Essay on Intersectionality Feminism

In politics ‘gender’ is both acknowledged and dismissed. The notion of political ambitions and actions has created a divide between policy and gender inclusivity. Throughout history, the political neglect towards women in society has led to the need for an activist response. It is understood that “the market women and the marketplace influenced politics and economics in the capital” (Jarvis) yet women are exponentially undermined in the faculty of politics. The role of gender in modern-day politics and globalization as a whole is exponentially undermined. Society seemingly has come to a consensus that gender either is valid or invalid when analyzing politics. The significance of gender in politics can be viewed through the use of a case study. Through demonstrations of activism, feminism can be noted as a driving force towards the recognition of gender discrimination within society. Although many political leaders still refuse that there is any divide. The terminology used by society when addressing misogyny and discrimination does not only affect women. It is crucial to acknowledge the misuse of policy and political structure when addressing women’s reproductive rights as well as recognizing the structural shit that would occur if Science, Technology, and Innovation were approached in a different light.

Moms or Moneymakers?

The history of gender discrimination has been prevalent for centuries. Women’s roles of being housewives and caring for children were almost definitive. The pressures of income and workforce lay solely on male shoulders. In 21st century society this is the furthest from truth. Heterosexual households are no longer the only model for familial structure. The lack of knowingness when determining the familial demographic has become an unsettling factor for individuals in power. The structural shift and induction of women into the workforce have created new opportunities that had previously been illegitimate. Women in society are significantly more present as workers and contributors. It is acknowledged that in today's society “the full-time homemaker model has largely been replaced by the dual role of earner and caregiver.” (Glover) This is both revolutionary and restrictive to the development of gender and women’s roles within the state. Pre-dispositions strongly encourage and affect how Westernized society functions. With the previous political structure and ideology still prevalent, it is difficult for change to occur within the structure itself. When politics are analyzed through a gendered lens it becomes apparent that women in society are less valued. The process of immersing women into the workforce although strategic was significantly altered as women brought to light the discrimination and political wrongdoings of the state. Up until this point in history women had been exploited for their labour in the home and society was under the assumption this would continue in the workforce. Women started fighting for their rights to be given the same protection in the workforce as their male counterparts. Women’s workplace rights were one of the first nationwide movements aside from women’s suffrage.

Although prehistoric notions suggest that women are primarily mothers, modern-day examples prove this statement to be outdated. The harsh reality of society and policy in modern Western culture is that it lacks intersectionality. The nation has recognized this through the development and exposure of variety within society. Through the use of social media and other platforms, women are joining forces to empower one another. Violence done unto women coincides with the reproductive rights of women within society. Politically the role of women is to birth the next generation and due to this notion, women find themselves pressured by society to reproduce for the benefit and success of society. The importance of female rights has become significantly more prominent for debate in the 21st century. The realization and explanation of reproductive justice have altered the opinions of many women. With the ability to choose comes the power to decide. In Western society with the rise of feminism, many young women are deciding not to have children. Factors such as lack of government support as well as climate change can be noted as contributing factors. The most prevalent rationale is that single women no longer feel the need to marry.

Reproductive justice also coincides with domestic abuse and fear of being forced into a mainstream love interest. As outlined in The Question of Gender “Gender arrangements are thus, at the same time, sources of pleasure, recognition, and identity, and sources of injustice and harm. This means that gender is inherently political- but it also means the politics can be complicated.” (Connell and Pearse) The modern-day debate on gender is carried out in the form of health, rights, and justice. Women’s reproductive health should primarily be available and funded. The rights of women should be respected especially in deciding to procreate or choosing not to. Justice can be noted as the movement towards liberation regarding both health and choice. The history of women regarding reproductive rights and justice was infringed upon during the colonization of North America and the sterilization of Indigenous women. Although these issues are extremely illegal in today’s society litigation still inhibits women’s lives regarding reproductive rights.

The lack of necessary health care and the lack of funding for women to make decisions regarding their bodies and lives is a very prominent issue. The political influence of these issues has sparked a worldwide debate. “With public and often provocative actions, the New Women’s Movement paved the way for a massive gender-political public awareness.” (Melby) Women’s roles within modern-day society are both influenced by the historical past and are altered by the discourse of necessary change. “With men historically fighting wars and women largely supporting their efforts on the home front (across diverse states and social formations), examining the gender social order is essential.” (Parashar) The political aspect of women’s reproductive rights and role in society is represented through the activism of feminist movements and the undeniable rights entitling women to decide their fate regarding their bodies and potential offspring. Women are noticing their ability to choose within the movement and have created change through the use of activism. Policy although not fully altered has changed to benefit women. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, and other activist groups fight for women’s reproductive rights and demand healthcare for all women.

Marginalization is also extremely prominent, regarding the wage gap present in society. The mistreatment of women and the significant wage gap in America negatively affect all women participating in the workforce. Although society has moved to allow women to participate in the workforce, it is still extremely misogynistic. The post-war gender revolution allowed women to participate on their own and earn wages for the first time. Although women have been implemented into the workforce for decades, gender discrimination is still present. The policy has been challenged as society battles to decide what the role of women truly is.

“We shall, additionally, face very severe labor force shortages or a shortage of births. And, as women now tend to be more educated than men, we shall be wasting human capital.” (Esping-Andersen) Women’s reproductive rights have been honored by the implementation of paid maternity leave. The induction of the concept allowed women to succeed as both mothers and employees. Paid maternity allows women in the workforce to reproduce and raise families without fear of losing their jobs.

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“The political context that gave rise to the work–life balance concept in the UK can probably be traced to a wish to devise an approach that does two things: it allows individuals to perform caring activities that are not provided by the state and it allows these same individuals to be economically productive.”( )

The implementation of maternity leave is just one example of where policy has been altered after analyzing society through a gendered lens. Although the introduction of paid maternity leave benefits women, it also benefits the state. The security granted to women in full-time employment allows for women to fall pregnant without fear of losing employment and also contributes to the financial stability of a state. With paid maternity leave women become less reliant on programs such as welfare. This essentially places the economy in a better place financially.

ST&I

Science, Technology, and Innovation are all prominent aspects of society in the 21st century. The lack of gender variety within this sector of policy is prominently affecting its overall development in an extremely critical time. “STI policies and programs will not be effective, equitable, and sustainable unless the gender lens is applied to reflect the aims, concerns, situation, and abilities of both women and men.” (The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)

Scientific advances previously driven by men have left out the factor of gender. The ability to implement a gendered variety within a variety of perspectives allows for the fields of study to be approached in a variety of ways. Although some individuals argue that “opening up the scope of analysis to new factors, dynamics, and subjects might risk diluting this central objective” (Sikka) it is still daunting. The dynamics of women in the study of science and technology have been previously studied prominently by men. During the second wave of feminism this was challenged when female biologists intended to prove that the “naturalistic reality of the body does not exist.” (Oudshoorn) Intersectionality has become a prevalent topic within society as well as the ideology of intersex individuals within medical science. This concept is still extremely new and has been accepted with further study and knowledge. The previous belief that “social changes demanded by feminists are wishful thinking because biology, rather than society, sets constraints on the behavior and abilities of women” (Oudshoorn) needs to be revised. The exposure of the myth indicating the norm as the ‘natural body’ has been abolished through the study of science predominantly studied by women. “Integrating sex and gender analysis as a resource to create new knowledge and technologies (fixing the knowledge) …require that sex and gender analysis be integrated into the design of research, where relevant.” (Gendered Innovations) The vitality of immersing gender into the study of Science will affect the fate of nations. Women’s rights and contributions to this discipline are extremely crucial to the success of Westernized society.

Regarding Technology, when observing technological advances women seem to be subjects instead of sovereigns. The harsh implications of media on women (body image, stereotyping, beauty standards) are deliberately destructive yet women have turned this into fuel for their activism. The use of media and technology can aid women to collaborate and stand as one. For example, in 2012 the #MeToo movement emphasized the wrongdoings of big names in Hollywood. The #MeToo movement exposed Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein for the sexual harassment and abuse he had subjected several women to. Up until this point, sexual violence in the workplace was always acknowledged but monitored. The #MeToo movement was most famously depicted at the Golden Globes where female actresses dressed in black to acknowledge the sexual violence and wrongdoings of Mr. Weinstein. The collaboration between women created a power and presented the harsh realities faced by women in places of employment. The initial fight for women to be acknowledged as citizens previously was a struggle that was endured up until modernization, yet society still depicts women as weak and vulnerable. The power derived by women in media is somehow still undermined. The women who decided to participate through the use of dress at the Golden Globes all held significant power far beyond their dresses. The Golden Globes were made globally accessible. The availability of streaming platforms allowed said actresses to reach a worldwide audience. With every woman who wore black that particular night, the media produced a message to both women and men. Similarly, #MeToo started trending as the media globally produced the injustice. Generally, in politics, women are often undermined by being labeled as too emotional, vulnerable, or even less knowledgeable. In modern-day society this is false. Women are capable of performing alongside men and should not be undermined for their talents, especially in the workforce. When a gendered perspective is applied to technology women are significantly more powerful than given credit. The use of technology is a critical outlet for feminism and should be recognized as necessary. The negative impact of culture regarding media should be altered and viewed from a political standpoint to promote intersectionality and women’s health, rights, and justice, instead of derogatory content.

When analysing innovation with a gendered lens there is an extremely notable divide. The separation between male and female society is directly stemming from the consumerist economy. Surrounding individuals with a choice between male and female products lacks the intersectional aspect of a functional society. The market profits off these predispositions as the products are marketed to citizens through advertising and media. The lack of acknowledgment regarding individual products and price variances allows the market to profit off of clueless individuals. The hoax of the ‘Pink Tax’ dominates revenue in the economy by taxing women and demanding higher payment for products than men. For example, products such as disposable razors, deodorant, and even shampoo have significant price variances when comparing male to female ‘formulated’ products. Feminine hygiene products also generate extreme revenue for markets by demanding women to pay for their anatomy. When applying a gendered view to this topic it is extremely irrational. Men and women are faced not only with significant social differences but also with expenditures that are non-avoidable. As described by Kathi Weeks “The Not-Yet-Conscious—this capacity for thinking and wanting the future—can be discovered in a wide variety of practices.” (Weeks) Without acknowledging and bringing light to these issues majority of society would not notice. By analyzing these discriminative practices society may feel empowered to demonstrate their beliefs and produce change at a national level.

Conclusions

By analyzing politics with a gendered lens, it becomes prevalent that the success of women has been historically determined by men. The policies outlined in the Human Rights Code and the Constitution have loopholes to undermine women and exploit them. Through the use of activism, feminists promote intersectionality and the need for gender equality within society. As previously observed, a gendered lens has been applied when analyzing the reproductive rights, health, and justice of women with paid maternity leave. Although this has altered the lives of many women, women’s rights to terminate pregnancy are still illegal. Alongside the issue of female reproduction is the need for Science, Technology, and Innovation to be viewed with a gendered lens. “The increasing focus on the concept of intersectionality in feminist research expresses the ambition to create such a dynamic and multiple approach.” (Melby) The role of activism plays a detrimental role in the political changes that have and are still yet to occur. Through the use of research, media, and products women are continuously subject to policies outlined by the government. It is critical to the success of the nation that policy be altered and re-evaluated when regarding women and their experiences.