Feminism

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?

Laura Bates started the everyday sexism project so that women could help each other to speak out and stop sexism and harassment from being normalised and accepted in society.  She wanted there to be an open discussion about sexism and for it to stop going unnoticed and for there to be change.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?

The everyday sexism project links to post-feminism as it is about women reclaiming power and being respected enough to have the same opportunities and rights as men, The project shows that there still needs to be a change to the fixed views of society around feminism and sexism.

3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project?

Technology plays an essential part in modern feminism and the Everyday sexism project as the internet is a place for people to tell their stories and women from all parts of the world to connect and share their experiences on a common problem around the world.They can also do this anonymously for their own protection but there is still a big impact as their voices are still being heard. Technology also allows people to spread the issue globally and create movements that everyone can be a part of.

4) Will there be a point in the future when the Everyday Sexism project is not required? What is YOUR view on the future of feminism?

I think that it will take a very long time for everyone to get to the point where campaigns such as the Everyday Sexism project is not needed. I think the world faces many issues already and that people are more focused on those problems rather than feminism. I think this is due to the fact that most countries have been normalising patriarchy and it has been part of traditions for so long that it is very difficult to change the perspective and opinions of people. Although i hope we get to the point that women get to have equal opportunities and rights as men in all aspects of life, i think it will take a long time to get to that point.

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?

Network feminism aims to tackle social equality issues through the use of modern technology such as campaigns, blogs and hashtags. This helps by spreading the discussion on these issues through social media so that people can get involved globally. However, there is a problem as people believe that just because there is a law that says women are equal citizens and that it is illegal to discriminate against gender that sexism has been abolished when in reality women still deal with everyday misconceptions and prejudice like rape or coercive sex being justified by a woman dressing provocatively or the gender pay gap despite equality legislation.

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’?
The first wave began in the early 20th century with the suffragette movement for the right to vote. The second wave began in the 1960s with the equal pay and equal rights campaigns. The third wave began in the 90s which is identified as post feminism which is about women empowerment and reclaiming femininity. The fourth wave is ongoing with the use of new technology and digital media like twitter for activism and spreading awareness.

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can. 

Watson’s campaign focuses on male support for gender equality, highlighting the fact that feminism is not about promoting matriarchy, but solidarity.However, many people have criticised the He For She campaign, saying that it makes feminism too reliant on males, undermining the ‘strong woman’ element and relying on the old stereotype that women need men to get things done.day. 
Laura set  up the everyday sexism project after finding feminism hard to talk about, saying: ‘Again and again, people told me sexism is no longer a problem – that women are equal now’.Three years later, Everyday Sexism is one of the most high-visibility feminist digital campaigns, arguably due to its user-generated content and its well- used #EverydaySexism Twitter feed. The role of social media has made the campaign much more personal and much more instant.
This Girl Can campaign, which has been described as the first fitness campaign for women which doesn’t shame or exclude them, by sharing photos, videos and quotes of women without the usual sexual exploitation of a women’s fitness advert and without body shaming.
The  FCKH8 movement focuses on the modern representation of girls and the huge social inequalities they face,However, FCKH8 is actually a for-
profit company, and the video is in fact trying to sell its t-shirts. This exploitation of feminism as an advertising tool created a huge backlash.

4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?

I support the concept of the fourth wave feminism as it is a great way of keeping up with the digital age and using it to its advantage to spread awareness of an ongoing issue. I also believe that the Everyday sexism project is more than an extension of the third wave as it is a way for women to listen to each other and support one another as well as creating a huge platform of women coming together so they will no longer be ignored.