It is imperative to mention that many ideas and theories related to feminism have been developed over the years. Moreover, scholars had various perspectives on particular issues, and it has led to many disagreements. It would be beneficial to review several pieces and analyze quotes to have a better understanding of the perspectives of the authors and determine if similarities or contradictions are present.
Lorber suggests that “when gender is a major component of structured inequality, the devalued genders have less power, prestige, and economic rewards than the valued genders” (61). In other words, the author believes that the lack of equal treatment is caused by the fact that this social construct has an enormous impact on all the areas. Moreover, devaluation of one of the genders leads to severe consequences because many factors are closely connected. One of the core aspects that should not be overlooked is that many jobs that are dominated by women are not viewed as prestigious, and salaries are also relatively small. The problem is that they require enormous skills and effort, but such work is frequently undervalued. This statement is incredibly important because the author draws attention to the possible implications of gender discrimination.
Thompson states that “many issues that historically have been deemed “personal” – abortion, battery, unemployment, birth, death, and illness – are deeply political” (347). Differently put, it is suggested that the level of importance of many problems that women have to deal with is frequently undervalued. The problem is that some believe that feminists only fight for issues that may affect them directly. However, this argument is not reasonable because it is evident that a person is capable of understanding if something is problematic if she or he had to experience it in the past.
The issue that needs to be addressed is that many individuals are not aware of the fact that such problems have an enormous impact on the lives of women and their ability to perform day-to-day activities. This quote is crucial because it is suggested that the experience of one female should not be disregarded because it may be problematic for everyone. Another factor that is worthy of a discussion is that some of the aspects of unequal treatment may be hard to identify because they are hidden and have become a part of modern life. Furthermore, the ideas and suggestions of women should be reviewed because they can be quite valuable for the movement.
Hooks believes that “feminism as a movement to end sexist oppression directs our attention to systems of domination and the inter-relatedness of sex, race, and class oppression” (240). The author suggests that women of all cultures should unite and share their experiences to ensure that such knowledge can be utilized to address some of the biggest problems of discrimination and unfair treatment. Moreover, such a factor as social status does not affect the ability of one to be a vital member of the movement, and ideas of individuals that may be less educated are also valued.
The level of importance of this definition should not be disregarded, and it helps to establish a particular sense of unity. This quote is significant because the role of feminism has changed over the years, and core issues have been resolved thanks to this movement. However, new problems are being introduced every day, and it is the responsibility of individuals that represent feminism to ensure that equality is achieved. It is imperative to understand that various factors are closely connected to the rights and opportunities of a woman, and it would be beneficial to make sure that barriers that are currently present are removed.
It is paramount to note that all of the selected quotes reinforce the position that gender is a social construct and feminism is an ideology that should be utilized to address some of the most significant problems. Understandably, the authors are focused on various aspects, but it is possible to state that all of them believe that the situation that has occurred is unfair, and a collective effort is required. It is important to understand that gender inequality has an enormous impact on the economy, and many women are not satisfied with the situation because oppression can be easily seen. Contradictions were not identified in this case because the authors have focused on related themes, and controversial statements were not made.
In conclusion, it is evident that a particular similarity between these quotes is present, and all of them support the idea that inequality in society is still present. The importance of these works should not be overlooked because they motivate activists and can be used to improve an understanding of terms. Overall, many sub-types of feminism have been introduced over the years, but it is possible to state that their primary goal is relatively the same, and it is to ensure that women are presented with equal rights and opportunities and are not oppressed.
Works Cited
Hooks, Bell. “Feminism: A Movement to End Sexist Oppression.” Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Ed. Maurianne Adams, Warren J. Blumenfeld, Rosie Castaneda, Heather W. Hackman, Madeline L. Peters, and Ximena Zuniga. New York, NY: Routledge, 2000. 238-240. Print.
Lorber, Judith. “”Night to His Day”: The Social Construction of Gender.” Social Construction of Difference and Inequality: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality. Ed. Tracy Ore. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2013. 54-68. Print.
Thompson, Becky. “Multiracial Feminism: Recasting the Chronology of Second Wave Feminism.” Feminist Studies 28.2 (2012): 337-360. Print.