The role of symbols, rituals, customs Flashcards
traditions and culture in the belief system or ideology:
1st wave symbols
Suffragette Colours
The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) originated the ‘suffragette colour’ a street march in 1908
Originally used to highlight the differences between the WSPU and other suffrage groups
Suffragists in England and the United States realised that visual symbolism was a way to get their message across
White represented purity in both private and life
Purple represented dignity and self-respect
Green represented hope and new life
Rosie the Riveter
Created in 1942
A symbol of women’s economic empowerment, especially among the working-class
Was used to motivate women to enter the workforce during World War 2
Symbolises women entering and gaining access to work but was a result of propaganda and therefore not a strong feminist symbol
1st wave rituals
International women’s day is an annual global celebration commemorating the social, economic, political, and cultural achievements of women
About unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action
In 1910 it was proposed but not sought out until 1996
On March 8th
Peace Army Protest led by Vida Goldstein was formed in 1915 as an explicitly anti-war offshoot of her political organisation, the Women’s Political Association
Other prominent members of the Women’s Peace Army were Adela Pankhurst and Cecelia John.
1st wave customs
Women’s suffrage (1840-1920)
Central goal of the feminist movement was for women to achieve the right to vote. Many first wave feminists believed that suffrage was key to unlocking other rights.
Abolition of slavery (circa. 1830s.)
Using petitions, fundraisers and events, women seeked freedom and used experiences to advocate for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery. (this was before they were allowed to vote and women were discriminated against during male-led conventions)
As many women began to advocate for their political voice, women from different ethnicities and backgrounds were also fighting to have basic human rights.
Feminists were influenced by the collective activism of women in various other reform movements. In particular, feminists drew strategic and tactical insight from women participating in the French Revolution, the Temperance Movement, and the Abolitionist Movement.
2nd wave symbols
Venus Symbol
A symbol of the 1960s and early 1970s
The symbol of the Roman goddess Venus, modified to represent the Women’s movement (Radical feminism)
It is modified with the clenched fist in the middle, perhaps feeding into aggressive stereotypes of second-wave feminism
Variations exist based on intersectional feminism e.g. Islamic Feminism
Photograph of Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman-Hughes
Shows the solidarity that feminism creates
Symbolises how feminism is a movement for all to strive for equality
Gloria Steinem and Dorothy pitman-hughes founded Ms. Magazine, a liberal feminist magazine
These two women were extremely influential feminists in the second wave and the creation of Ms. Magazine allowed the feminist movement to spread further
2nd wave rituals
Came about in the second wave of feminism in the 1960s
Few women actually burned their bras, but many supported the action and the symbolic meaning behind it
Symbolic meaning = signified how the male-dominated culture was keeping women locked into rigid ideas of beauty → breaking free of patriarchal society
Bra burning was a fad in the 1970s, but not a very common one.
2nd wave customs
challenging patriarchal customs : political correctness
Fashion is challenged (women start to wear pants etc.) → inspired by WWII as women begin to take on more masculine jobs.
Second-wave feminism wasn’t solely about achieving equality for women. It also focused on what it meant to be a woman in a society that had revolved around the life of a man.
National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO) - fought against class oppression and racism and advocated for gay rights and women’s rights.
Middle-class women across the country began to organise to advocate for women’s social and political equality.
As the movement progressed, lesbian women had concerns that were not addressed by gay rights activism.These women advocated for gay rights, as well as feminist rights within organisations like Betty Friedan’s National Organization for Women (NOW).
Third wave symbols
Female PM
‘The Misogyny Speech’ was a parliamentary speech delivered by Australian Labor Party Prime Minister Julia Gillard on 9 October 2012 in response to opposition leader Tony Abbott accusing her of sexism.
“I say to the Leader of the Opposition I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. And the Government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man”.
Institutions e.g. university
Governments now have Departments and Advisory Councils specifically focused on the rights and issues women face in society
Women entering higher-level jobs in authoritarian institutions shows the shift to attempt to create a society where equality of the genders exist
Third Wave rituals
International women day; rituals are culturally specific
Third wave customs
The second wave and third wave of feminism share many beliefs — like commitment to ending violence against women, expanding reproductive rights and dismantling gender hierarchies — the formation of the third wave was a reaction to some problems of the second wave.
Third Wave introduced intersectionality and was committed to representing all races and sexualities, class and disabilities.
Reclaiming of rejected customs of First Wave and Second Wave with the growth of new branches of feminism, for instance, the introduction of bimbo feminism. For instance, “bitch” which was used against women but becomes → “boss bitch” to empower women.
B**ch magazine, a publication that became popular in the ‘90s, explains, “Today, ‘third-wave feminism’ is often used to describe a kind of companionable, man-friendly, pro-sex, pro–femininity-if-you-want-it feminism that reflects the successes of the second wave’s struggle for equal footing.”
Technology has also globalised feminism and changed the way that feminism is communicated and organised.
