Which movement do you most identify with

            The women’s movement that I most identify with is the third movement.  This movement is my favorite because it is individually based, instead of generalizing all types of women as one group.  Some aspects that are important in this movement are: the recognition that women differ from each other in many ways, embracing aesthetics and consumerism, and building alliances and having good relationships with men.

            In the past women’s movements women grouped together and fought for specific causes and ideas.  This was great in the past when every woman agreed on the subjects they were fighting for like obtaining the rite to vote.  Now that women have the same rights as men, and the genders are considered equals in the United States, the political opportunities that are left for women to fight over are less agreeable.  For an example the one woman may be pro-choice where as another woman may be pro-life, because not everyone agrees on the same political agenda it is harder to fight for it together.  It is easier to fight for something when you have a “whole” group fighting for it together.

            Another great aspect of the third wave is the way women have begun to embrace aesthetics and consumerism.  Women have represented beauty, grace, and charm since humans have been able to document it.  I think it is important for women to welcome the beauty they represent instead of trying to fight it by “burning bras”, and not shaving their legs etc. When I take care of myself then I feel beautiful, and I feel good about myself.  It doesn’t mean that I am trying to please society or anyone else for that matter.  I do my makeup and wear what I want because it makes me feel good.  Women in modern days don’t have to worry about boycotting fashion and cosmetics to make a point about feminism.  That point was already made decades ago, so now women can feel comfortable enough to embrace their beauty and sexuality without reprimands.

            The next part of the third women’s movement wave that I believe to be important is having alliances with men.  Just because you are a feminist that doesn’t mean you have to hate men.  The whole idea of feminism began because men were treating women as inferior people, banning them from their right to vote and going as far as beating their wives.  In the past women were treated unfairly and ridiculed, therefore women in the future should not treat men unfairly or ridicule them. Women have fought so strongly to have equal rights for both genders.  So, if women were to treat men badly just because they have gained the power to do so, it would completely dishonor the meaning of femininity.

            This particular movement has impacted me greatly because it is how I live my everyday life.  I have always believed that individualism is better than grouping things and people together.  It allows more leeway for different people and their different kinds of circumstances.  I live my life by being a strong independent woman who has good relationships with people from the other sex, and keeping myself beautiful while still having a brain.  The third wave defines me pretty completely, there is only one thing that I do not like about this movement.  The lack of role model or organizational group is sad because the modern woman has no one to look up to.  But since this wave is focused on being individuals that means that there can be no center woman or organization.  Every woman is to aspire to be their own role model, and live up to whatever they believe an ideal woman should be.