The struggle for female rights still goes on

Time magazine wanted us to strike out the word feminism because the aggravating term is used too often and has little meaning. Time was annoyed by the association of certain celebrities with the word and called out to return to the essence. Managing director Nancy Gibbs has now apologized for including the term in the execution of the poll.

This semantic discussion about feminism proves that some still struggle with a kind of resistance to the term which simply means female emancipation. Banning this crucial concept would be ridiculous.

An objective background about women's struggle for "equal" rights is needed for everyone who wants to understand their position in contemporary society.

Women had to fight for their rights in this patriarchal society. History shows very clearly the painful oppression of women. Learned gender roles have caused misconceptions concerning the qualities of the sexes.

Catholicism, which still discriminates women, portrayed men as far more important than women. Men were allowed to go outside whereas women had to stay at home to do the household.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth century two hundred and fifty women were burned at the stake for alleged relations with the devil. Harmless physical features such as warts were seen as evidence of a contract with the devil. Often the victims were women with little capital and interests in herbal medicine. The end of these witch persecutions coincides with the end of the religious conflicts.

In 1792 Mary Wollstonecraft pleaded in A Vindication of the Rights of Women for a thorough change in women's situation. Her arguments derived from the ideas of the age of enlightenment. Many of these women who fought for their rights during the eighteenth century were decapitated.

Author Olympe de Gouge(Marie Gouze, 1748) first used political theatre to defend her ideas but soon opted for genuine political action. She was the first to zealously advocate social security. In her Déclaration des droits des femmes de la citoyenne(1791) Olympe demanded all rights for women. Two years later she was executed by guillotine.

The first conference for women's rights was held in 1849(Seneca Falls). The abolishment of slavery, the right to vote en the alteration of the marital contract were on the list of demands.

During the first feminist wave the right of education, the right of executing a profession and the right to vote predominated. A clear distinction between the proletarian and civilian women's right movement at that time is to be made. The first fought against the abominable economic situations whereas the latter emphasized the feminist equality idea.

During the nineteenth century many countries experienced the arise of women's organizations. The suffragettes had to campaign for the right to vote in militant protests because they were not being taken seriously.

The twentieth century was labelled by female pioneers. Married women were finally allowed to have a saving's account, to earn their own salary, to be a legal guardian.

The second feminist wave occurred in the nineteen sixties and seventies. This period of flared feminism manifested different ideas and political groups. The problem of the oppression of women was their communal problem. Five groups are to be noted.

Existentialist feminists such as the intelligent French author Simone de Beauvoir applied existentialism on the role patterns between the male and the female sexes. De Beauvoir aimed to ban all ingrained prejudice. Le Deuxième sexe(1949) denounced women's role of the second sex. She openly criticized the female as the object of the male. To free female identity, she emphasized the importance of the existentialist idea of women's responsibility for their own life. Existentialist feminism is based on De Beavoir's analysis of the human condition. Socialization processes have caused role patterns, consequently they can not be justified biologically. According to the existentialist vision women can define their own fate by choosing freedom. They should liberate themselves from marriage and motherhood, emotional dependence and the search for male approval. In addition women need to dedicate themselves to develop their intellect, to participate in the reorganization of society.

Socialist feminism criticized the capitalist influence on patriarchal ideology, victimizing both men and women. Capitalism should vanish to alter the role of the female.

Equality feminism refers to Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique(1963) about the misjudgement of women caused by the attention to their roles as housewives and mothers. It is opposed to the unequal rights of men and women as a consequence of the stereotypical roles of society. Their purpose is the offer of equal development changes for women by participating in societal life and government.

Liberal feminism is convinced that each individual should develop maximally in a righteous society. They see reason as the most important human factor and demand an egalitarian society.

Radical feminism is based on the belief that sex inequality is caused by hate towards women and by male oppression. They believe female sexuality and motherhood have been made subordinate to male wishes and desires. Radical feminists work in three ways: individual liberation by discussion groups, social liberation by means of political actions and liberation from traditional male organization forms. Their purpose is the elimination of the class system based on the sexes. Their propositions vary from androgyny to the glorification of female culture.
 
These five feminist ideologies may overlap. Simone De Beauvoir was also a equality feminist and elements of existentialist and liberal feminism can be found in equality feminism. Although the visions differ, these women were able to co operate for their communal aim: the female right of self determination.

Although female rights have been realized on paper, women are still being paid less for the same job. Now where's the equality in that? More than often these acquired ideals aren't naturalized. Sexist stereotypical role patterns are still being used as an excuse to reject women.

Nevertheless the struggle for equal rights and the improvement of the female position stays a matter of importance for the entire society. If certain communities wish to let patriarchy flourish under the cloak of cultural and religious values, the alleviation of female right violations will be impeded.

Up to this day many women are still considered to be inferior creatures.