Socialisation is always being conditioned by society . For example: which gender should play with which gender?
However socio-historical circumstances have changed the views of gender and society through feminism for example;
The first wave of feminism:
- Took place in the nineteenth and twentieth century.
- Fighting for equal rights for women - particularly to vote.
- Main rights included suffrage, right to themselves, to have an education etc.
- The wave formally began at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, when 300 men and women rallied to the cause of equality for women.
- Discussions about the vote and women's participation in politics led to an examination of the differences between men and women as they were then viewed. Some claimed that women were morally superior to men, and so their presence in the civic sphere would improve public behavior and the political process.
However, when the second wave of feminism hit:
- It took place in the 1960's and 1970's
- In 1960 , the contraception pill was invented - Now women could decide when to have children and how many children the could have for the first time ever.
- Also for the first time ever women could have careers and not just jobs.
- In 1979 the first female product of having a career was the first prime minister - Margaret Thatcher.
- This phase began with protests against the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City in 1968 and 1969.
- Whereas the first wave of feminism was generally propelled by middle class white women, the second phase drew in women of color and developing nations, seeking sisterhood and solidarity and claiming, "Women's struggle is class struggle."
- In this phase, sexuality and reproductive rights were dominant issues, and much of the movement's energy was focused on passing the Equal Rights Amendment to the constitution guaranteeing social equality regardless of sex.
Moreover why is it that there is feminism and no Masculinism? Men have never had to fight for their rights, so why have women had to?
Women have always been seen naturally as weak and have been put down and are viewed as housewifes.
A traditional housewife would:
- Have to look after the children
- Not work - relying on the husband
- As a cleaner (always cleaning the house with no-one help)
- A taxi
- A cook for the husband and the children.
In the modern mind- the views of women being a housewife is diverse. They are now seen to be:
- Lazy - spending lunch with their friends
- Having the choice to marry who she wishes to marry
- Spending her husbands money on her likes
- Being able to go out e.g. the hairdresser
- Part- time work
If a women is not seen as feminine she is seen as a tomboy. If she is seen as a tomboy they why is she all of a sudden referred to be seen masculine when she is clearly a women?
