The article appeared in the Faroese magazine Kvinna in February 2017
By Elin Brimheim Heinesen
The internet has given women today the opportunity to express themselves in countless new, individual ways. Women are communicating to an extent never seen before. This new reality has led to what we call “the fourth wave of feminism” and has, in many ways, strengthened women’s positions. However, we also see a strong backlash challenging the feminist movement.
What Does “the Fourth Wave of the Women’s Movement” Stand For?
The extensive technological development and globalisation since the turn of the millennium have meant that major societal changes are happening more frequently and rapidly than ever before. The new information technology and digital world feel entirely natural to the new generation of young women, who are acutely aware of their sexuality and adept at using technology. They draw attention to themselves in their own way and shape the fourth wave of the women’s movement by creating their own platforms and support groups, particularly on social media. This has given rise to a plethora of different groups where people support each other in strengthening their unique identities mutually.
Some believe that this development is merely a more radical fragmentation of the women’s movement, which was already divided into several different factions. They argue that this keeps women embroiled in internal conflicts, where the larger picture becomes blurred and common challenges are forgotten. Others see the technological revolution as part of a broader liberation—not just of women, but as something that empowers us all as individuals and enhances our possibilities to freely choose our identities.
So where is the women’s movement headed today? What goals are set on the agenda of today’s women’s movement? Old debates about gender and gender differences are still very much alive—especially on social media—such as whether women can truly drive cars or if they can work with technology, among other things. It is easy to get entangled in such pointless, regressive debates. But if we try to place today’s women’s issues in a future perspective, do we have any assurance that the rights gained will not be lost again?
Women’s Situation Today
Young women today have become accustomed to the benefits of progress and the women’s movements that preceded them. Contraception has given women the ability to control how many children they want to have and with whom. Having children past the age of 40 is no longer a death sentence, as it often was 150-200 years ago. Access to health insurance and medicine means that more children survive. Women no longer need to have many children to secure their old age. Today, they have the time and means to get an education. And they no longer have to choose between having children, getting an education, and working. They can choose it all.
For women in the Western world, having the opportunity to have a job that gives them financial freedom – and thus the freedom to choose the life they want to live – is a given today. Although it can still be difficult for women to achieve higher positions, it is no longer forbidden for women to be financially independent or to hold leadership roles. They just often have to fight harder than men to achieve the same. But today they can be respected for performing work that was once considered to be exclusively for men. They can vote and run for office. They can choose to live alone. They can dress as they wish. They can have the sex life they desire. Most of the time, they can go to the office or attend parties without expecting anyone to cross their boundaries and touch them in unwanted places. Women do not want to give up this freedom again.
Could the Foundation for Equality Disappear?
However, it is not a given that women will always have the same level of control over their own destiny as they do now. When we consider how much progress remains for women in many other parts of the world to achieve equality, and how few generations it has been since women in our part of the world didn’t have the aforementioned rights – my grandmother was a child when women still did not have the right to vote – one may fear that this period of increased equality for us was merely a parenthesis in history.
Today we live in an economy ruled by a wealthy oligarchy. If the economy is hit by a severe crisis, it is likely that women will be the first to lose their jobs, partly because so many women work in service sectors that are particularly vulnerable in times of crisis. Then the men will suffer as well. Increasingly more people are losing their jobs as advanced technology and automation rapidly enter the labour market, outcompeting human labour which becomes ever more redundant. Consequently, many people today are compelled to sell their labour for low wages.
These societal challenges can quickly overshadow the struggle for women’s rights unless a new economy is developed that somehow supports the unemployed and the poor and ensures a more equitable distribution. When a majority of men end up at the bottom of society, and men lose their status, the fight for equality is undermined. Who cares if they are slaves to a queen or a king? For a slave, the gender of the slave owner is irrelevant. He has no resources to think about protecting rights, whether for one gender or the other. He just wants to survive.
Are Acquired Rights an Exception in History?
In recent years, we have witnessed a backlash against the women’s movement, where women—especially strong women in influential positions—are harassed with derogatory remarks and direct threats. For example, rape victims are ridiculed, mocked, and shamed on social media. The right to abortion, introduced by some countries, is under severe attack, causing the foundation of these rights to crumble. Many young women choose to work only part-time or state that they want to be full-time homemakers. This places them in a weak economic position, also removing their chances of advancing in the job market and influencing society.
The foundation of gender equality seems to be wavering, giving the impression that the achieved rights could slip away from women again. What if the current conditions are an exception in history—and not a norm that will last forever? Most people who support democracy say no, it will never happen again that women will be shackled and silenced. The Enlightenment and technological progress have enlightened us so much that there is no way back. Countries that still prevent women from participating in elections or owning property will sooner or later follow democratic countries. But can we be sure of that?
Throughout history, women have won and lost rights again. How can they feel secure? No minority group can feel safe. Sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and similar forms of prejudice thrive well. During times of crisis, hatred towards minority groups flourishes even more. Do our laws protect equality well enough to ensure that progress does not go in the wrong direction?
Male Chauvinists Are Gaining Traction Today
It now appears that a powerful president across the ocean wants to challenge the entire women’s movement and other minority groups, alongside another powerful president to the east. Both are known for perpetuating macho ideals and discriminating against people. In Russia, the government has just reintroduced a law, previously repealed, that grants Russian men the right to hit their wives as punishment if they do not obey their husbands.
In the USA, the president epitomises a true male chauvinist. There are examples of him behaving like a lecherous dog, bragging about taking liberties to touch women as he pleases. He seems to have no respect whatsoever for women’s autonomy over their own bodies. He expresses that he finds women’s menstruation disgusting. In his world, it is perfectly acceptable one moment to show ‘respect’ for a woman and the next moment to assault her. He believes these actions are merely ‘compliments’ to the woman. However, it is only those women who are beautiful enough who get the ‘honour’ of being ‘complimented’ in this way by him, and so on, and so forth.
The man is a true nightmare for the women’s movement, which had expected him to lose the election to a woman. Many believed a victory for the female presidential candidate was assured and that the majority of voters would support gender equality and vote for the woman, who in many ways was better qualified than the male candidate. But that did not happen. Voters did not reject the male chauvinist, who throughout the campaign promoted himself with misogyny and appealed to the worst – the fear and anger – in people. This man is now the president of the world’s most powerful country.
Without Healthcare and Contraception, No Liberation for Women
It can be observed that a group of voters were indifferent to what this wildcard in the American election campaign said about women. The women who have enjoyed the most benefits from obtained rights must acknowledge that the values and worldview important to them do not hold the same significance for a large segment of the American population, who live entirely different lives than they do. This segment of the population instead chose to place a man at the helm who, among other things, has stated that he will dismantle “The Affordable Care Act” (Obamacare), thereby eliminating access to contraception and healthcare for poor women in the USA.
This indicates that the women’s movement in the Western world is not as strong as it believed. Who will suffer the most under this new situation in American politics? It is the minorities – Muslims, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, non-whites – and women. On the other hand, it was also seen the day after the new American president was inaugurated that millions of people took to the streets worldwide to protest against the measures the president announced he would implement, which would hit these groups hardest. It seems that people are waking up, now that they feel obtained rights are threatened. The foundation has thus been laid for a new mass movement.
There is no doubt that security in healthcare and contraception is incredibly important, especially for women. Women around the world will not be liberated without access to healthcare and contraception. The result of the American election is a reminder – a wake-up call – that the fight for women’s rights is absolutely not over. Equality and obtained rights are something that can likely be lost if women – and men – do not constantly fight for their rights every single day, day after day, with the same great zeal.
Fact Box:
The First Wave of the Women’s Movement, circa 1840–1920:
The first genuine women’s movement emerged from the fight against slavery. Women who participated in the anti-slavery campaign quickly realised that they themselves lacked the rights they were advocating for black men to have. The movement fought for civil rights for women, such as the right to vote. Women wanted the right to take part in democracy and to vote in democratic elections.
The Second Wave of the Women’s Movement, circa 1960–1988:
The second women’s movement also emerged from a larger movement aimed at finally ensuring equality for Black Americans. Young people from all ethnic backgrounds joined the cause. Once again, women – like those advocating for peace, free speech, and gay rights – noticed they were fighting for rights that they themselves did not have. This realisation gave rise to the second organised women’s movement, often referred to as the Women’s Liberation Movement in English. Women sought rights to the same opportunities and responsibilities as men, such as participating in the labour market, being freed from being solely tied to the home and housework, and being able to refuse to be held captive due to pregnancies.
The Third Wave of the Women’s Movement, approximately 1988–2010:
In the ’80s, the idea of women as a unified class with common, overarching ‘female’ values and experiences fell apart. The women’s movement splintered. Black women, women with disabilities, lesbian women, trans women, and others criticised the movement’s overly broad and simplistic view of gender. Many different feminist theories emerged during this period. Gender was just one of many perspectives on feminism. Women refused to adopt a specific stance on various overarching political issues in order to call themselves feminists. The movement was far more characterised by individualism. Many men also began to identify as feminists – not only to support women, but also to fight alongside women for their own rights as men.
The Fourth Wave of the Women’s Movement, approximately 2008 to today:
The enormous technological development and globalisation after the turn of the millennium have spurred the fourth wave of the women’s movement. Many young feminists have embraced the digital world and are shaping this new wave by creating their own platforms and mutually supporting each other’s initiatives on social media. These women are highly expressive and creative, generally challenging the typical stereotypes of how a feminist looks. From this, a diversity of different groups has emerged, sharing a common identity and reinforcing each other in this identity.
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-legislate-men_us_588778cee4b070d8cad56ee1?section=women&
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/01/24/opinion/after-the-womens-march.html?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ca%2F
http://everydayfeminism.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth-wave_feminism
http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-future-of-women-on-earth-may-be-darker-than-you-tho-1676660905
http://progress.unwomen.org/en/2015/pdf/SUMMARY.pdf
