What you need to know about Gender Equality

Lily Coleman
Nov 16, 2017
2 min read

Terms like misogyny, sexism, feminism and MRA litter the news. Opinion pieces in particular discuss the Hollywood sexual assault allegations or even the rise of President Trump with these words, but what do they mean?

FEMINISM:

According to the Oxford Dictionary, feminism is defined as ‘the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of equality for the sexes.’

Essentially it is the political belief that women suffer from inequalities in society and therefore feminist activists work towards bridging the equality gap.

The issue of women’s rights in the UK emerged with the Suffragette Movement, which bought about great political change – giving women the right to vote. The sexual revolution in the 60s – known as the second wave of feminism – emphasised unity and a woman’s right to her body as the contraceptive pill slowly became available to women. It is believed that a third wave emerged with the 90s, focusing on inclusion with other social classes and ethnic minorities.

However, the movement is now criticised for ignoring the rights of non-white women, as well as the vulnerabilities faced by men. It is often described as a 'third-wave' or 'radical' movement in this cases.

MRA:

Men’s Rights Advocacy, otherwise known as the Men’s Rights Movement, focuses on the liberation and equality of men in modern society. They believe that as feminism takes the spotlight in modern society, issues that affect men are being ignored.

The movement began in the early 70s, focusing on a range of social issues such as family law, domestic violence, and health policies. More recently, the debate has concentrated on mental health issues in men, particularly trying to combat the high male suicide rates.

It is often considered a countermovement to feminism and is often criticised for being anti-feminist and at times, anti-woman.

Other key words:

SEXISM: the act of prejudice or discrimination based on the sex of the person, usually this term refers to women.
MISOGYNY: a dislike for or prejudice against women.
MISANDRY: a dislike for or prejudice against men.
PATRIARCHY: a system in society which is completely controlled by men, or where men have more power
MATRIARCHY: a system in society which is completely controlled by women or where women have more power
MENINISM: a satirical gender equality group that mocks feminism or “radical feminism”
FEMINAZI: a term used, often by men, to describe feminists. However, the term can also be applied to radical feminists who are described as “man hater” or an “extremist.”