it can be argued that irrespective of social harmony and equality, societies still differentiate between women and men, which are apparent in particular cultures to a larger extent, as compared to others, as in the case of my American culture and the Indian or the Russian cultures. Perhaps, it is owing to his particular fact that my mother preferred caring for her children and husband the most and my father focused on earning for the family, whereby they never did seriously interrupt into each other’s roles and separate identities. As quoted in Brownmiller (84), “To fall at the feminine difference is to appear not to care about men, and to risk the loss of their attention and approval. To be insufficiently feminine is viewed as a failure in core sexual identity, or as a failure to care sufficiently about oneself, for a woman found wanting will be appraised (and will appraise herself) as mannish or neutered or simply unattractive, as men have defined these terms” (206). Similar thoughts, as presented in this quote, indicate massive changes in the ideologies of feminism where equal significance is consistently delivered on the necessity of both the genders on one platform rather than on opposing podiums, which I do agree with. However, as I could observe, these ideologies became increasingly constrained to the physical appearances of women as different and have often been portrayed as weaker to men, with greater emphasis to their sexual desires, which not only binds them together but also forces them to reside in unity. As per my understanding, this does mean that physical differences have been acting as the ground of gender differences in our societies and likewise, have been provoking the ideologies of feminism. If it is so, I doubt if the ideologies shall change completely or shall only alter its shallow perceptions and rationalities to justify the differences between men and women even in future. Almost in agreement to this notion, Brownmiller argues – “Femininity pleases men because it makes them appear more masculine by contrast; and in truth, conferring an extra portion of unearned gender distinction on men, an unchallenged space in which to breathe freely and feel stronger, wiser, more competent, is femininity’s special gift. One could say that masculinity is often an effort to please women but masculinity is known to please by displays of mastery and competence while femininity pleases by suggesting that these concerns, except in small matters, are beyond its intent” (207). Unlike in the early stages, it seems that feminists today accept the influence of freedom on the personae of women taking the illustrations from the writings of Ehrlich and Brownmiller, but somewhere it lacks rising above the physical differences between men and women, which again solaces with the conservationist ideologies of feminism. Both these authors accept the fact that before being a woman, a woman is a human and can easily be provoked, encouraged as well as strengthened. However, with a contrasting view, one can argue that it is with this freedom that females often decide ignoring their physical boundaries to take pleasure, leading to social instabilities and therefore, having strong and long-lasting implications for the society. One such example is identifiable in the form of teen pregnancy and the consequent abortion cases. Recent studies have revealed that an increasing number of women have been involved in the abortion practice guided by the provision of different equal rights and legal recognitions, which is causing a negative impact on the civilization, which is quite apparent in the American society today. The most apparent negative impact can be witnessed in the form of abortion trends that has reduced the population growth rate in the western countries (Siegel, 1367). The toll that it is taking in our society is also apparent if related with the rising rate of school drop-outs of girls in the American demography today. However, in most cases, girls are witnessed as the prime victims of these social issues rather than boys in the society. Similarly, in the modern era, women have also been engaged in homosexual relationships, causing a negative influence on the stability of the modern society as per the viewpoints of many feminists such as Connell and Messerschmidt (843) and Roy, Weibust and Miller (150). It not only diminishes social wellbeing of people, but also shortens the existence of human civilization in its true form for a longer period. Certainly, it is a problem, but is it right to only point out the faults of the women or girls and segregates them within the society? Does not this depict a degree of gender bias still prevailing within the society based on the physical differences between men and women? While on one hand, feminists may argue against such practices based on the perception that these acts are a demonstration of inadequate respect given to womanhood, on the other hand, a proportion of them might give contradictory views on these notions, claiming these to be stereotypical. Overall, the fundamental components of feminism include various aspects such as attitudes, activism and gender consciousness among the women in the modern civilization. According to the understanding of the principles of feminism concept, the literary works conducted commonly have perceived that the ideologies of feminism movements comprise the key elements of human livelihoods, such as attitudes and perceptions of women in the modern era (Connell and Messerschmidt, 843; Lee & Ashcraft 6; Roy, Weibust and Miller 150). As Brownmiller (207) quoted, “If in the beginnings of history the feminine woman was defined by her physical dependency, her inability for reasons of reproductive biology to triumph over the forces of nature that were the tests of masculine strength and power, today she reflects both an economic and emotional dependency that is still considered “natural,” romantic and attractive”. Taking reference from the quote in this context, it can be argued that although differences persists between men and women, the reason for feminism is to celebrate the differences with equal respect to both the genders, rather than fuel a game of tug of war so as to witness the stronger and the weaker. On its wider implication, the idealization of this quote indicates that as women were completely dependent on men for their conveniences in the then society, men were treated with more respect because they were much more active, independent and strong as compared to women in a society, which can be observed as becoming gradually vague in the modern society. According to Brownmiller, “Femininity serves to reassure men women need them and care about them enormously. By incorporating the decorative and the frivolous into its definition of style, femininity functions as an effective antidote to the unrelieved seriousness, the pressure of making one’s way in a harsh, difficult world” (207). It is owing to these divisions between males and females that have initiated several difficulties in the early-modern civilization. It was these perceptions of the people in the traditional times that have assisted the civilization to develop a male dominated infrastructure, snatching the privileged rights of the women. On the other hand, from traditional times, masculinity is identified as based on individualism rather than on gender sensitiveness. In social terms, masculinity is characterized to be ignorant and beyond human conscience and thus, has been symbolized as respectable decision makers. To be noted in this regard, gender equality has focused on intimacy and heterosexual relationships between men and women during this era. Unlike previously, young men are considered as the most powerful constituents in the civilization when concentrating on sexual requirements in the society we reside today. However, young men have the power of influencing women with the help of intimate heterosexual relationships today as well, whereby the stereotypical reactions of females become apparent along with their behaviors and physical characteristics. Contextually, gender stereotype defines the beliefs, which are directly and indirectly associated with the characteristics and personalities of men and women in the modern civilization. During this phase, various psychological and personality traits had been related to the civilization, whereby the concept of masculinity and femininity is considered as androgynous and thus, signifies the classification of people in terms of gender stereotypes such as physical characteristics, traits, behaviors and occupations, as was also argued in Brownmiller (208) and Doull, Oliffe, Knight and Shoveller (346). Arguably, this is where the modern feminism beliefs reflected upon their underneath intentions of endorsing hegemonic masculinities and traditional heterosexual gender regimes against feminism. Such a doctrine have further influenced equitable gender and power relations among males and females, giving a unique, often confusing, shape to the feminism movements in the civilization. Freedom of speech, education and political right has been enabled for the women in our modern civilization to take their decisions today. At the same time, women, as individuals, being valued beyond their defined gender roles, have also been availing the facilities of judicial and legal rights equally along with male members in the society. Undoubtedly, while on one hand it has given rise to issues like abortion and rising instances of contraceptive usage, on the other hand, it has also promoted better education and social dignity of women. If we take the example of Malala Yousafzai, it has become apparent that celebrating womanhood, feminism ideologies has ultimately gained success to give women the respect and treatment that is beyond the limitations of their physical weaknesses (Holpuch “Malala Yousafzai calls on governments to provide free education for all”). Therefore, considering whether the contemporary feminist thoughts hinder recognition of women on the grounds of gender equalities, still being under the influence of stereotypical presumptions of decades ago, and emphasizing their physical appearances to determined gender differences, the answer obtained is a no. Neither does it hinder nor does it bind women within the periphery of physical weaknesses and conservative gender roles, but rather it celebrates womanhood as a key to social existence, where she is also a decision maker as very similar to the men. On this note, the ideologies underlying modern approach to feminism has indeed fuelled particular changes within the society, positioning women and men as different but related of course. Works Cited Brownmiller, Susan. “Femininity.” Boston: Open Road Media, 1984. Print. Connell, Robert W. and James W. Messerschmidt. “Hegemonic Masculinity Rethinking the Concept.” Gender & Society 19.6 (2005): 829–859. Print. Doull, Marion., John Oliffe, Rod Knight, and Jean Shoveller. “Sex and Straight Young Men. Challenging and Endorsing Hegemonic Masculinities and Gender Regimes.” Men and Masculinities 16.3 (2013): 329-346. Print. Ehrlich, Gretel. “About Men.” Boston: Thompson Books/Cole, 2008. Print. Holpuch, Amanda. Malala Yousafzai Calls On Governments to Provide Free Education for All. 2013. Web. 26 Sep. 2014. Lee, Janice, and Amie Ashcraft. “Gender Roles.” London: Nova Publishers, 2005. Print. Roy, Robin E., Kristin S. Weibust, and Carol T. Miller. “Effects of Stereotypes about Feminists on Feminist Self-Identification.” Psychology of Women Quarterly 31.2 (2007): 146-156. Print. Siegel, R. B. “Abortion and the “Woman Question”: Forty Years of Debate.” Indiana Law Journal 89.4 (2014): 1365-1380. Read More