Feminist Literature And The Feminist Movement

Feminist literature and the feminist movement often are depicted in the US as being intrinsically tied to the workplace. To gain a job, to be equal in the labour market to men, is to be seen as achieving the equality so sought after. However, the US is not the only nation that has feminist movements, nor is its situation entirely similar to others. Whether it be the German conservative system of family based values and a system encouraging less employment for all, the Swedish system of near total employment, or the US system of increasing strides towards higher wages, women have played an inseparable role in the family and employment policies of nations. Whether or not any nation holds to be more equal than others is up to multiple interpretations, …show more content…
Whereas a balanced budget and keeping individuals employed is deemed to be a priority for the government. It should serve as no surprise in this case then that women are counted upon in the work force, and encouraged to seek employment. In the US, family policies geared towards women have always been intrinsically tied to the feminist movement. Bowman notes that “the United States was an innovator in policies supporting mothers, although eligibility was limited and the level of support was meager.” (154) *Capitalism Compared* This shows the typical system present in liberal markets, one of means testing and limited support designed only for the lowest segment of society. Women in the US therefore saw the necessity of employment to subsidize the lack of aid. Bowman notes this simply as, “the only route out of poverty is employment.” (17) Employment in the US, being viewed as the only way out of poverty, was therefore sought after by many women. As wages became more compressed and men could no longer be the sole breadwinners, along with increases in single-mother households, women sought jobs in the marketplace. While policies towards the poorest of society exist, and were pursued and championed by women, they did not do anything to get women out of poverty. The market, as a liberal society always aims, became the method by which all is …show more content…
Sweden aimed to create a more equal society with intensive government services, usually in the form of government schools and daycare for children. Sweden’s methods continued with such success from the pressures of women that even after a more right-leaning government took power, it continued said programs. Lundqvist notes about the centre-right’s government programs as, “continuity. The centre-right government shared its predecessor’s conviction that the key to success in gender equality was to solve the problems women faced in combining gainful employment and parenthood.” (95) These women oriented changes would pursue a goal of overall gender equality. Sweden therefore felt it was not the market’s goal or intent to create equality, and therefore the government must intervene on behalf. The Swedish government attempts to see that, “Proposals and decisions [are] analyzed from the perspective of gender equality . . . in particular within the areas of education, labour market, industrial, social and economic policy.” (Lundqvist 96) The influence of gender equality, and the push to ensure as many jobs as possible, proved to be the cornerstone of the Swedish