FEMINISM

Feminists are those people who believe in social, political, personal and economic equality of sexes. It’s often confused with machismo. Feminism is a social movement which fights for equal rights, while machismo is a bad behavior and attitude that discriminate women and believes in the supremacy of men above women.

Since 1800’s women have fought for their rights and they got it, even if today somewhere and sometimes they are not considered as much as men and they are still stereotyped.

We divide feminism in 3 periods: first wave , second wave and third wave

The first wave goes from 1830 to the early 1900’s  and it was the worst and most difficult period for women. During that period the SUFFRAGGETTES were born (a social movement all composed by women). They obtained political power, including the right to vote. Women were acknowledged the same potential as men and they could contribute to society as long as they didn’t overtake men.

The second wave goes from 1940’s to 1980’s. During World War II women had to replace men at work, especially in factories, so that they improved their position in the society.

Women started fighting for family, sexuality and reproductive rights and they obtained them; they also got the right to divorce.

The third wave goes from 1990’s and continues until now. Today we particularly fight for things like equal payment at work and rights like abortion.

Feminism is present everywhere and even some men contribute to it, so that we have many protests everyday and things are changing, even if women are still stereotyped.

In order to reach equality we need to change our mentality and to delete social stereotypes about women. Only in  this way we could finally obtain equality of sexes.

Elisa Sara Palumbo