Feminist Foundations Essays -- Feminism Females Essays

Feminist Foundations As the feminist movement has progressed through several generations it has shifted quite a bit in its general approach and theory. Contemporary writers such as Baumgardner and Richards, and Henry have illustrated a generational shift away from structurally aimed actions, and towards individual acts of subversion and small political actions (Baumgardner and Richards 126-202). This current course is very similar to the direction of other highly organic movements such as sustained dialogue. Feminism though, is particularly well documented, justified, and understood. Thus by comparing the feminist movement’s present tack to that of sustained dialogue, it will be possible to gain insight into the direction these movements should take, and this comparison will highlight the essential and effective foundations as well as the crucial divergences of these movements. Finally I will use the idea of objectivity as a justification for social action to create a new model of soci al action and conflict resolution. Within third wave feminism there is a controversy over the significance of subversive actions that are framed by a very specific context. These actions are exemplified by the Girlie movement (Baumgardner and Richards 126-202), where feminists dress in cloths and accessories typically associated with â€Å"girlhood†. While wearing such cloths they execute typical feminist actions or more subtle acts of subversion, the key component is that they rely heavily on the mocking of the dominant society, or on satire. The Girlie movement also expands to women who dress according to the dominant ideas of being â€Å"feminine† as a statement of the absurdity of the stereotype. This type of action is what I... ... My Mother’s Sister. Indiana UP, 2004. Heywood, Leslie, and Jennifer Drake. â€Å"We Learn America Like a Script: Activism in the Third Wave; or Enough Phantoms of Nothing.† Third Wave Agenda: Being Feminist, Doing Feminism. Eds. Leslie Heywood, and Jennifer Drake. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1997. 40-54. Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. â€Å"Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses.† Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity. Durham, NC: Duke University Press 2000. 333-358. Nemeroff, Teddy, and David Tukey. Diving in: A Handbook for Improving Race Relations on College Campuses Through the Process of Sustained Dialogue. Washington D.C.: Harold H. Saunders and the International Institute of Sustained Dialogue, 2001. Saunder, Harold H. â€Å"Sustained Dialogue’s Niche.† Source Document: Harold H. Saunders, 2005.