Feminism

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?
Laura Bates started the Everyday Sexism Project after realising that the sexism she used to face daily was not only wrong, but made the public not only desensitised but uncomfortable. Due to this realisation, she created the Everyday Sexism Project for people around the world to tell their stories of sexism 

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?
Post-feminism is the idea of supporting a form of feminism that was created during the 1970's critically. It supports this form of feminism whether or not it is supportive or is antagonistic of classical feminism, it also supports the idea of feminism being revolved around far more than just females, and supports equal rights for more than just females and branches out from traditional gender roles and gender binary; the Everyday Sexism Project contains stories from more than just females and includes the stories of all kind of backgrounds and identities.

3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project
This new technology gave the Everyday Sexism Project the opportunity to develop an international community that was vital to the rise in popularity of the Everyday Sexism Project. It allowed people from all over the world to share their stories.

4) Will there be a point in the future when the Everyday Sexism project is not required? What is your view on the future of feminism?

I believe that the Everyday Sexism Project is something that will be required for quite some time; I don't believe that true gender equality will be achieved within at least 10 years due to the nature of inequality, inequality is based on ignorance, fear and or a feeling of superiority, since these qualities are not only common but very hard to get rid of, gender equality is an idealistic mentality that is far from being implemented in society.

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?
Networked feminism is believed to be the 4th wave of feminism which tackles social inequality issues found on and using modern technology. It is believed that due to the technological advancements in today's world, feminism can be left behind since they have won what they have fought for.

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 
There are four waves of feminism

• First wave: Began in late 19th to early 20th century which focused on women suffrage
• Second Wave: Began in around the 1960's that campaigned for equal pay between women and men which led to the equal pay act in the 1970's
• Third Wave: Believed to have started in the 1990's till where we are now and is also called "post-feminism"
• Fourth Wave: Fourth Wave feminism is also called "networked feminism" and tackles social inequality issues found on and using modern technology.

I do believe that we are in fourth wave feminism due to the nature to which feminism is now being spread, very rarely do you see a feminist promote their beliefe in public in comparison to feminism activity online. 

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.

The Everyday Sexism is a project set up by lauren bates that involved different people of different races and genders all over the world posting examples of sexism they have faced in the past. She had set up the project after realising how common the sexism she was facing had become in society. whilst she was told sexism was over, The project recieved over 50,000 enteries in december 2013 proving otherwise, three years later the project became the largest site for promoting feminism, mainly due to the websites user generated content giving people a voice all over the world

He for she was developed by Emma Watson and was also shown to the UN. The He For She campagin heavily focuses on the aspect of men having a more active and hands on role when it comes to the improved equality for women. She helped promote this idea using an online website where people can help support by pledging your help. It had managed to generate a large following through the usage of social media, in an attempt to help promote he for she, emma watson started a poll where she was asked questions about the he she movement.  

The FCKH8 campaign is an online viral video campaign developed in 2010 in an attempt to help end sexism, homophobia and hatred in a whole. It works by creating, sharing and developing viral videos that are mainly shown on YouTube that help promote equality; the FCKH8 campaign now also focuses on developing merchandise that promotes the ideology the campaign was based on, it does so through the production of multiple forms of apparel from shirts to badges. The campaign has taken the attention of multiple celebrities all over the world including Ellen and Zac Efron promoting the campagin very extensivley

This Girl Can is a fitness based campagin developed to help women all of the UK get on their toes a promote equality to do what they want to do. The campaign is a national lottery funded program meaning that a portion of every lottery ticket purchased in the UK helps fund the program, and to help to develop the This Girl Can program Sport england provides resources to keep the program running. To help promote the program a flagship short film was produced which was viewed by millions all over the world inspiring women to get up and moving.

4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?

I believe that fourth feminism is an important step forward in achieving feminism due to the popularity and accessibility of social media. But I believe that due to this popularity, its allowed more extreme "feminists" whos views contradict the basis feminism to have a voice in the online community which is tarnishing what feminist believe in. I do believe that we are currently in fourth wave feminism  and the Everyday Sexism Project is not an extension of third wave feminism, this is mainly because the Everyday Sexism Project uses online accessibility to promote the idea of feminism while third wave clearly does not.