Week Thirteen: Feminism

Feminism in the West

Feminism had begun in the West in the nineteenth century, but it globalized within the twentieth century. These women had one goal and used different techniques to achieve it. Some included writing books that focused on having control over one's body and equality on employment and education. Others, like the French, took direct actions and even went against the law saying they all had abortions even though it was illegal. It brings me hope and joy to hear examples like this because many people think women are weak and can not fend for themselves. One manifesto from 1969 stated: "We are exploited as sex objects, breeders, domestic servants, and cheap labor. We are considered inferior beings, whose only purpose is to enhance men's lives" (1151). Depending on how some women viewed their oppression, some preferred direct action while others preferred political lobbying. However, it was harder for African American women to fight among Caucasian women. African American women wanted "solidarity with black men, rather than separation from them [because it] was essential in confronting a racist America" (1152). 

Feminism in the Global South

There was a major difference between the women in countries such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the women in the U.S. and Europe. The issues these countries faced were not solely gender based; in fact, men asked for the women's help. However, it is still frustrating that even when the groups succeeded, women who were apart of the movement were relegated to marginal positions. But fortunately, Eastern and Northern Africa saw significant results. Women in Eastern African made large amounts of self-help groups where they supported the community with schools, births, dispensaries, etc. Then "some became revolving loan societies or bought land or businesses", so women could buy their own land (1152). In Northern Africa, Morocco's feminist movement went against the country's Family Law Code that define women as minors. Eventually, the code was changed and women were equals and were allowed to initiate divorce and claim child custody. 

International Feminism

 When the United Nations declared 1975 as International Women's Year and the next ten years as the Decade for Women, multiple nations had "ratified a UN Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women" (1153). The hope of spreading women's legal equality was becoming a success. However, there were divisions. There were issues on who would be the spokesmen and the North and South had conflicts. The North primarily focused on political and civil rights while the South wanted to include issues of economic justice, decolonization, and disarmament as well.  Also, some groups were against women's equal rights. Muslim delegates thought the exposure of women went against their religion and even an American called feminism a "disease" (1155). Though feminism was still growing, it was very diverse within each country. 

I thought this section of interesting because it displays how different "feminism" can mean to different people. Each person fighting for feminism has their own version of creating equal opportunity. As long they are all fighting for the same cause, a change can happened like it has today. Women have a lot more rights than they used to; however, it is still trying to be fought against. It is very infuriating. Men and women should be equal, it's that simple. 

Week Twelve: Nuclear Weapons

"The most haunting battle of the cold war era was one that never happened." -Robert W. Strayer

While reading chapter 21, the quote (above) caught my attention right away. The author was describing the Cuban missile crisis. During the Cuban missile crisis, Nikita Khrushchev sent nuclear-tipped Soviet misses to Cuba thinking the U.S. would steer away action against Castro. Which, personally, makes no sense to me at all. It is true that nuclear missiles are immensely terrifying, but that would just make the opposing country more defensive rather than scared. Especially with the U.S., a major superpower, would not just leave something that significant alone. American forces blocked the island and prepared for an attack. Fortunately, John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev came to a compromise. The Soviets removed their missiles and a promise was made that America would not invade Cuba. 

From then on, an arms race in nuclear weapons started. "Over the next forty years, the world moved from a mere handful of nuclear weapons to a global arsenal of close to 66,000 warheads." Luckily, both superpowers avoided conflict with one another, fearing a war would lead to a nuclear level. Yet this brought so much tension between the superpowers. The cold war was just a colossal buildup of tension. Sometimes it makes me wonder why the U.S. puts itself into war. Obviously, if both countries know it will lead to a bad result, they should just try to avoid each other. However, I do realize that they still indirectly competed with one another. Either way, it does show that if two countries know there will be a bad result, they should try to avoid provoking one another.

Week Eleven: Propaganda

"I was told I was fighting a war that would end all wars..."-Alfred Anderson

One thing that always intrigued me about the World Wars was the way militaries were able to persuade individuals to go to war just by the use of propaganda. The Great Powers knew how to convince millions of people that their "national identities were profoundly and personally meaningful".  Men even rushed to recruiting offices to enlist before the war could end. It makes me wonder whether I would be persuaded to do such things if I saw the type of propaganda these men saw. Do I love my country to such an extreme? I do not know the answer because as anyone can see, these men ultimately suffered for it in the end. What is fascinating is how posters were such a major impact on why individuals joined the military. 
 WW1
The British Parliament Recruiting Committee used this poster to illustrate a man's responsibility to go to war. Instead of honoring a man, they used shame as a blackmail to make people go to war. 

While most of the posters targeted men, some propaganda posters were targeting women. While many men would view this posters as their responsibility to protect their women, it was also seen as the women's responsibility to have their husbands enlist.

Below are other posters used to get the British and U.S. citizens to join:

This illustration in particular showed the selfishness of the Germans. Here, Belgium civilians are being used as a shield for Germany. Germany believed that Belgium troops would not shoot at their own townsfolk. 















WW2
During this time, posters advertising women workers were starting to appear more:

There are many more propaganda posters that were advertised. They each had different themes such as honoring military work or dehumanizing the enemy. It always peaked my interest when analyzing the meaning behind each one. Now, in modern time, advertisements are now displayed on televisions.

’ The emotional blackmail of using children to shame their elders into fighting was, in fact, employed by most of the belligerents. Women were also assigned the responsibility for ordering men into war. - See more at: https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/patriotism-and-nationalism#sthash.lHEHyH6U.dpuf

One tactic at a state’s disposal was the use of iconic figures to strengthen a particular point about national identity in order to promote patriotism. These might be real people presented in a mythologised form as national heroes, - See more at: https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/patriotism-and-nationalism#sthash.lHEHyH6U.dpuf

One tactic at a state’s disposal was the use of iconic figures to strengthen a particular point about national identity in order to promote patriotism. These might be real people presented in a mythologised form as national heroes, - See more at: https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/patriotism-and-nationalism#sthash.lHEHyH6U.dpuf

One tactic at a state’s disposal was the use of iconic figures to strengthen a particular point about national identity in order to promote patriotism. These might be real people presented in a mythologised form as national heroes, - See more at: https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/patriotism-and-nationalism#sthash.lHEHyH6U.dpuf

One tactic at a state’s disposal was the use of iconic figures to strengthen a particular point about national identity in order to promote patriotism. These might be real people presented in a mythologised form as national heroes, - See more at: https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/patriotism-and-nationalism#sthash.lHEHyH6U.dpuf

One tactic at a state’s disposal was the use of iconic figures to strengthen a particular point about national identity in order to promote patriotism. These might be real people presented in a mythologised form as national heroes, - See more at: https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/patriotism-and-nationalism#sthash.lHEHyH6U.dpuf

Week Ten: Qiu Jin

Qiu Jin

As I was reading chapter nineteen, the section on China caught my attention. Under the section, "The Failure of Conservative Modernization", the issue of gender roles was briefly discussed. However, it did mention an important icon, Qiu Jin. Qiu Jin was a Chinese revolutionary, feminist, and writer. She was nicknamed "Jianju Nüxia" which translated to "Woman Knight of Mirror Lake". She is considered a heroine in China's anti-feudalistic cause.

Qiu Jin was born on November 8, 1875 in Shaoxing, China. She was born to a family of the gentry. Having to listen to her father, she married at 21 but was extremely unhappy. "When I think of him my hair bristles with anger, it's absolutely unbearable." Eventually, she left her husband and two children to study in Japan. She soon became acquainted with many revolutionists and joined relevant societies. She did return to China. There she often dressed in male clothing. "My aim is to dress like a man,. In china, men are strong and women are oppressed because they are supposed to be weak." Soon she advocated women's liberation, including topics such as freedom in marriage, in a woman's magazine. She also discusses the practice of binding women's feet. Qiu Jin longed to serve her country and was determined to overthrow the corrupt Qing government. She joined the Triads and other anti-Qing societies. Eventually, she was arrested and tortured because she refused to talk. She was beheaded on July 15, 1907. Qiu Jin became a national hero and a symbol for women's independence in China.

Sources: 
Engel, KeriLynn. "Qiu Jin, Chinese Feminist & Revolutionary Martyr." Amazing Women In History. Amazing Women In History, 24 Oct. 2012. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.

"Qiu Jin: A Heroine in China's Anti-feudalist Cause." China.org.cn. China.org.cn, 18 Sept. 2011. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.