A New Age of Femininity

WRITTEN & DESIGNED BY KAYLA KRUEGER PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHARLIE NGUYEN ART DIRECTOR KATERINA TRIANTAFILLOU MODELS GABI RAAB, MADDY YEN & LEXY JONES

FEMININITY

A concept that, in theory, is the most applicable concept to any given situation. However, it is evident that leveling the playing field of sex has grown to be a lot more complicated than equality.

FEMINIST POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY: IN SUM

Feminist political philosophy is the basis for feminism in many historical concepts, yet, the developments of political philosophy have not melded seamlessly into societal standards. The first wave of feminism is one that is rather drab: between the 1840s-1920s, feminist political philosophy was merely the pursuit of leveraging more rights for middle-class women in economics, education, and the political system. Political philosophy in this case mainly aimed to separate women from their social and biological personas. From this, anthropologist Gayle Rubin developed the “sex/gender” system, which painted gender as a social construct. Modern feminism: media This, of course, was a valiant effort by philosophers, yet it was rather ineffective. The reason for this was systemic sexism, so ingrained in society that women aren’t even properly acknowledged in the American constitution.

From here, feminist philosophers created many different types of theory, all of which are rooted in the presence of women in a social setting. Women were socially defined by their biological capabilities: mother, caregiver, domestic goddess, or whatever a man wanted to label her. The 1970s, in particular, were an exciting time in terms of feminist political theory. The development of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was quite taboo; for what reason? I frankly don’t know. The content of the ERA seems like the bare minimum that the American political system could owe women. The ERA states: “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex”. Simple, right? Well not according to the majority of states in America. The ERA would gain 37 of 38 states to pass the amendment by the 1982 deadline, and it wouldn’t be until 2020 until Virginia approved the amendment (Britannica). Now, as if getting the amendment approved wasn’t arduous enough, it is up to Congress to officially rescind the 1982 deadline for ERA ratification. It is imperative to note that the ERA, and feminism in general, is not just for women! Intersectionality is essentially the political overlap of individuals with multiple socially constructed identities. This concept may seem complex, however, it is actually quite easy to understand. Intersectionality opens the gates of feminism for all people. This is also immensely helpful for members of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that their rights are federally protected. Any sort of discrimination on the basis of gender identification would be considered a violation of the US Constitution. A huge win for everyone!

INTERSECTIONALITY

Intersectionality has become a much more inclusive concept that should be more normalized. Modern feminist philosophers endorse intersectionality, and it seems to be a bit more accepted in modern Americana. Yet, it seems as if there is still a persistent battle women must fight.

So, how can you be a more inclusive member of society? Acknowledge the female experience! The modern female experience is tainted; having to carry pepper spray, being hyper-conscious about your surroundings, needing to protect your identity, and being forced to accept cat-calls out of fear that retaliation could cost your life, are just a few disgusting aspects of the modern female experience.

On top of acknowledging the female experience, it is important to debunk subtle sexism, educate yourself, and listen to women (they are the only people that can accurately capture their experience)! The past is the past, however, it cannot be forgotten. Systemic sexism is greatly why women are discriminated against. The future, on the other hand, has tremendous potential.

Sources:

Chandler, L. (2020, July 02). What is intersectionality, and what does it have to do with me? Retrieved May 02, 2021, from https://www.ywboston.org/2017/03/what-is-intersectionalityand-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-me/ Equal rights amendment. (2021, March 26). Retrieved May 02, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Equal-Rights-Amendment McAfee, N., & Howard, K. (2018, October 12). Feminist political philosophy. Retrieved May 02, 2021, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-political/ Padmini Vaidyanathan, A. (2020, May 12). Anyone can be a feminist: A guide to feminism for everyone. Retrieved May 02, 2021, from https://www.thequint.com/neon/gender/a-guide-tofeminism-for-men-everyone-anyone-can-be-a-feminist#read-more