Identities: Introduction to Feminism

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

After being openly harassed on public transport and finding no help from those on the bus and feeling ashamed for it, Bates went to ask other women of their experiences. When questioning them Bates herself thought their claims would be lasting from dates 10 years before but they were very present. So, to make a space of solidarity between people to share their claims and not feel ashamed, Bates made a website to create a safe space of women and men to create an awareness of how needed Feminism and how conversations of harassment and assault should be dealt with and not be normalised.

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

It does link to the concept of post-feminism due to the idea of this topic of sexual harassment being talked about rather than left in the dark and taboo (which some of the women felt when asked to talk of their experiences) this ability in this society would be seen as a step forward. Also, the inclusive of the hashtag and what Bates talked about suggest many people were included: Black, Asian, disabled,men etc. were part of it rather than it being exclusive to just white woman. 

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

As the hashtag was accessible on social media, you can see technology being used positively as a very important part of the project as many shared it and made it more popular and thus made it more noticeable highlighting how technology was used to create more success and popularity for the project. Also, the ability to create websites to be used to share people's stories of their abuse was essentially done through technology showing how it was used positively and successfully  allowed people to communicate their thoughts about the project in all animosity .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?

Media Magazine: The fourth wave?

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

• Networked Feminism- a claim at a new fourth wave of feminism that we are supposed to be currently in. This fourth wave feminism is to address inequality found in and or using new technology. Twitter is a fore front in highlighting it's ability to popularise hashtags supporting feminism #YesAllWomen and #WomenAgainstFeminism.

• Why is it a problem-  Feminism has become very broad that there are different types which can ultimately be blurred with the different ideologies so the the actuality of feminism isn't all understood. In 2015 many people thought because of some of the achievements women have done have been accomplished though some believe otherwise. 

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 

• First Wave Feminism- Suffragette Movement (Rights to vote)

• Second Wave Feminism- Equal pay, rights over body (reproductive rights and abortion)

• Third Wave Feminism- Post-feminism (femininity and empowerment)

• Fourth Wave Feminism- The use of technology making it "networked feminism"

I do think we are in the fourth wave of feminism as a lot of the new popular feminist hashtags used to talk of abuse against women such as #MeToo are used to raise awareness. However, there are places in the different waves such as in the second wave: equal pay, need to be addressed as we haven't reached equal pay. 

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.

This Girl Can: A fitness campaign directed at women celebrating women in the fitness industry without the sexualaiaton and body shaming but rather letting people in different body shapes celebrate themselves. 

Everyday Sexism:  A campaign done by Laura Bates in an effort to get discussions of people's specifically women's daily harassment experiences more known. As she had 3 different experiences of her won in the same week created the website for others to share theirs after talking with various other women who complained of their "everyday sexism" 

FCKH8: Made to show a representation of girls and the inequalities they face in the modern world. The campaign has been said to be quite exploiter in feminism as it is for-profit, creating some negative look on it. 

HeForShe: A campaign led by Emma Watson showing "inclusive" way of feminism focusing on the male support for feminism rather than it being "man-hating" which others take it for, wanting to promote equality rather than matriarchy.

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 do believe we are fourth wave but rather all other ideas of feminism are gone and we are now in the technological phase but that the waves once before are still in effect and that such things such as feminism don't change all together but with the society around it. So, it really is an extension of the third wave because many do find the need to re claim their femininity and use technology for that, like the #Everydaysexism campaign.
But also, things such as the #Everydaysexism bring issues faced by both women and men in the area of harassment which hasn't been conversed in the other waves.