Neofeminism describes an emerging view of women as becoming empowered through the celebration of attributes perceived to be conventionally feminine, that is, it glorifies a womanly essence over claims to equality with men. It is a term that has come into use in the early 21st century to refer to a popular culture trend, what critics see as a type of "lipstick feminism" that confines women to stereotypical roles, while it erodes cultural freedoms women gained through the second-wave feminism of the 1960s and 1970s in particular.
The term has been used since the beginning of second-wave feminism to refer broadly to any recent manifestation of feminist activism, mainly to distinguish it from the first-wave feminism of the suffragettes. It was used in the title of a best-selling 1982 book by Jacques J. Zephire about French feminist Simone de Beauvoir, Le Neo-Feminisme de Simone de Beauvoir (Paris: Denoel/Gonthier 9782282202945). Zephir used the term to differentiate de Beauvoir's views from writers described as "Neofeminist", such as literary theorist Luce Irigaray, who indicated in her own writing that women had an essentialistfemininity that could express itself in écriture féminine (feminine writing/language), among other ways. Céline T. Léon has written, "one can only identify the existentialist's [de Beauvoir's] glorification of transcendence with the type of feminism that Luce Irigaray denounces in Ce sexe qui n'en est pas un: "Woman simply equal to men would be like them and therefore not women"."[page needed]
De Beauvoir's views were quite the opposite:
Over and against the neofeminists' attempts at getting rid of phallogocentrism and creating a new [feminine] writing style, she denounces as a contradiction this imprisonment of women in a ghetto of difference/singularity: "I consider it almost antifeminist to say that there is a feminine nature which expresses itself differently, that a woman speaks her body more than a man."[1]
Later writers and popular culture commentators appear to have continued this use of the term to describe essentialist feminism. It has been used by sociologists to describe a new popular culture movement that "celebrates both the feminine body and women's political achievements":
Women do and should realize their autonomy through their femininity in its "Elle magazine form" (Chollet 2004). Neofeminism champions the free choice of women in appearance, lifestyle, and sexuality. This consumerist orientation retains the advances of legal equality in political space but urges women to celebrate their femininity in their personal lives, a category that includes careers, clothing, and sexuality.[2]
Some have accused this thought current as being female chauvinism, trying to manipulate people's behaviours and attitudes towards life[3]
Other uses
The term has also been equated with the new feminism described by Pope John Paul II. The feminist film scholar Hilary Radner has used the term neofeminism to characterize the iteration of feminism advocated by Hollywood's spate of romantic comedies inaugurated by Pretty Woman (Gary Marshall, 1990) often described as postfeminist. Radner argues that the origins of neofeminism can be traced back to figures such as Helen Gurley Brown writing in the 1960s, meaning that the term postfeminism (suggesting that these ideas emerged after second-wave feminism) is potentially misleading .[4]
^Leon, Celine T. (2010). Margaret A. Simons (ed.). Feminist Interpretations of Simone de Beauvoir. Pennsylvania State University Press. pp. 150–152. ISBN9780271041759.
^Bowen, John R. (2010). Why the French Don't Like Headscarves: Islam, the State, and Public Space. Princeton University Press. p. 219. ISBN9781400837564.
^Hilary, Radner (2011). Neo-feminist Cinema: Girly Films, Chick Flicks and Consumer Culture. New York: Routledge. ISBN9780415877732.
January 19, 2023
neofeminism, confused, with, feminism, describes, emerging, view, women, becoming, empowered, through, celebration, attributes, perceived, conventionally, feminine, that, glorifies, womanly, essence, over, claims, equality, with, term, that, come, into, early,. Not to be confused with New feminism Neofeminism describes an emerging view of women as becoming empowered through the celebration of attributes perceived to be conventionally feminine that is it glorifies a womanly essence over claims to equality with men It is a term that has come into use in the early 21st century to refer to a popular culture trend what critics see as a type of lipstick feminism that confines women to stereotypical roles while it erodes cultural freedoms women gained through the second wave feminism of the 1960s and 1970s in particular Contents 1 Origins 2 Other uses 3 See also 4 ReferencesOrigins EditThe term has been used since the beginning of second wave feminism to refer broadly to any recent manifestation of feminist activism mainly to distinguish it from the first wave feminism of the suffragettes It was used in the title of a best selling 1982 book by Jacques J Zephire about French feminist Simone de Beauvoir Le Neo Feminisme de Simone de Beauvoir Paris Denoel Gonthier 9782282202945 Zephir used the term to differentiate de Beauvoir s views from writers described as Neofeminist such as literary theorist Luce Irigaray who indicated in her own writing that women had an essentialist femininity that could express itself in ecriture feminine feminine writing language among other ways Celine T Leon has written one can only identify the existentialist s de Beauvoir s glorification of transcendence with the type of feminism that Luce Irigaray denounces in Ce sexe qui n en est pas un Woman simply equal to men would be like them and therefore not women page needed De Beauvoir s views were quite the opposite Over and against the neofeminists attempts at getting rid of phallogocentrism and creating a new feminine writing style she denounces as a contradiction this imprisonment of women in a ghetto of difference singularity I consider it almost antifeminist to say that there is a feminine nature which expresses itself differently that a woman speaks her body more than a man 1 Later writers and popular culture commentators appear to have continued this use of the term to describe essentialist feminism It has been used by sociologists to describe a new popular culture movement that celebrates both the feminine body and women s political achievements Women do and should realize their autonomy through their femininity in its Elle magazine form Chollet 2004 Neofeminism champions the free choice of women in appearance lifestyle and sexuality This consumerist orientation retains the advances of legal equality in political space but urges women to celebrate their femininity in their personal lives a category that includes careers clothing and sexuality 2 Some have accused this thought current as being female chauvinism trying to manipulate people s behaviours and attitudes towards life 3 Other uses EditThe term has also been equated with the new feminism described by Pope John Paul II The feminist film scholar Hilary Radner has used the term neofeminism to characterize the iteration of feminism advocated by Hollywood s spate of romantic comedies inaugurated by Pretty Woman Gary Marshall 1990 often described as postfeminist Radner argues that the origins of neofeminism can be traced back to figures such as Helen Gurley Brown writing in the 1960s meaning that the term postfeminism suggesting that these ideas emerged after second wave feminism is potentially misleading 4 See also Edit Feminism portalAnti abortion feminism Equity feminism Gaze Objectification Sociology of the family Sociology of motherhoodReferences Edit Leon Celine T 2010 Margaret A Simons ed Feminist Interpretations of Simone de Beauvoir Pennsylvania State University Press pp 150 152 ISBN 9780271041759 Bowen John R 2010 Why the French Don t Like Headscarves Islam the State and Public Space Princeton University Press p 219 ISBN 9781400837564 Home womenagainstfeminism com Hilary Radner 2011 Neo feminist Cinema Girly Films Chick Flicks and Consumer Culture New York Routledge ISBN 9780415877732 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neofeminism amp oldid 1102903587, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
