Feminism Tomorrow

Abstract

The image of woman as a stereotype is a simple minded, unexamined notion based on social prejudice. Such stereotyping is common and blatant in much of the literature of the nineteenth century (Payetter, G.C. in Deckhand 1975). Unfortunately all too often similar sentiments continue to prevail in modern society. These find expres¬sion in the attitudes which suggest that woman is inferior to, or at the disposal of man. Since the end of the 1960s interest in the history and nature of feminism has come to the fore. Feminism as an ideal is the belief that woman should have the same rights, opportunities and status as man. Though considerable evidence shows that individual women reacted strongly against several prejudice throughout history, only in the nineteenth century came the beginnings of organised opposition to male domination. The immediate aim of feminist organisations was to remove legal barriers which deprive women of their social rights, such as the ownership of property or the right to professional status.