Importance Of Feminism In Today's Society

Throughout the history, in most societies, women have been regarded as inferior to men. They have been subjected to maltreatment, oppression and exploitation. The past one hundred and fifty years have seen a remarkable improvement in the way women are treated. Most goals worked towards by the original feminists have been achieved and therefore most would argue that the strived-for equality between the sexes has been established.
That being said, this essay hopes to evaluate the relevance of feminism in today’s society and answer the question whether feminism has now become obsolete. First, in order to highlight the progress in terms of women’s position in society so far, the historical backdrop to this is provided and the so-called waves of feminism and their aims are evaluated. The second part of this essay highlights the most critical areas in present-day society with regard to gender inequality and examines some of the counterarguments against feminism. Finally, a conclusion as to why the feminist ideology is still relevant today is provided. …show more content…
It can be defined as a movement which addresses the disparate ways in which males and females are treated, and strives to eliminate this inequality by ensuring that women have the same rights and opportunities as men and that male domination is eradicated. It works towards equality among the sexes rather than dominance of one over the other, of which they are often falsely accused. As Anderson (2013) put it, “Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.” It is a progressive movement which has tried to change the ways in which the world looks at women. Although the movement itself was established in the 19th century, certain feminist tendencies, or lack thereof, can be observed throughout