After my Girls Studies class tonight in Cocoa, our discussion got me thinking about what’s next in the way of girls and how they are constructed. I wondered if today’s girls are beyond feminism? Should we rethink feminism in the context of girlhood to shape the next generation of women? Posting these thoughts to my facebook, a few people responded. Here is a thread that I found interesting:
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S.D.: If that’s what it takes to spark interest in what is arguably considered third wave feminism, then yes. However, I do think that runs the risk of enforcing the idea that there is a superior gender into young girls, which could be detrimental in the long run. It really depends on how the whole matter is approached…just my two cents, so to speak :).
M.R.: I think that if equality and acceptance are reinforced, in terms of individuality and the assembly of identity, that there won’t be (as much of) an issue with gender superiority Othering girls and influencing their development as women. Unfortunately, I feel it’s almost too idealistic to think that one day we’ll raise children in an androgynous society stripped of gender. Gender superiority seems like it will manifest itself in one way or another, preventing people from disassembling the binary. One can only hope that will change over time with activism. But I do think that we’re on the right track with rethinking third wave…. which might evolve into a new wave?
S.D.: I do not know if you have ever read “Child X” by Lois Gould, but it touches upon that idealistic hope that one day society could be free of all gender roles entirely. I agree that to set our sights on such a goal now would be almost futile, seeing as so many smaller and more realistic steps need to be taken in the mean time to try and abolish the problems that are arising in our current culture as a result of gender. Activism and education are probably the two most effective ways (in my personal opinion) to work towards these goals. As for a new wave, I definitely think we are headed in that direction, seeing as new generations are emerging and with that, feminist theory will begin to evolve into something new and even more complex than before.
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We were assigned to watch Mean Girls and deconstruct the way media perceives girls and their social and individual constructions. So fetch.
