Paste your text in here…The term feminism can be used to describe a political, cultural or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women. Feminism involves political and sociological theories and philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference, as well as a movement that advocates gender equality for women and campaigns for women's rights and interests. Although the terms feminism and feminist did not gain widespread use until the 1970s, they were already being used in the public parlance much earlier. The feminists divided the history of the movement into three waves. The first wave refers mainly to women's suffrage movements of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The second wave refers to the ideas and actions associated with the women's liberation movement beginning in the 1960s. The third wave refers to a continuation of, and a reaction to the perceived failures of, second-wave feminism, beginning in the 1990s. Western feminism is exclusive and may not even include all women who live in the United States. For the Arab feminism movement, for centuries, women had low status in Arab culture. Starting in the second half of the nineteenth century, Western influence and processes of modernization led to a change in the status of women, and feminist ideas began to germinate. Women started going out of their homes to study and became increasingly aware of their liberation, both their own and that of others around them. Thus the nineteenth century saw the birth of a feminist discourse among Arab women on such topics as education, work, marriage, suffrage, and breaking out of their isolation. Virginia Woolf and Fadwa Tuoqan are the most famous women's writer who use the power of language to make an improvement in women's situation, instead each one of them has her own line, manner and stress. There are differences the between women's rights in both sides of world. To reveal these differences, I use Virginia Woolf as a model and example of women's revolution writings in western, And Fadwa Touqan as an eastern model and example of the women's movement writings in the Middle East. Many Arabs, English and Orientalists critics have taken this revaluation as one of most important movements that effect on literature within different ranges.
1. The Western literary Feminist movements in the
Literature will often reflect the cultural assumptions and attitudes of its period, and that of course includes attitudes towards women: their status, their roles, their expectations. But a literature doctored of male-orientated views would be failing in its first requirement, to present a realistic or convincing picture of the world. Moralizing, which includes political correctness, has its dangers. The importance of feminism in the literary was profound and wide ranging. The term feminism originated from the French word 'feminisme,' coined by the utopian socialist Charles Fourier, and was first used in English in the 1890s, in association with the movement for equal political and legal rights for women. There is some debate as to whether the term 'feminism' can be appropriately applied to the thought and activities of earlier women and men who explored and challenged the traditional roles of women in society. In the west, Contemporary feminist historians distinguish three waves in the history of feminism. The first-wave refers to the feminist movement of the nineteenth through early twentieth centuries, which dealt mainly with the Suffrage movement. The second-wave (1960s-1980s) dealt with the inequality of laws, as well as cultural inequalities. The third-wave of Feminism (1990s-present) is seen as both a continuation of and a response to the perceived failures of the second-wave. All writers were interested in in the feminist movement. So, most of the social writers in the west conducted books and research on the feminism issues. Feminist literature of developed countries recognized that feminism is a necessary movement and the go forward their writings without demanding the world feminists to recognize the limitations of their brand of feminism. The ideas of equality and liberty were the essential goals to achieve. First feminist literary movement refers to a period of feminist activity during the nineteenth century and early twentieth century in the United Kingdom and the United States. Originally it focused on equal legal rights of contract and property, and opposition to chattel marriage and ownership of married women and their children by husbands.
1.1 Aims and demands of the western feminist movements
By the end of the nineteenth century, activism focused primarily on gaining political power and women's suffrage, though feminists like Voltairine de Cleyre and Margaret Sanger were active in campaigning for women's sexual, reproductive and economic rights. In Britain the Suffragettes campaigned for the women's vote. In 1928 this was extended to all women over eighteen. In the United States leaders of this movement include Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who each campaigned for the abolition of slavery prior to championing women's right to vote. Other important leaders included Lucy Stone, Olympia Brown, and Helen Pitts. American first-wave feminism involved women from a wide range of backgrounds, some belonging to conservative Christian groups such as Frances Willard and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, others representing the diversity and radicalism of much of second-wave feminism such as Stanton, Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage and the National Woman Suffrage Association, of which Stanton was president.
The second literary feminist in the west refers to a period of the literary feminist activity beginning in the early 1960s and lasting through the late 1980s. It was a continuation of the earlier phase of feminism which sought legal and political rights in the United Kingdom and the United States.[13] Second-wave feminism has existed continuously since then, and coexists with what is termed 'third-wave feminism.' Second-wave feminism saw cultural and political inequalities as inextricably linked. The movement encouraged women to understand aspects of their own personal lives as deeply politicized, and reflective of a gender-biased structure of power. While first-wave feminism focused upon absolute rights such as suffrage, second-wave feminism was largely concerned with other issues of equality, such as the end to gender discrimination in society, in education and in the workplace.
The third literary feminist movement in the west has its origins in the mid-1980s, with feminist leaders rooted in the second literary feminist movement in the west like Gloria Anzaldua, bell hooks, Chela Sandoval, Cherrie Moraga, Audre Lorde, Maxine Hong Kingston, and other black feminists, who sought to negotiate prominent space within feminist thought for consideration of race-related subjectivities. The third-wave of feminism arose in the early 1990s as a response to perceived failures of the second-wave, and a response to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second-wave. The third literary feminist movement in the west seeks to challenge or avoid what it deems the second The third literary feminist movement in the west definitions of femininity, claiming that these definitions over-emphasized the experiences of upper middle class white women and largely ignored the circumstances of lower-class women, minorities and women living in other cultures. A post-structuralism interpretation of gender and sexuality is central too much of ideology of the third literary feminist movement in the west. Third-wave feminists often focus on the micro politics, and challenge the second the third literary feminist movement in the west paradigm as to what is, or is not, good for females.
2. The Arab literary Feminist movements
For centuries, women rights had low status in Arab literature and culture. Starting in the second half of the nineteenth century, Western feminist movements influence and processes of modernization led to a change in the status of women, and feminist ideas began to germinate. Women started going out of their homes to study and became increasingly aware of their liberation, both their own and that of others around them. Thus the nineteenth century saw the birth of a feminist discourse among Arab women on such topics as education, work, marriage, suffrage, and breaking out of their isolation. The feminist discourse continued to literarily develop. Women met and talked about their situation and their status and wrote philosophy and literature about them. Then the discourse developed in practical terms: Women became national and feminist activists and founded associations that promoted women's rights. Women may have won the struggle for education in the Arab world, but in other areas their progress is still impeded by conservative elements, and the process of achieving equal rights between the sexes is still incomplete. Idea of women's rights is not alien to the Arab society like the idea of nationhood and nationalism, feminism, claiming its origin in the Western democratic societies, began to be articulated in Arab literature in the early 19th century.
2.1 The aims and demands of The Arab literary Feminist movements
The rise of Arab feminism in Arabic literature, much like everything else in the Middle East, is steeped in controversy. The Arab feminist scholars claims that the education and liberation of women was essential to strengthen and emancipate the Arab world from colonial rule, resulted from their travels to and studies in Europe, where they observed the role of women in Western society. The Arab scholars argued that men oppressed and silenced women, which caused society in general to suffer.
Fadwa Touqan describes the gender inequality in Arab society during the 1940s and 1950s; she highlights the possibility for a woman with determination to live according to feminist principles, as she sought to do. These principles, founded on an insistence of equality, were not learned from Western feminists, but found Fadwa Touqan herself.
The literary feminist movements in the Arab world defend the human rights against many of the wasted women rights such as the divorce and inheritance laws regarding women, and the preferential treatment of male children.
3. Virginia Woolf and Fadwa Tuoqan
Virginia Woolf and Fadwa Tuoqan are the most famous women's writer who use the power of language to make an improvement in women's situation, instead each one of them has her own line, manner and stress. In this section I would display the difference between women's rights in both sides of world using Virginia Woolf as an example of women's revolution writs in western, And Fadwa Touqan as an eastern example of women's movement in the Middle East. Many Arabs, English and Orientalists critics have taken this revaluation as one of most important movements that effect on literature within different ranges.
3.1 Virginia Woolf
3.1.1 Virginia Woolf life
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), was an English writer, essayist, publisher and feminist. She fought hard for women's rights and aimed to achieve equal opportunity for all women. She lived in a time when she was granted few rights but turned the setback into strength. Her feminist viewpoints are especially shown through her publications such as 'Mrs. Dalloway', 'To the Lighthouse' and 'A Room of One's Own'. This Feminist view point is shown through the novel Mrs. Dalloway Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing and defending equal opportunities for women. Strong activist for feminism was represented through her publications women had very few choices outside of marriage and motherhood; they were discouraged or prohibited from learning and working. Men might pursue their hopes and dreams, while women were constantly reminded of their proper role. Virginia Woolf herself opposed such views by living an unconventional life.
3.1.2 The impact of man on Virginia Woolf feminist thought
Virginia Woolf being a feminist was influenced by her past experience of how her father dominated her mother. She discovered that killing the stereotyped feminine, the angel of the house, as Woolf called her, was a part of the occupation of women writers. She believed women should have their own identity, believe in themselves, maintain integrity of their values and not be excluded from society all masculine values of hierarchy, dominance and power. Feminism was clearly shown through many of the characters in Mrs. Dalloway. Their certain situation shows how feminism influenced their life in society during that time example Septimus married Rezia without loving her because he couldn't stay alone at night. Rezia suffers silently and alone. Her husband rejects to have a child because he rejects to become a father. This shows that Septimus was the dominating role and Rezia could not have a say in what she wanted in life as she had to look after Septimus for majority of her life in her marriage in the end she was left with no husband or no child Thank you!
Adams was a prolific writer, patriot, abolitionist, and early feminist. In her famous correspondence to her husband, she spoke eloquently against slavery, many years before the abolitionist movement, and on behalf of women. Anthony worked tirelessly for the woman suffrage movement. She lectured on women's rights and organized a series of state and national conventions on the issue.
3.1.3 Writing style of Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf fought hard for women's rights and aimed to achieve equal opportunity for all women. Her feminist viewpoints are especially shown through her publications such as 'Mrs. Dalloway', 'To the Lighthouse' and 'A Room of One's Own'. This Feminist view point is shown through the novel 'Mrs. Dalloway'. Through each character Woolf depicts how feminism influenced them Feminism in society through movies such a league of their own. It stars Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna star in this dramatization of the true story of a group of women enlisted by the government and professional baseball to play baseball while the men were in WWII. Though the league faded away in the early 1950s, it paved the way for new attitudes towards women in sports. "I Am Woman" is a song co-written by Helen Reddy well-known it became popular in 1970, the song became an enduring anthem for the women's liberation movement.
Virginia Woolf discovered that killing the stereotyped feminine, the angel of the house, as Woolf called her, was a part of the occupation of women writers. She believed women should have their own identity, believe in themselves, maintain integrity of their values and not be excluded from society all masculine values of hierarchy, dominance and power. Feminism was clearly shown through many of the characters in Mrs. Dalloway. Virginia Woolf was chiefly interested in the inner lives of women. Unlike many of her literary predecessors, Woolf aimed to give credence to the unspoken emotions and interpretations we experience daily. She did this not only by placing more traditionally feminine themes at the forefront of her stories, but by penning sentences with a cadence that revealed the inner workings of her characters' minds. Virginia Woolf lived in a time when she was granted few rights but turned the setback into strength. She was progressive in her feminism, and even made the connection between a patriarchal society and militarism. She believed deeply in the power of the individual.
3.2 Fadwa Touqan
3.2.1 Fadwa Touqan life
She was born in Nablus in 1917. She began writing in the traditional forms; she was one of the leaders of the use of the free verse in Arabic poetry. Her works deal with feminine explorations of love and social protest. After 1967, she also began writing patriotic poems. Fadwa Touqan was one of the women who proved herself in the field of literature; this was evident in the diversity of literature that she had produced. In addition, she raised movement of criticism around her literature by orientalists and Arabs scholars. Therefore, this research is seeking to show criticism's opinions about the feminist literature within two aspects. The first aspect is represented in the opinions about feminist literature. The second aspect is how critics' look to Fadwa Toukan's literature as a model for contemporary Arab feminist literature. Touqan's life was not that easy, her brother was a poet and encouraged her to get out the bubble that they fours her to life in. Fadwa was not given the opportunity to continue her education at school, she relied on her self-study to improve herself as she mention in her autobiography
3.2.2 The impact of man on Fadwa Touqan feminist thought
Her relationship with her brother Ibrahim has made a great effect on her life, because he was able to convince his sister to write poetry. Ibrahim Touqan is one of her brothers, known as the Poet of Palestine, took responsibility of educating her, gave her books to read and taught her English. He was also the one who introduced her to poetry. Touqan eventually attended Oxford University, where she studied English and literature.
3.2.3 Writing style of Fadwa Touqan
The major transformation in Fadwa's life was her trip to London in the sixties, which remained two years, because it opened for her many humanitarian and knowledgeable horizons, and made her intact with the European accomplishments. Fadwa Touqan wrote to free women and fight to participate in public life like voting, working and choosing their husband and lover. The awareness of women rights become larger and larger, the changes grow out from the womb of poetry and the tear of poet's ink. She put the primary principles of the feminine experiences in Love and revolution, and the women protest on the society. She focused on the hardships faced by women in the male-dominated Arab world.
4. Conclusion
Feminism has gradually become more far-ranging and subtle in its attacks on male-dominated society. Many injustices still need to be corrected, but equally necessary is a more down to earth, tolerant and compassionate view of fellow human beings. Many feminists dislike theory. Sharp intellectual categories, argumentation, seeming objectivity, and the whole tradition they grow out of are just what feminists are seeking to escape. The feminist movements defended the women right around the world. All feminist movements had one aim which is the women rights. But, each feminist movement had its own characteristics. The western feminist movement s began before the Arab one. The traditions in the Arab world restricted and forced women. The Arab literary feminist movement was influenced by the western feminist movement. Virginia Woolf and Fadwa Touqan are the best models to show and reveal the characteristics of both Arabic literary feminist movement and Western literary feminist movement. But all of them defended the women rights.