Feminism and Modern Feminist Theory Essay -- Feminist Theory Essays

Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues. Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of gender inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations and sexuality. Feminist political activism campaigns on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, sexual harassment, discrimination and sexual violence. Themes explored in feminism include discrimination, stereotyping, objectification, sexual objectification, oppression and patriarchy. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues. Modern feminist theory has been extensively criticized as being predominantly, but not exclusively, associated with western middle class academia. Feminist activism, however, is a grass roots movement which crosses class and race boundaries Feminism is not a single ideology. Over-time several sub-types of Feminist ideology have developed. Early feminists and primary feminist movements are often called the first-wave feminists, and feminists after about 1960 the second-wave feminists. More recently, a new generation of feminists have started third-wave feminism. Whether this will be a lasting evolution remains to be seen as the second-wave has by no means ended nor has it ceded to the third-wave feminists. Moreover, some commentators have asserted that the silent majority of modern feminists have more in common ideologically with the first-wave feminists than the second-wave. For example, many of the ideas arising from Radical feminism and Gender feminism (prominent second-wave movements) have yet to gain traction within the broader community and outside of Gender Studies departments within the academy. For example, Radical feminism argues for the existence of an oppressive patriarchy that is the root cause of the most serious social problems. Violence and oppression of women, because they are women, is more fundamental than oppressions related to class, ethnicity, religion, etc. Radical feminisms have been very vocal and ac... ...debate has occurred within socialist feminist circles about the exact relationship between sexual, economic class, and racial oppression. Some, usually termed Marxist-feminists, claim that economic class causes oppression. Although they recognize women's oppression as part of a complicated attachment of male dominance, they view it always through its capitalist foundations. Socialist feminists name society's system of male privilege, patriarchy. All socialist feminists recognize that capitalism—the exchange of one's labour for wages to create someone else's profit—is particularly problematic for women. However, the particular relationship between patriarchy as a semi-independent system of patriarchal privilege and capitalism remains controversial. Socialist feminists give priority to the economic side of women's oppression. They believe that the economic class aspects of women's lives define their life choices and that these differences between women must be addressed before women can understand one another's needs. This understanding led to abortion-rights work, which demanded access for poor women, not just for middle-class women who could afford to pay for it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Feminism and Modern Feminist Theory Essay -- Feminist Theory Essays Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues. Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of gender inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations and sexuality. Feminist political activism campaigns on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, sexual harassment, discrimination and sexual violence. Themes explored in feminism include discrimination, stereotyping, objectification, sexual objectification, oppression and patriarchy. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues. Modern feminist theory has been extensively criticized as being predominantly, but not exclusively, associated with western middle class academia. Feminist activism, however, is a grass roots movement which crosses class and race boundaries Feminism is not a single ideology. Over-time several sub-types of Feminist ideology have developed. Early feminists and primary feminist movements are often called the first-wave feminists, and feminists after about 1960 the second-wave feminists. More recently, a new generation of feminists have started third-wave feminism. Whether this will be a lasting evolution remains to be seen as the second-wave has by no means ended nor has it ceded to the third-wave feminists. Moreover, some commentators have asserted that the silent majority of modern feminists have more in common ideologically with the first-wave feminists than the second-wave. For example, many of the ideas arising from Radical feminism and Gender feminism (prominent second-wave movements) have yet to gain traction within the broader community and outside of Gender Studies departments within the academy. For example, Radical feminism argues for the existence of an oppressive patriarchy that is the root cause of the most serious social problems. Violence and oppression of women, because they are women, is more fundamental than oppressions related to class, ethnicity, religion, etc. Radical feminisms have been very vocal and ac... ...debate has occurred within socialist feminist circles about the exact relationship between sexual, economic class, and racial oppression. Some, usually termed Marxist-feminists, claim that economic class causes oppression. Although they recognize women's oppression as part of a complicated attachment of male dominance, they view it always through its capitalist foundations. Socialist feminists name society's system of male privilege, patriarchy. All socialist feminists recognize that capitalism—the exchange of one's labour for wages to create someone else's profit—is particularly problematic for women. However, the particular relationship between patriarchy as a semi-independent system of patriarchal privilege and capitalism remains controversial. Socialist feminists give priority to the economic side of women's oppression. They believe that the economic class aspects of women's lives define their life choices and that these differences between women must be addressed before women can understand one another's needs. This understanding led to abortion-rights work, which demanded access for poor women, not just for middle-class women who could afford to pay for it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Irony in Brave New World Essay

A society in the future can be very distinctive apart from a society in the modern day. Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, is a novel in regards to a utopian society. It takes place in the future where all is advanced and people are no longer born. Instead, reproductive technology is developed and futurology is emphasized. The majority of the population is divided into classes and no one is able to think for themselves. The novel is ironic at points and uses satire profoundly. Huxley uses irony to satirize religion, family, and sex. In the World State, religion is really satirized and depleted by its employment of religious rituals and its portrayal of God. Their God is Henry Ford, the inventor of the conveyor belt and the man responsible for, as they say â€Å"the introduction of [Their] Ford’s first T-Model† (52). Ford’s invention of the assembly line is one of the many reasons why he is an ideal God to society in the World State. The assembly line is an efficient line of productivity that creates items and in Brave New World, this is how people are born. This really exhibits his roll of God as God is believed, in modern religion, to have created people. People in the World State also use his name in vain similar to today’s society so when Bernard yells â€Å"†¦for Ford’s sake† (90) it reveals how they perceive Ford as their god. Another circumstance that depicts religion is their visits to the Solidarity Services. In the World State the community is told to attend solidarity services which somewhat corresponds to how people go to church in current times. At the solidarity services they await their dose of soma and have an orgy. It moderately mocks how people in church eat the bread and pray together. It is all basically a mimicry of religion in current society. Brave New World is really satire towards the average modern family. The words â€Å"mother† and â€Å"father† are considered obscene. It states that to say one is a mother â€Å"[is] an obscenity† (153) and reveals how they contemplate family. In the World State there are no mothers and fathers because people are not born naturally, where instead they are born artificially. This concept is revealed through John’s reference to the director as â€Å"[His] father!† (152). When John shouts â€Å"my father† to the director, laughter breaks out from everyone there. The word â€Å"father† is pretty much a joke in their society. It is just not intended to have family in the World State. One of the biggest reasons why family is not ideal in Brave New World is order. Family is completely banned so it can reduce the possibility of people caring for each other; therefore it will reduce the possibilities of them disrupting the order in which they a re expected to obtain. Sex in Brave New World is distinctive compared to modern society. Sex is glorified and is more of a responsibility, however, it is not for pleasure or emotion but more for entertainment. Sex is encouraged and promiscuity is celebrated in different ways. Many forms of entertainment in Brave New World relate to sex. For example the Feelies, pornographic movies, are attended by the citizens. When the Assistant Predestinator asks Henry if he is â€Å"going to the Feelies this evening† (35) he is sustaining this argument. The fact that the government allows these films to be shown publicly reveals how the government encourages sexual promiscuity. In the World State, if a person is not sexually promiscuous, they are pretty much considered outcasts. Sex is practiced and discussed openly even with children. This is exposed when the nurse claims that â€Å"[They] had Elementary Sex† (27). Even at a young age children learn about sex and are encouraged to have sex where as to mod ern society would not permit this. All of the information is evidence to prove that the World State commends sex. A utopian society that takes place in the future can really have many differences than the average modern society. One feature that can expose many facets of a society is irony. In Brave New World, irony is used to satire events and ideas and reveals that all societies have their own views and morals.

1.6 Justification Of The Study. The Exclusion Of Pwds By

1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY The exclusion of PWDs by design or default is no longer acceptable according to international and national legal standards. Architecture has a responsibility to create built environments that are sensitive to the needs of this category of people. Such designs can only be developed using scientific information on existing designs, how they are experienced by PWDs and therefore how they can be improved. Children with disability in Kenya are often consigned to â€Å"special schools† which, though well intended to provide responsive learning environments, actually perpetuate segregation from other children. The inclusive education movement proposes that all schools should be equipped to accommodate PWDs. This study†¦show more content†¦Architecture should not be exempted from contributing to this move. Thus the study findings are intended to sensitise architects and designers on the unique requirements that inclusive schools need to make them responsive to multisensory experience. This will contribute to the greater inclusion of PWDs in the spatial environment and to the realisation of their dignity as human beings with equal rights to those without disability. The findings of this study would be beneficial to a variety of actors. Designers of schools can use them to come up with built environments that are responsive to the needs of children with disability. The government can use the findings to develop policy guidelines on inclusive spaces that will enhance the realization of non-discrimination as required by international and national law. Non-governmental organisations focusing on education can use the findings to advocate for more inclusive school designs. Finally, communities and the general public can use the findings to demand from duty bearers the development of inclusive schools that would increase the enrolment, retention, performance and transition of children with disabilities 1.8 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY This study focused on two inclusive primary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya. These schools piloted inclusive education by modifying the built environment in order to include children with disabilities. An architect s key tools are design