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Comm1312: Writing and Research
Section #206
Dr. Runna Alghazo
Name: Huda Alzamil.
ID: 201300783
Major: finance.
Topic: feminism.
Assignment#6: final draft.
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Table of Contents
Research Proposal ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Research questions: ................................................................................................................................ 5
Research thesis: ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Research importance: ............................................................................................................................. 5
Methodology: ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Important definitions: ............................................................................................................................ 6
Literature Review ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................... 7
The difference between how people viewed feminism then and now: ................................................ 7
Objectives of feminism: .......................................................................................................................... 8
The movement to scatter equality all around the world: .................................................................... 9
The expected future for feminism: ...................................................................................................... 10
Conclusion: ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Results ........................................................................................................................................................ 11
The results of the first research question: .......................................................................................... 11
What is the difference between how people viewed feminism then and now? ................................ 11
The results of the second research question ....................................................................................... 12
What are the objectives of feminism? ................................................................................................. 12
The results of the third research question .......................................................................................... 12
What is the movement to scatter feminism around the world? ........................................................ 12
The results of the last research question ............................................................................................. 13
What is the expected future for feminism? ......................................................................................... 13
Discussion .................................................................................................................................................. 15
The discussion of the first research question. ..................................................................................... 15
What is the difference between how people viewed feminism then and now? ................................ 15
The discussion of the second research question. ................................................................................ 15
What are the objectives of feminism? ................................................................................................. 15
The discussion of the third research question. ................................................................................... 16
What is the movement to scatter feminism around the world? ........................................................ 16
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The discussion of the last research question. ...................................................................................... 17
What is the expected future for feminism? ......................................................................................... 17
Conclusion: ............................................................................................................................................ 18
References:................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix: .................................................................................................................................................. 21
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Research Proposal
Introduction:
“We say to girls “you can have ambition but not too much, you should aim to be
successful but not too successful otherwise you will threaten the man”. We raise girls to see each
other’s competitors not for jobs or for accomplishments which I think it would be a good thing,
but the attention for men” said Chimanda Ngozi Adichie the famous Nigerian feminist and
author. Feminism or being a feminist is misunderstood by the societies and the world in general,
even though people are more educated now about feminism and its activities, in fact Annecharlotte (2014) stated in her book that 58% of the world population conceder themselves
feminists, and actually 4% of them are men (Anne- charlotte, 2014).
Feminism started in America in 1960 by a women called Bitty Fiedan who wrote a book
that was titled “the feminine mystique” that was talking about how women in the states
specifically had no jobs, no careers and even if they had a job the advances are impassable to
reach. In addition the book talked about how women in America get married at their 20s and
after marriage their only job is to take care of their husbands and their houses. Women back then
felt like they had no personalities, they felt like they were living for people other than
themselves.
Being a feminist is believing and understanding that the equality between the two genders
in every possible way is necessary and a must. Not like what people who are not educated
enough about feminism think about feminist women, they think that they are a group of women
who hate men or cannot get a man for themselves.
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Research questions:
1. What is the difference between how people viewed feminism then and now?
2. What are the objectives of feminism?
3. What is the movement to scatter feminism around the world?
4. What is the expected future for feminism?
Research thesis:
People used to view feminism and equality way different than they view it now. People
used to think that it is a taboo and offensive way for women everywhere to immorality and
whoredom. But nowadays people appreciate feminism and understand that it is a way to give
women respective positions in the society and in the world in general. Furthermore, the
objectives of feminism is to stop sexism and to provide a free life full of options for all the
women in the world, at least as free as men’s lives. In addition one of the most important
feminism goals is to create a whole new world full of possibilities for females in particular and to
empower women everywhere. Moreover, women’s rights movement is growing between young
women with the help of social media. Nowadays feminism is not about what women have been,
it is about how far women can go, and the future of women’s rights is very promising because of
the modern education for women in all ages via books, magazines and social media.
Research importance:
The importance of this research is first of all to make women know the real meaning of
feminism and how much it will help women finding their own rights. The second importance
thing is to make people believe that boys and girls should be raised equally, being equal is not an
excuse for lack of respect from either. And the last importance is to motivate women to support
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and empower each other because feminism starts from women first before it is functioned by the
rest of the world.
Methodology:
To answer the research questions a survey was conducted with a contribution of 18
random people from different countries to know if people understand and support feminism and
if they will continue to pass it on for other generations. In addition the research was answered by
using academic articles, journals and websites. Also by using online books and PMU’s ebrary.
Important definitions:

Feminism: organized movement that is creating an awareness for women’s rights and
equality (Robinson, 2011).

Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the
sexes (Robinson, 2011).
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Literature Review
Introduction:
Feminism is supporting the idea of women performing their rights and fighting for it in
the grounds of economic, political and social equality to men. In addition, the supporters of the
idea of equality are increasing and rising everyday which makes the notion of feminists bigger
and more noticeable. Feminism started in the United States of America in 1960 by a women’s
called Bitty Fiedan. According to Agnus (2013), women back in the days they were tired of
being treated as they were slaves for people other than themselves which made Fiedan initiate
the fighting for women’s equality and wrote her feminist book “the feminine mystique” ( Agnus,
2013). However, feminism does not have be defined only by women. Men too can be feminists,
upholding the belief that every human, man or woman, should be treated equally. Anne-charlotte
(2014) stated in her book “feminism is not stereotyping women, it includes men who stand up for
their mothers, sisters and wives” (Anne- charlotte, 2014). Gender equality is not about women
wearing suits with no makeup on and trying to imitate men, it is about women who take care of
their children and family and at the same time being able to function in the society and reaching
their own goals, dreams and ambition.
The difference between how people viewed feminism then and now:
People’s point of view about women’s equality in many fields back in the days was much
different than their point of view now. According to Budget and Rickard (2011), when feminism
and women liberation first brought to the table people were sacred and terrified about the idea
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and the impact of it. Moreover, people started to ruin the feminism reputation by claiming that
feminists are women who are against men and their input in the society and they are trying to
abolish that from existence. Even some women who thought that feminism is what they are been
waiting for, they felt frightened to express their agreement and acceptance to the equality wave
because of the negative hype that was surrounded the movement of it (Budget, & Rickard, 2011).
Robinson (2014), indicated that people see and understand equality much better because of the
ways that feminism is being presented and the way of understanding the people have now a days.
In addition, societies needs much labor than ever to improve and develop the communities and
the public, which made the society appreciate more the effort and the hard work that females do
that is equal to the other gender’s effort and hard work, and proves that women not only can raise
generations, but they can improve a whole entire business as well (Robinson, 2011).
Objectives of feminism:
There are many objectives and goals that feminists all around the world are trying the
best they can to reach them and approach them. The most worked on objectives in the feminism
communities are equality and fairness in the society and in the work place, and empowering
females all around the world to achieve their visions and aspirations in life. Anne and Pestech
(2012), the feminist authors, state that equality for women in the society and work place is
progressed every single day all around the world by many devotees and believers in the issue,
and that is one of the main massive steps to attain feminism and women liberation from many
obstacles and difficulties that they can find in their way to accomplish and function what they
think is their roles in the civilization and society and becoming not only in advanced positions in
their jobs, but to run and lead the world and the mother planet (Anne and, & Pestech, 2012).
Yuval-Davis (1997) indicated that also one of the most inevitable objectives of female equality is
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to empower women all around the nation to make a change in the world and to make big
accomplishments that under women’s names all around the world. Furthermore, women
empowerment is established when women support other women about the things that matter and
give a good name for female accomplishment in general. Feminists are making these changes not
only for themselves, but for their daughters and upcoming generation that if the changes did not
happen they will have to deal with sexist civilizations where ever they go to try building
themselves and careers (Yuval-Davis, 1997).
The movement to scatter equality all around the world:
According to Youder (2012), women’s liberation started in the nineties and still tell now
active feminists are trying to spread it around the nations by two crucial moves. The first move is
to educate people about what the real purpose behind feminism which is all genders should be
treated equally no matter what the circumstances or policies are, not like what most people think
about equality which is to emasculate all men and destroy their power. Feminism is about
showing that women have power too (Youder, 2012). Kotzee (2013) indicated the psychological
effects of teaching and educating people about feminism and women’s rights, the effects are
depended on people’s culture and the area that the live in. moreover, the effect can change from
one gender to another and that is why feminists should be very educated and informed about the
background of the person that they are educating and humanizing about what feminism is all
about ( Kotzee 2013). Youder (2012) also stated the second step in feminism which is
campaigning and protest to help the equality voice to be herd everywhere and to show the
dedication and the devotion that protestors who believe in women's rights and equal
opportunities have to make believes considered by the public and individuals and the believe that
they have against bigots who step in the women’s way to prove themselves (Youder, 2012).
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The expected future for feminism:
The feminist experts and predictors are visioning a bright further coming future for
women’s rights. Barnye and Rickard (2011) stated that with intelligent and specific stages that
feminists are taking and with the better understanding from people about feminism, the way of
feminism is almost ready to be taken and functioned. Furthermore, people are not ashamed of
expressing their thoughts and opinions as they used to be, people now are much understanding
and respective for other’s opinions and statements (Barnye, & Rickard, 2011). According to
Haslenger (2012), feminists are able to function more about their statement thanks to the social
media and the way that is now people’s thoughts and ideas are well-speeded and it takes less
time nowadays to send and conduct people’s (feminists in particularly) visions and notions,
which gives a vision about how the future of feminism will be wider and includes different
categories of people (Haslenger, 2012).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, feminism is about is about encouraging women’s liberation and equality to
men for the sake of the economy, politics and society. However, people used to have conflict
with understand feminism back in the days, but now people understand feminism and women’s
equality better than ever because of the advanced ways that feminism is brought and presented to
the world. Furthermore, feminists all around the world clarified and explained the objectives of
feminism which is equality in different fields with males and to empower women’s ambitions
and determination to get to their ideal positions in life. And the way to spread feminists all
around the nation is by educating people about feminism and by demonstrating the equality
believes and raising their voices. And that what makes the future of feminism promising because
of the way that people’s opinions are being acknowledged thanks to the social media, also
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because of the level of understanding that people have nowadays about the individuals thoughts
and believes, that what make the future of feminism so bright.
Results
The results of the first research question:
What is the difference between how people viewed feminism then and now?
Budget and Rickard (2011) stated that the understanding of feminism was so messed up
at the beginning of its wave and people used to be afraid to even think about it because of the bad
reputation and standing that feminism used to have (Budget, & Rickard, 2011). However,
Robinson (2014) stated that people nowadays all around the world have better understanding
about feminism because of the ways that equality is being presented and because of the new
generation who is open-minded to other people’s believes. As a part of the research 18 random
people from different countries were surveyed about feminism and their knowledge about it and
weather they think that equality excites in different societies, 55% of the surveyed people said
yes they understand what the meaning of feminism (which is women’s equality and rights) and
they are not afraid to consider themselves feminists, and on the other hand 30% of the surveyed
people said that they are not sure yet if they quite understand it, and the last 15% deny equality
and they think it is not necessary and it does not give women any potential rights.
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60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
people who understand
feminism
people who do not know if
they under stand it or not
people who deny it
Figure (1): the percentages of people who understand feminism, don’t know if they
understand it yet, and people who deny it.
The results of the second research question
What are the objectives of feminism?
According to Anne and Pestech (2012),The most important goal of feminism and women
liberation is equality in the work place and in the society in general and that is being developed
everyday by many supporters of feminism (Anne and, & Pestech, 2012). Also Yuval-Davis
(1997) stated that there is also an important goal of feminism which is women empowerment all
around the world and women supporting and backing up each other to increase women’s
accomplishments (Yuval-Davis, 1997).
The results of the third research question
What is the movement to scatter feminism around the world?
To spread feminism and women’s liberation all around the nation feminists need to
follow important steps. Youder (2012) stated that the first step is toward equality is to educate
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people about what feminism is all about and what is the real reason behind it and clarify all the
bad reputation behind women’s equality (Youder, 2012). Moreover Kotzee (2013) indicated
feminists need to observe and learn about the psychological effects of learning about feminism
on people and their reaction to it, and that depends on different cultures and traditions (Kotzee
2013).
The results of the last research question
What is the expected future for feminism?
The impending future of feminism is promising because of the changes that are
happening in the societies and the better understanding of people for feminism. Furthermore, .
Barnye and Rickard (2011) stated that people are not afraid to express their opinions and
believes anymore and fighting for them (Barnye, & Rickard, 2011). In addition, social media
plays a big role in women’s liberation’s present and future because of the way and the high speed
that people’s thoughts and statements (especially about feminism) are being spread around the
world, and that what makes the future of feminism bright and promising (Haslenger, 2012).
Furthermore, in the research’s survey that was conducted about feminism there was a question
that expected the future of equality which asks “are you going to raise your children and treat
them equally no matter what the gender is and are you going to teach your children about
feminism and make them aspire to it?”. 70% of the surveyed people answered yes, 3% answered
it depends on when it comes to this point, and 27% answered no.
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80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
yes
it depends
no
Figure (2): percent of “yes”, “it depends” and “no” in the survey question.
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Discussion
The discussion of the first research question.
What is the difference between how people viewed feminism then and now?
People used to be very conservative about feminism, they used to be afraid to even talk
about equality because of the miss understanding that women’s liberation had back in the days.
According to Budget and Rickard (2011), people were terrified about feminism and they were
worried about the impact of it on the society and the religions. Feminism and women’s liberation
had the reputation of women acting wild and not caring about demeanors and manners, and that
what made people trying to halt the gender equality movement (Budget, & Rickard, 2011).
However, people nowadays view feminism differently and that what the research’s survey
proved when it was asked “do know what feminism is all about?”, 55% answered yes, 30% said
that they are not sure yet, and 15% answered no. Robinson (2014) stated that today people
comprehend and appreciate feminism better than ever because of the advanced ways that
feminism is being taught and brought to the people which increased the level of understanding of
the people (Robinson, 2011). Moreover, societies nowadays need labor more than ever to
develop their countries and economies, and that what forced the societies to be educated more
about gender equality and start working on it to improve the whole nation.
The discussion of the second research question.
What are the objectives of feminism?
Feminists all around the world are trying to spread feminism to reach its goals. According
to Anne and Pestech (2012), one of the main goals of feminism and gender equality is to
established women’s equality in the work place and in the society in general, and that objective
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is being worked on every day by feminists all around the nations to achieve it and to make the
societies benefit from it (Anne and, & Pestech, 2012). Achieving the aim of women’s equality
would take female’s careers to the next level, not only in taking the main positions in their jobs,
but to run and take of the world. The other main goal of feminism is women empowerment and
females supporting each other. Yuval-Davis (1997) indicated that one of the main objectives of
feminism is women enablement and women backing up each other. Women should know and
realize that if they do not support and empower themselves and each other, no one will. (YuvalDavis, 1997). In addition, women empowerment increases female’s accomplishments and
achievements which gives a motivation for other females in the world to have their own
accomplishments.
The discussion of the third research question.
What is the movement to scatter feminism around the world?
In order to achieve feminism goals it needs to be scattered and spread in different
communities and cultures. Youder (2012) indicated that feminism needs to be extended by
educating people about the real purpose behind women’s equality which is treating people the
same way no matter what the gender is or what the rules or policies are (Youder, 2012). In
addition, the wrong idea behind feminism which is underestimating men and extinguishing their
power needs to be erased and clarified to show and promote the real reason behind equality.
Another way to scatter feminism is to take in consideration the psychological elements of
teaching people about women’s liberation and equality. Kotzee (2013) stated that in order to
spread women’s liberation and feminism feminists need to be educated about the skills and ways
to teach people about feminism. In addition, feminists need to consider emotional effects that the
recipients may have and those effect are depended on the recipients’ background and
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environment (Kotzee 2013). Furthermore, feminists need to take their equality believes to
another level by campaigning and protesting with dedication and devotion to make their voices
and believes heard by the public and the sexist who stands on women’s ways to success.
The discussion of the last research question.
What is the expected future for feminism?
There are positive expectations for the future of women’s liberation and gender equality
that are expected by feminism experts, and those experts rely their prediction on the massive
intellectual steps that feminists are taking and the freedom that people have to express their
estimations. According to Barnye and Rickard (2011), people are not afraid to express their
opinions and thoughts anymore, meanwhile other people have to respect other people’s believes
and considers, and that is what makes feminism wider and ready to be taken and believed by
many people (Barnye, & Rickard, 2011). And that what the research survey also proved when it
was asked to 18 people about whether they will raise their children equally and whether if they
are going to teach them about feminism, 70% of the people answered yes they will, 3% answered
it depends on the time and when it gets to this point, and 27% answered no they will not. In
addition, social media plays a big part in gender equality’s future and it helped brighten other
debates as well. Haslenger (2012) stated that the social media opened many doors that helped
feminists to express and direct their statements because of the well-speeded way that people’s
opinions and thoughts are being blown out by the social media (Haslenger, 2012). And that what
gives feminists a vision about the future of feminism and how it will be wider and hopefully it
will include different classifications and types of people.
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Conclusion:
Feminism is being processed all around the world by devoted feminists, and that
occasioned to change from the bad thoughts that people used to have about feminism which is
women’s immorality to the truth behind it which is gender equality and fighting for women’s
rights. Moreover, feminism is being handled by feminists who believe in the objectives and the
goals of it which is equality in the work place and in the society in general and to empower
women to achieve and accomplish their goals. In order to reach these objective feminism needs
to be scattered around the world by humanizing people about feminism and the real reason
behind it and by protesting and raising the voice of equality. However, the future of feminism is
bright and promising because of the freedom that people have to express themselves with the
appreciations to the social media as well which what makes equality’s believes travel around the
nations. Feminism is about gender equality and women’s liberation, it is not about women who
imitate men and wear suits with no makeup on, it is about being a beautiful feminine women
who has her own family that she takes care of, and at the same time she has her own job and she
is breaking the glass ceiling for herself and for the rest of women in the world.
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References:
Callerstig, A.C. (2014). Making equality work: Ambiguities, Conflicts and Change Agents in the
Implementation of Equality Policies in Public Sector Organizations. England: Linköping
University Electronic Press. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/pmu/detail.action?docID=10857570
Kotzee, B. (2013). Education and the Growth of Knowledge: Perspectives from Social and
Virtue Epistemology: John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved on October 17, 2014. From
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/pmu/detail.action?docID=10784798&p00=feminism
Boudet, A.M., and Petesch, P. (2012). On Norms and Agency: Conversations about Gender
Equality with Women and Men in 20 Countries: Fordham University Press. Retrieved on
October 17, 2014. From http://site.ebrary.com/lib/pmu/detail.action?docID=10648911
Yuval-Davis, N. (1997). Politics and Culture Series: Gender and Nation. United
States: SAGE. Retrieved on October 18, 2014. From
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/pmu/detail.action?docID=10855740&p00=feminism
Robinson, M. (2014). Women Who Belong: Claiming a Female’s Right-Filled Place.
United States: Cambridge Scholars Pub. Retrieved on October 18, 2014.
Youder, J.D. (2012). Finding Optimal Functioning in a Sexist World: A Social Justice
Challenge.
United States: Southern Illinois University Press. Retrieved on October 18, 2014. From
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/pmu/detail.action?docID=10740154&p00=feminism
Kholi, W.R. & Burbules, N.C. (2011). Feminisms and educational research. Philosophy, theory,
And educational research series. Retrieved on October 20, 2014. From
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http://eric.ed.gov/?q=feminism&id=ED528348
Byrne, Z.S. & Rickard, K.M. (2011). A comparison of responses on the attitudes toward women
Scale and attitudes toward feminism scale: is there a difference between college-age and
Later-life adults with the original norms?. Retrieved on October 20, 2014. From
http://eric.ed.gov/?q=feminism&id=EJ937844
Haslanger, S. (2012). Topics in feminism. Retrieved on October 20, 2014.
From http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-topics/
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Appendix:
A survey to determent if people understand and support feminism and if they will continue
to pass it on for other generations.
Tick either yes, no, it depends or I do not know for the following questions
The answers will be kept private.
Question
Yes
No
It Depends
I do not
know
Do you understand the real meaning of
feminism which is equality and fairness
between both genders?
Are you anti-feminist?
Are you going to raise your kids equally no
matter what the gender is?
Are going to teach your kids about
feminism and equality?
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