Fourth Wave Feminism

[Uma]

This is meant to be a sort of reference thread or info thread:

Fourth Wave Feminism has been described as the new "spiritual" feminism, women in first world countries seeking to help opressed women and girls in third world countries, helping causes like world peace... I've just begun researching this and would like more information, links...whatever you can share put it here.

Just for some background:

Originally Posted by Dr. Harriet Kimble Wrye, "The Fourth Wave of Feminism: Psychoanalytic perspectives introductory remarks

This introductory paper traces a century of 4 waves of feminism from a psychoanalytic perspective. The first phase focused on political change as the suffragette movement was undertaken at the turn of the 20th century by feminist activists who lobbied successfully for women’s right to vote; the second phase, a broad sociopolitical-cultural movement located in the 1960s and 1970s, focused on consciousness-raising around gender issues, women’s liberation (Betty Friedan, Kate Millet, Simone de Beauvoir, Bela Abzug, Gloria Steinem), and job and economic parity. With sexual freedom and job opportunities more established for women, the third phase evolved in the 1980s and 1990s, emphasizing women exploring gender pluralities; ‘‘having it all’’; and juggling career, sex, and motherhood. The fourth wave moved into the 21st century as women turned toward spiritual concerns about the planet and all its beings, putting themselves in the service of the world, ecology, and the downtrodden.

And some links I found (I'll just keep adding to it here rather than post elsewhere):
http://www.evolvewomen.com/resources...ns-liberation/
http://www.gatherthewomen.org/
http://pluralism.org/news/view/13981

My favorite feminist journals:
http://msmagazine.com
http://www.herizons.ca/home
http://www.utne.com/2005-03-01/feminisms-fourth-wave.aspx

The first 3 waves are all focused towards self, improving one's standing, effectiveness and freedom.
What benefit for themselves is there for the woman of the 4th wave?

[Uma]

Originally Posted by pre-dawn

The first 3 waves are all focused towards self, improving one's standing, effectiveness and freedom.
What benefit for themselves is there for the woman of the 4th wave?

pre-dawn, are you asking what is the benefit for the person who is being selfless and trying to help others?

Feminism is a divisive ideology and you can rescue those in troubles and torments in some different name.

Some feminists are activists. Activism is more for popularity.

I doubt this ideology has worked or will work

[Uma]

Originally Posted by supernova

Feminism is a divisive ideology and you can rescue those in troubles and torments in some different name.

Some feminists are activists. Activism is more for popularity.

I doubt this ideology has worked or will work

Hi supernova,

I'm interested in exploring fourth wave feminism, a new and emerging branch of feminism that draws from the divine feminine in all of us (see Feminism - a definition).

I feel that like any religion, the word feminism conjures up the idea of a "divisive ideology" but like any noble religion, at its heart, its essence, is a core of truth that's worth preserving. Feminism was born out of suffering - oppression and pain and a longing for freedom. This is a spiritual longing in its essence and eventually it will (and is) returning to its core truth.

However I respect your point of view.

[sound]

Originally Posted by supernova

Activism is more for popularity.

Hi supernova
Can I ask how do you draw this conclusion? It has not been my experience/observation in the field I work in ...

Originally Posted by Uma

pre-dawn, are you asking what is the benefit for the person who is being selfless and trying to help others?

Yes, and how is it different to the self-sacrificial attitude which so many woman seem to be prone to?
What has happened during the other 3 stages, or what strategies are now used which will prevent this from happening?

Feminism to me was political, not religious. But an outgrowth of it was the Womens Spirituality Movement which brought light to the Goddess for really the first time. For many of us that word "Goddess" was one we never heard before and we claimed it. Thats when it became spiritual.

Originally Posted by Uma

Hi supernova,

I'm interested in exploring fourth wave feminism, a new and emerging branch of feminism that draws from the divine feminine in all of us (see Feminism - a definition).

I feel that like any religion, the word feminism conjures up the idea of a "divisive ideology" but like any noble religion, at its heart, its essence, is a core of truth that's worth preserving. Feminism was born out of suffering - oppression and pain and a longing for freedom. This is a spiritual longing in its essence and eventually it will (and is) returning to its core truth.

However I respect your point of view.

Feminism is rebellion and of course it is against oppression. Against man's chauvanism. It is against men, the opprssors. It is the roar of the women who are waging a series of wars against males' domination.

But we are spiritually inclined and most of males are here I suppose are subjugatigng women.

We males here open our hearts to you; we listen to you; we share with you and grow with you. We are in sync and do not beleive in retaliation?

Why you want a force, a unity that drives you against oppression? When there is understanding and goodwill.

[Silver]

Originally Posted by supernova

Feminism is rebellion and of course it is against oppression. Against man's chauvanism. It is against men, the opprssors. It is the roar of the women who are waging a series of wars against males' domination.

But we are spiritually inclined and most of males are here I suppose are subjugatigng women.

We males here open our hearts to you; we listen to you; we share with you and grow with you. We are in sync and do not beleive in retaliation?

Why you want a force, a unity that drives you against oppression? When there is understanding and goodwill.

But women are still being raped en masse especially in certain places, like Africa, by not just native men, but troups from other lands, destroying young women's and girls' lives, tearing them apart like so much meat. Women are having their clitorises cut off, deranging them and damaging them to the nth degree. Lucky for some, there are surgeons and doctors from here and elsewhere who volunteer to come and give them surgical and medical care, but their lives are inexorably changed, they cannot live amongst their own kind, they are kicked out of their own villages, to survive on their own, OR NOT.

Having the vote in this country is a wonderful luxury that I deeply appreciate. But it is a worldwide thing. women exist in other countries too? They do not have it so good. The good will has not reached them yet? Those females are not worried so much about the glass ceiling as here? My heart breaks every second of every day over what my sisters are going through over there. The children in foreign countries who are made into sex slaves / prostitutes. Does that do anything for your understanding? These are the thoughts that keep me awake at night, obviously I couldn't live if I forced myself to think on these things nightly, but they do go on whether I think on them nightly, or not.

All those women everywhere who suffer from domestic violence. I've seen the newspapers, I've typed the court reports, I've seen some of the pictures. I've read the true stories in books. We've barely made a dent. I won't ask why. You do that.

We have taken only tiny baby steps to improve things for women and it is spotty, at best. My heart breaks daily.