What is Feminism?

Feminism is a multi-disciplinary approach to sex and gender equality understood through social theories and political activism. Historically, feminism has evolved from the critical examination of inequality between the sexes to a more nuanced focus on the social and per-formative constructions of gender and sexuality. 

Feminist theory now aims to interrogate gender inequalities and to effect change in areas where gender and sexuality politics create power imbalances. Intellectual and academic discussion of these inequalities allows our students to go into the world aware of injustices and to work toward changing unhealthy gender dynamics in any scenario or social settings.

Feminist political activists campaign in areas such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, gay marriage, and workplace issues such as family medical leave, equal pay, and sexual harassment and discrimination. 

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Anytime stereotyping, objectification, infringements of human rights, or gender- or sexuality-based oppression occurs, it's a feminist issue.

Feminists, or individualist feminists, say that the feminist slogan "a woman's body, a woman's right" should extend to every peaceful choice a woman can make. 

Feminists believe that freedom and diversity benefit women, whether or not the choices that particular women make are politically correct. They respect all sexual choices, from motherhood to porn.  As the cost of freedom, feminists accept personal responsibility for their own lives. They do not look to government for privileges any more than they would accept government abuse. Feminists want legal equality, and they offer the same respect to men. In short, feminism calls for freedom, choice, and personal responsibility.

Here are the two definitions of feminism:

 Steinem et al.:-"The belief in full economic political and social equality of males and females . . . usually seen as a modern movement to transform the male-dominant past and create an egalitarian future.  On this and other continents, however, feminism is also history and even memory"

 Smith and Mink: -"Feminism articulates political opposition to the subordination of women as women, whether that subordination is ascribed by law, imposed by social convention, or inflicted by individual men and women.  Feminism also offers alternatives to existing unequal relations of gender power, and these alternatives have formed the agenda for feminism movements"