When discussing the topic of feminism, one must explore the deep and extensive history it has. Spreading over only several decades, the amount of change that has occurred because of the rise and presence of feminism is astounding. Feminism, as dictonary.com defines it, is the the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Over the years, feminism has taken many different forms in order to achieve this goal. First wave feminism took place during the 19th and early 20th century. It focused on legal issues, primarily on gaining women's suffrage, which is the right to vote. Second wave feminism started in the early 1960’s, and ended in the 1980’s for the United States. This wave focused on a wide
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In all of these different movements that feminists have created, however, there is one certain movement that stands above the rest. Present in the 1970’s, the Second wave feminist movement Lavender Menace was considered one of the most radical movements from feminists to date. Most known for the lesbian offbreak of the mainstream feminist movement, this group threatened the credibility of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and challenged what it means to be truly accepting of all women.
The beginning of the Lavender Menace has it’s roots in the 1963 publication of The Feminine Mystique, written by Betty Friedan. When this book was released to the public, it revealed that many of her subjects in a poll she was taking were unhappy with their lives as housewives. Therefore, Friedan began conducting more research, finally finishing her book, calling out for what would be considered “fulfillment”: not be restrained to being a housewife, and going out and doing what you want. Many consider this book the beginning of second-wave feminism. However, as the feminist movement grew, tensions began to rise between the mainstream white, cisgendered, and …show more content…
While not having to do with the goals that the Lavender Menace wanted to attain, and not being in the same timeframe, there still could be some very valuable tactics that this group could take from the Occupy movement. While these two movements do not have a lot in common, the simple fact that the Occupy movement was about inclusion is a major tip that the Lavender Menace should have taken. I do agree that the critiques that Rita Mae Brown had were essential to the progression of the movement as whole, I don’t believe that it was necessary to take the solitary route that those who lived in the collective housing did. While the lesbian movement was about letting queer women be a talking point for the mainstream feminist movement, the fact that they soon closed themselves off from half of the world did not exactly help their cause. The Occupy movement, on the other hand, made it a top level commitment to include the needs of those in the 99%. In Manissa McCleave Maharawal’s sociological journal entry, Occupy Wall Street and a Radical Politics of Inclusion, the Occupy movement was built on the fact that despite we all have different wants and needs, whether they be fiscal or social, we can still put together a comprehensive movement that can do some real change. Even when different groups of the movement disagree, they didn’t close themselves off and/or break off from the movement. Instead, leaders and followers
In all of these different movements that feminists have created, however, there is one certain movement that stands above the rest. Present in the 1970’s, the Second wave feminist movement Lavender Menace was considered one of the most radical movements from feminists to date. Most known for the lesbian offbreak of the mainstream feminist movement, this group threatened the credibility of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and challenged what it means to be truly accepting of all women.
The beginning of the Lavender Menace has it’s roots in the 1963 publication of The Feminine Mystique, written by Betty Friedan. When this book was released to the public, it revealed that many of her subjects in a poll she was taking were unhappy with their lives as housewives. Therefore, Friedan began conducting more research, finally finishing her book, calling out for what would be considered “fulfillment”: not be restrained to being a housewife, and going out and doing what you want. Many consider this book the beginning of second-wave feminism. However, as the feminist movement grew, tensions began to rise between the mainstream white, cisgendered, and …show more content…
While not having to do with the goals that the Lavender Menace wanted to attain, and not being in the same timeframe, there still could be some very valuable tactics that this group could take from the Occupy movement. While these two movements do not have a lot in common, the simple fact that the Occupy movement was about inclusion is a major tip that the Lavender Menace should have taken. I do agree that the critiques that Rita Mae Brown had were essential to the progression of the movement as whole, I don’t believe that it was necessary to take the solitary route that those who lived in the collective housing did. While the lesbian movement was about letting queer women be a talking point for the mainstream feminist movement, the fact that they soon closed themselves off from half of the world did not exactly help their cause. The Occupy movement, on the other hand, made it a top level commitment to include the needs of those in the 99%. In Manissa McCleave Maharawal’s sociological journal entry, Occupy Wall Street and a Radical Politics of Inclusion, the Occupy movement was built on the fact that despite we all have different wants and needs, whether they be fiscal or social, we can still put together a comprehensive movement that can do some real change. Even when different groups of the movement disagree, they didn’t close themselves off and/or break off from the movement. Instead, leaders and followers