Feminism is a political, philosophical and social movement that defends the equal rights in between women and men.
The "embryo" of the feminist movement emerged in Europe in the mid-nineteenth century, as a consequence of the ideals proposed by the French Revolution, which had as its motto "Equality, Freedom and Fraternity". Women wanted to be part of the turmoil of social changes that these revolutions brought, mainly to feel more citizens in a society historically governed by the patriarchy.
However, feminism only began to become popular in the Western world in the first decades of the 20th century, questioning the social, political and economic power monopolized by men. Feminism, as many mistakenly think, is not a sexist movement, that is, it defends the female figure over the male figure, but rather a struggle for equality between both genders.
Currently, it is not just women who call themselves or share feminist thoughts - just as there are many who also support the scheme of a sexist society - some men, who feel "pressured" or uncomfortable with the "rules of social behavior of machismo", share the same vision of freedom and equal rights among sexes.
One of the symbols that propelled feminism in the mid-1960s was the publication of the book "The Second Sex" by French feminist writer Simone de Beauvoir, who deconstructed the image that the "hierarchization of the sexes" would be a biological issue, but only the result of a social construction based on centuries of regimes patriarchal
From this period onwards, the so-called Radical Feminism, a branch of feminist thought that believes it is only possible to "exterminate" machismo with a deep and general revolution, eliminating patriarchal regimes. Radical feminists still believe that changes are needed in countries' legislation, creating laws to protect the female gender, for example.
Feminism and Feminism
Feminism and femism have meanings Completely different.
Feminism is a social movement that "breaks" the hierarchy of the sexes, sexism and machismo, demanding equal rights for men and women.
O femism, in turn, can be considered the synonym of machismo (at the same time that it is its opposite), since it is an ideology of superiority of women over men. Femism, like machismo, preaches the construction of a hierarchical society based on gender; based on a matriarchal regime.
Learn more about femism.
Feminism and Machism
Contrary to what machismo preaches, as a movement of repression and repudiation of equal rights between men and women, feminism does not work. as an attempt to superimpose "female power" over male power, but rather to fight for equality between women and men in all sectors of the society.
Learn more about the meaning of chauvinism and gender inequality.
Feminism in Brazil
The feminist movement in Brazil began to take shape at the beginning of the 20th century, more precisely between the 1930s and 1940s.
The Brazilian family and social structure was totally built on the figure of the man; a patriarchal regime. Feminism in the country emerged, as well as in other parts of the world, as an attempt to insert Brazilian women into society, giving voice and expression to their needs.
One of the great milestones of the feminist movement in Brazil was the conquest of the right to vote in elections, which it happened in 1932 with the decree 21,076 of the Provisional Electoral Code, during the government of President Getúlio Vargas. However, only married women (with the husband's permission), single women and widows who had their own income were allowed to vote.
In 1934 the restrictions on female suffrage ended, but voting was considered an exclusively male duty until 1946, when it became mandatory for women as well.
