A number of sources claim that the roots of feminism can be found in early Christian, Medieval, and Renaissance writings (). Indeed, while women had mostly been oppressed up until the mid-nineteenth century, some had managed to become distinguished historical figures. Famed 14th century Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi, for instance, was a teenage prodigy who was the first female member admitted to the Academia del Disengo; she managed to set up her own atelier, learned to read, and was recognized for painting some of the most famous biblical artworks in history (). However, Gentileschi’s accomplishments, as well as the accomplishments of other women in early history, were all seen as anomalies until the beginnings of the feminist movement.
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There was much argument between feminists and those against feminist reform about the proper place for a woman. Traditionally, a woman was thought of as belonging in the home, performing menial housework and fulfilling the needs of her husband and children. It was also an unspoken rule that women were required to be modest and only wield indirect influence through their husbands regarding politics and other delicate matters (). Therefore, when suffragists began to confront issues like female stereotypes and proper female behavior or talk in public persuasion, those against the movement were appalled; they viewed these actions as engaging in masculine behavior …show more content…
The differentiation between sex and gender was brought into question; feminists argued that sex was a biological structure defining male and female, while gender was a culturally constructed mechanism that varied in different countries around the world (). The Women’s Liberation Movement was also heavily based on theories like neo-Marxism and the psychoanalytic theory, comparing women’s oppression to patriarchy, capitalism, and normative heterosexuality (). The second wave of feminism found solidarity in its movement by including all races of women, whereas the first wave seemed mainly to fight for educated white women (). These united feminists coined the saying “the personal is political” and “women’s struggle is class struggle,” effectively proving that the oppression of race, class, and gender are
There was much argument between feminists and those against feminist reform about the proper place for a woman. Traditionally, a woman was thought of as belonging in the home, performing menial housework and fulfilling the needs of her husband and children. It was also an unspoken rule that women were required to be modest and only wield indirect influence through their husbands regarding politics and other delicate matters (). Therefore, when suffragists began to confront issues like female stereotypes and proper female behavior or talk in public persuasion, those against the movement were appalled; they viewed these actions as engaging in masculine behavior …show more content…
The differentiation between sex and gender was brought into question; feminists argued that sex was a biological structure defining male and female, while gender was a culturally constructed mechanism that varied in different countries around the world (). The Women’s Liberation Movement was also heavily based on theories like neo-Marxism and the psychoanalytic theory, comparing women’s oppression to patriarchy, capitalism, and normative heterosexuality (). The second wave of feminism found solidarity in its movement by including all races of women, whereas the first wave seemed mainly to fight for educated white women (). These united feminists coined the saying “the personal is political” and “women’s struggle is class struggle,” effectively proving that the oppression of race, class, and gender are