Feminism is a political, philosophical and social movement that seeks equal rights between men and women. It is very confused with femism, a behavior that preaches the superiority of women over men and would be equivalent to machismo, but vice versa.
What is feminism?
The feminist movement emerged in 19th century Europe, as a result of the French Revolution, which preached “Equality, Freedom and Fraternity”.
In this sense, women had the desire to be inserted in the social context in which they found themselves, participating in the changes that were to come.
However, it was only in the 20th century that the West came to recognize feminism more. This is because the monopoly of men in positions of power came to be questioned, since women also wanted and would be trained to occupy such positions.
Although widely misused in the sense that women preach the superiority of the female sex, the term feminism designates the struggle for equity between both genders.
The term “equity” is used by feminism because it is a broader concept than “equality”.
Equity presupposes that everyone has the same power within society and that, for that, the differences inherent to individuals are respected. With this, social change requires that everyone has the same relevance within society with their particularities being respected.
The understanding about the ways to achieve this equity differs, giving rise to several current currents of thought in the whole that was conventionally called feminism.
There are those who defend the idea that there are “feminisms”, in the plural. Each chain has its specificities and its own discussion agenda, also called an agenda.
Some examples of feminisms are:
- Intersectional Feminism
- Black Feminism
- Christian Feminism
- Radical Feminism
- Marxist Feminism
- Liberal Feminism
- Lesbian Feminism
- Libertarian Feminism
- Transfeminism
The belief in female superiority is called femism.
What is femism?
Femism is also known as misandry. It is considered the female equivalent of machismo and misogyny (hatred of women), femism preaches the superiority of women over men.
With the same sexist line, femism is a behavior guided by prejudices and generalizations about the male gender, marked by people who tend to devalue and make aggressive comments about and for men.
Femism is often confused with feminism, which is a word used to designate something completely different.
The struggle for equal rights and duties between genders or for equity is not a feminist agenda, who believe in the simple superiority of women over men within society. The extinction of the current patriarchal culture is sought through its replacement by a matriarchal culture.
Achievements of feminism
Feminism is responsible for the achievement of several women’s rights, such as studying. This right was only guaranteed to Brazilian women in 1827, but only basic education.
Entry into higher education was only permitted in 1879. However, those who arrived at college were criticized and victims of harassment, which is still happening today.
Another of the main achievements was the right to vote, which in Brazil was only given to women in 1932. However, at that time, only women who were married and authorized by their husband could vote. Restrictions that were eliminated from the Brazilian Electoral Code in 1934.
However, voting only became mandatory for women in 1946.
Feminism has also managed to give women the right to “belong to themselves”. This is because, in Brazil, until 1962 women needed authorization from their husbands to work and / or receive an inheritance.
In addition, the law established on August 27, 1962 that, in the event of separation, women have the right to request custody of their children.
The Maria da Penha Law (2006) protects women against domestic violence and the Feminicide Law (2015) classifies homicides of women as heinous. And they are feminist achievements.
For a long time, dominant machismo repressed women’s rights, including life, a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution.
Although the contraceptive pill revolutionized feminism in the 1960s, when women began to have more power over their sexual freedom, reproductive rights are still debated.
Voluntary abortion, for example, is still considered taboo. In Brazil, abortion is only allowed in cases of risk to the mother or fetuses with anencephaly. Pregnancy can also be terminated if it is the result of rape.
