Week 4 - Ferree & Tripp, 1-77

Emily Vrotsos

Jackie Mallan-King

WST 4415

5 February 2010

I really enjoyed this week’s reading because it discussed the feminist movement as something that is continuously evolving. It is a constant pendulum made up of causes and effects. In her “Globalization and Feminism” chapter, Ferree says “the global women’s movement evolved in this environment” (Ferree 39).

I found it refreshing to learn about how the change during the 20^th century drew to a close can be marked by so many views within the feminist movement all around the world. The popular slogan about how the women’s rights were essentially human rights came as a bit of a cultural shock in some areas, even the United States. In 1993, I was only three years old, and I cannot imagine growing up in a time where my rights as a woman were not considered the equivalent of human rights. While we are not entirely equal to men in regards to wages and other aspects under United States law, most people tend to treat women as the equal of men in everyday life, and I cannot imagine existing in a time where that was rarely the case.

This reading was definitely intriguing because it assessed the end of the 20^th century under many different circumstances: the redirection and broadening of economic change, human rights, etc. It is also summed up in the conclusion of the “Unlikely Godmother” chapter that “despite differences among areas, countries, and regions, a global women’s movement does exist” (Ferree 49). This is hugely heartening because it suggests that though there are countless differences and variances among races, religions, biological sex, and psychological gender, there is still the common ground of our humanity. Listed in this same conclusion, it is mentioned that the global feminist movement is strongest in the southern hemisphere.

It is important to look at these changes that are being attempted as a revolution, as well as a movement. A revolution insists that it is a complete demolition of the previous system and replacing that inferior system with a more efficient, more fair arrangement and order. While it is ideal, it may not be possible for many generations, if changes are made within all of our communities, actions on the micro and meso levels will gradually affect and change the macro and global levels.

We have already begun to see this effect take place, in light of the example of giving women access and exercise to their right to vote. That was simply a transnational movement, as “The Evolution of Transnational Feminisms” states (Ferree 56). It was mainly a movement taking place in Europe and North America, but was closely followed by similar and nearly identical movements in other countries all over the world (Ferree 57). It often begins that way for many other changes of the system via the feminist movement; they often begin in one section of the world, and are closely followed by movements and revolutions all over the world, whether or not the former movements were successful.

1) Do you believe that it is possible to separate the global and macro levels from the micro and meso levels? Why or why not?