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HUM16: Third Wave Feminism
- 1. HUM16 Arts & Ideas American Culture: THIRD WAVE FEMINISM
- 2. 1. Third-wave Feminist Movement (1990s-) Third-wave feminism rejected essentialism of second wave Gender essentialism: idea that all members of a particular gender share at least 1 “essential” characteristic Gender roles: sometimes tied to idea that all members of a particular gender share psychological traits rooted in physiology or biology, and therefore are particularly suited for certain roles in family or society 2nd wave had projected/assumed upper middle class white women’s experience = universal Distinction b/t sex & gender Sex: may be defined as biological (genitalia, hormones, genetics) and/or psychological (brain chemistry) Gender: identity based on set of social & cultural characteristics & behaviors associated with a specific sex
- 3. 2. Major issues of third- wave feminism Anti-essentialism + intersectionality i.e., identity is unique composite of factors (race, class, ethnicity, etc.) cultural analysis must see how systems of oppression work together to create a new whole that isn’t just the sum of parts Violence against women Reproductive justice (reproductive rights + social justice) Parental leave; child care Riot Grrrl, SlutWalk, etc. Sex positivity Body positivity Trans* rights
- 4. 3. Alison Bechdel, artist Bio (1960-) Born to Catholic family in Pennsylvania Father: English teacher & funeral home director (closeted); Mother: actress & teacher Education: Oberlin (art & art history) Career: Cartoonist (“Dykes to Watch Out For”) Originated “Bechdel Test”: Does the work of fiction have at least 2 female characters? Do they talk to each other? About something other than a man? Graphic novel memoir, Fun Home Turned into Broadway musical
- 5. 4a. Bechdel, Fun Home Themes: Gender & sexuality: What does Alison’s desire to hide her gender reveal about what she (as a kid) thinks gender is? How and why does Alison recognize the bulldyke (p. 132-133)?
- 6. 4b. Bechdel, Fun Home Themes: Family: Bechdel’s references to Proust: “After dad died, an updated translation of Proust came out. Remembrance of Things Past was re-titled In Search of Lost Time. The new title is a more literal translation of À la Recherche du Temps Perdu, but it still doesn’t quite capture the full resonance of perdu. This means not just lost but ruined, undone, wasted, wrecked, and spoiled” (133). What does Bechdel suggest is lost? What do you get from Bechdel’s depiction of the relationship between her and her father? Kinship/similarity: both gay; similar experiences (photos) Difference: dad’s closeted; acceptance of self?; acceptance of ambiguity?
- 7. 5. Anna Quindlen, writer Bio (1952-): Born in Philadelphia, PA to Irish- & Italian-American parents Education: Barnard College Career: Journalist (New York Post; The New York Times; Newsweek) Pulitzer Prize (1992) for Times column “Public & Private” Novelist Two novels turned into films
- 8. 6. Quindlen, “Still Needing the F Word” Question: What gets associated with the word “feminism”? Quindlen’s definition of feminism: “Fem-i-nism n. 1. Belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes” (p. 165). Evidence that U.S. society isn’t “postfeminist”: Women (still) report spending time on appearances Women (still) report hiding intelligence to succeed among men Question: “F Word” was written in 2003; what’s changed & what’s stayed the same since then?
- 9. 7. Quindlen, 2 straitjackets Quindlen argues that women have 2 straitjackets: (1) being perfect homemaker/woman for male partners (2) being perfect working professional/woman for male coworkers Question: Who’s included and excluded in her assessment?
- 10. 8. Quindlen, feminist issues Unequal representation in workplace (e.g., university faculty positions) Violence against women (e.g., sexual harassment) “The point is not that the world has not changed for women since Friedan’s book lobbed a hand grenade into the homes of pseudohappy housewives who couldn’t understand the malaise that accompanied sparkling Formica and good-looking kids…But the world hasn’t changed as much as we like to tell ourselves.” (p. 166) “The F word is not an expletive but an ideal— one that still has a way to go” (p. 167).