http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1139&pid=240
Third Wave feminists like Rebecca Walker and Shannon Liss (Cofounders of the Third Wave Direct Action Committee) completely disagree. Feminism has always been a struggle against patriarchy: the Second Wave fought against patriarchy embodied by political constraints while the Third struggled with patriarchy embodied by societal constraints and labels. These fights are all part of the same movement, even though they have different focuses. This is why I think the name “Third Wave” is a completely accurate title; this term both symbolizes the distinction of this feminist group from the Second Wave, as well as alludes to the shared underlying goals held by the Second and Third Waves.
The Third Wave called on women “to make feminism personal” thereby making feminism more universal and accessible. This made feminism a common denominator amongst different races, classes, and sexualities, which I believe sort of sealed up the cracks in Second Wave feminism. Even though this newer form feminism attempted to unify all women’s rights groups, there was growing tension between second and third wavers. Why was it that “sisterhood had suddenly become mother-daughterhood.”? Walker once said, “I think some of the older women have been a little threatened. It’s a fear about being somehow displaced.”
Evidently, society and politics have always been very much integrated. I think that if the second and third waver’s recognize their mutual dependence, then the women’s movement will be a lot stronger and even more effective because, as Lorde suggests, “Difference must not merely be tolerated, but seen as a fund of necessary polarities between which our creativity can spark like a dialect.”
http://www.wstudies.pitt.edu/blogs/aff8/mother-daughterhood
In Rebecca Walker’s “Becoming the Third Wave” she begins with a discussion on the Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill controversy in which Hill accused Thomas of sexually assaulting her. As Walker stated, women in the United States not backing up a fellow woman is disastrous for our future as women. If we cannot stick together, we will probably fail in our attempts to equalize our relationship as compared with that of men. Walker is a strong advocate for joining in a sisterhood that is the third wave, rather than referring to it as a group.
The idea of third wave feminism as a sisterhood is a recurring one which is mentioned in Astrid Henry’s “Solitary Sisterhood: Individualism Meets Collectivity in Feminism’s Third Wave” as well. In this chapter, Naomi Wolf claims, “true sisterhood can only be achieved by incorporating diversity into feminism (Henry, p. 89)de.” I agree with Walker in that we should each define feminism as it applies to each of us but overall I think that this true third wave of feminism should be a sisterhood rather than “the mother-daughter trope” that some young feminists are beginning to side with.
I believe that third wave feminism is a necessary and engaging form of feminism, one that could possibly solve equality differences sooner than past or other forms of feminism. I do believe that we should each define feminism for ourselves but finally I think that every woman should take some time to decide for herself if she will truly devote herself to the cause or watch as everything that has been worked for by our sisters past is taken from us before our very eyes.
http://feministvarieties.blogspot.com/2007/04/never-too-late-to-have-opinion-on-third.html
Third Wave feminism is a philosophy that emerged in the 1990s. Like all feminism, the Third Wave focuses on the economic, political, social, and personal empowerment of women. This newer form of feminism focuses more on the individual empowerment of women and less on activism. It celebrates women’s journeys to build meaningful identities in the complex contemporary world.
Characteristics of Third Wave Feminism
Third Wave feminism celebrates women’s multiple and sometimes contradictory identities in today’s world.
Third Wave feminists are encouraged to build their own identities from the available buffet, and to not worry if the items on their plate are not served together traditionally. Women can unapologetically celebrate a plate full of entrée choices like soccer mom, career woman, lover, wife, lesbian, activist, consumer, girly girl, tomboy, sweetheart, bitch, good girl, princess, or sex symbol.
Third Wave feminism encourages personal empowerment and action.
Third Wave feminists like to think of themselves as survivors, not victims.
Although Third Wave feminists do not reject political activism, the emphasis is more on using one’s personal empowerment as a starting point for societal change.
Third Wave feminism celebrates emotions and experiences that traditionally have been labelled as “unfeminine.” Women are invited to be angry, aggressive, and outspoken.
Third Wave feminism celebrates women’s sexuality and encourages women to explore sexual options and express themselves in whatever ways they feel comfortable. The double standard and titles like “slut” are discarded. The female characters from Sex and the City can be seen as Third Wave feminist icons who do not apologize for their sexual relationships and adventures.
Third Wave feminists celebrate diversity. The Women’s Liberation Movement often was criticized for focusing too narrowly on the experiences of middle-class, white, heterosexual women.
As is characteristics of Generation X and Generation Y, Third Wave feminists express themselves through popular culture and use it in their personal journeys to define identity. They look for women, images, and musicians who represent their own struggles. They also take ironic pleasure in outrageously sexist or sexualized representations, like Paris Hilton or reality shows like America’s Next Top Model.
Criticisms of Third Wave Feminism
The most common criticism of Third Wave feminism may be that it is not political enough. It is a highly individualistic philosophy that generally values personal empowerment over activism. For this reason, critics argue that Third Wave feminism is ill equipped to foster social change, and in fact may discourage women from become feminist activists.
Another common criticism of Third Wave feminism is that its focus on identity issues is not a universal concern. The ability to explore one’s identity is a privilege. Women who are concerned about feeding their children or surviving domestic violence cannot be bothered with‘finding themselves.”
Other critics argue that the Third Wave feminists do more damage than good by equating women’s sexuality with power. Critics argue that this kind of sexual empowerment is purely individual and does not lead to social change, and in fact promotes the sexualization of women.
http://suite101.com/article/third-wave-feminism-a20276
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