Feminism has been around as long as there has been a man who thought he was greater and a woman who knew he was wrong. According to Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus states that feminism is the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men, an organized movement for the attainment of such rights for women, and feminine character. And ever since feminist have roamed the earth so have the anti feminist.
Anti feminist people are usually a man who have been raised with a stay at home mom who was aloud absolutely no opinion and was ran over and was used as a door mat. Anti feminist people are also the type of people who hate change. They don’t want to see something new.
One thing that is really getting theses Anti feminist people right now is the fact that a woman is running for presidential office for 2008. She has been the first woman candidate who has actually stood a chance among the voters. But, believe it or not, she is not the first woman to run for president. Not many people know who Victoria Woodhull is but she ran against Ohioan Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. This was a first in American history. Needless to say, Grant was re-elected for his second term. Who remember her? I didn’t even know about her until I looked up information in Hillary Clinton. That is a shame that she is not more widely known. But as Maureen Regan once said, “I will feel equality has arrived when we can elect to office women who are as incompetent as some of the men who are already there.” How true is that?
Feminism has come a long way no matter what anti feminist people have thrown our way. In 1920, the fourteenth amendment was added to the constitutions stating that women had the right to vote. In 1960, the food and drug administration finally approved birth control pills. June 10, 1963 the Equal Pay Act was passed stating that an employer could not pay a woman less to do a job than a man. In 1966 Now, or the National Organization for Women was founded. President Lyndon Johnson's affirmative action policy in 1967, states that woman and minorities must have the same opportunities as white men on the work force. In March 22 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed. In June 23 1972, the Title IX of the Education Amendments was passed which eliminated gender discrimination in school systems. This is a great thing. Where would we be if it wasn’t for some of these highly educated women? Absolutely no where, we would be back to the dark ages. In 1978 the Pregnancy Discrimination Act bans discrimination in the work place for a pregnant woman to get a job. Without this act how could a pregnant single mother take care of herself and her baby financially? Things are still happening today to further woman’s rights despite the opinion of anti feminist. The feminists of today are keeping our rights alive and well. Thank you so much. And with the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." So, if we feminist unite, mighty things can be done.