Liberal feminism

Introduction

Liberal feminism; is an individualistic form of feminist theory, which focuses on women's ability to maintain their equality through their own actions and choices. Liberal feminists argue that society holds the false belief that women are, by nature, less intellectually and physically capable than men; thus it tends to discriminate against women in the academy, the forum, and the marketplace. Liberal feminists believe that "female subordination is rooted in a set of customary and legal constraints that blocks women's entrance to and success in the so-called public world" (Marilley,1996). According to liberal feminist, women are capable of asserting their ability to achieve equality; therefore it is possible to change without altering the structure of the society.

 For example in Elieshi Lema's Parched Earth "Foibe Seko" stands herself as a single parent to care her four children without help of her husband also Doreen refuse offer from Zima in order to marry her but she is hard worker to save her life also she dream to be in higher position like minister something which is not applicable in her society. Also in Mariama Ba's "So Long a Letter" Aissotou believes  in equality between men and women, for example she successes to make her life better because she works hard as a trader, something makes her to buy a car for her husband.

Radical feminism; is a perspective within feminism that calls for a radical reordering of society in which male supremacy is eliminated in all social and economic contexts. Radical feminists view society as fundamentally a patriarchy in which men dominate and oppress women. Radical feminists seek to abolish the patriarchy in order to "liberate everyone from an unjust society by challenging existing social norms and institutions." This includes opposing the sexual objectification of women, raising public awareness about such issues as rape and violence against women, and challenging the concept of gender roles (Barry,1995). In this branch of feminism, it believed that women can free themselves when they have done away with what they consider and inherently and dominating patriarchal system.

For example in Lema's "Parched Earth" Aunt Mai respects the way women have been controlled by patriarchy system, she believes that woman as a social orphan. Also Nawal Elsaadawi's "Woman at Point Zero" Firdaus's father often beats his wife and his daughter Firdaus.

Marxist feminist; perspective adapts the principles of Marxism to emphasize how capitalism uses the family oppresses women, and the harmful consequences of the family to women’s lives. Marxist feminists look on class and gender inequalities as dual systems of oppression, with both being very powerful and independent systems.  Marxist feminists often argue that class and gender inequalities reinforce each other and create groups that are doubly oppressed. Marxist feminist study: ‘The political economy of women’s liberation’ emphasizes the value of the unpaid labour women perform within the family. This labour, which sustains the current labour force and nurtures the next generation, comes at no cost to the owners of the means of production. Additionally, the responsibility of the male breadwinner to support his wife and children fetters his ability to withdraw his labour power in defense of his class interests. In so doing it helps reinforce the inequitable capitalist economic system. Woman’s position within the family may help explain the problem of developing working class consciousness. As with exchange relationships in general in capitalism, underlying these seemingly equal exchange relationships are power relationships. Various relationships, such as those between males and females, relationships in the family, prostitution, surrogate mother hood, may appear to express equality, but because of the underlying unequal power relations conceal great inequalities,(Marilley, 1996).

For example in Nawal's "Woman at Point Zero" Firdaus is exploited by her uncle and aunt by forcing her to marry Sheikh Mohamood an old one 60 years. Also Sharifa takes Firdaus and teach her to be high plus prostitute, but Sharifa as a owner of money that Firdaus get.

Cultural feminism; is a variety of feminism which emphasizes essential differences between men and women, based on biological differences in reproductive capacity. Cultural feminism attributes to those differences distinctive and superior virtues in women. What women share, in this perspective, provides a basis for "sisterhood," or unity, solidarity and shared identity? Thus, cultural feminism also encourages building a shared women's culture. The phrase "essential differences" refers to the belief that gender differences are part of the essence of females or males, that the differences are not chosen but are part of the nature of woman or man.  Cultural feminists differ as to whether these differences are based on biology or enculturation. Those who believe differences are not genetic or biological, but are cultural; conclude that women's "essential" qualities are so ingrained by culture that they are persistent. Cultural feminists also tend to value qualities identified with women as superior or and preferable to qualities identified with men, whether the qualities are products of nature or culture,(Eptein, 1988).

For example, in Mary's "Official Wife" Elizabeth is victim of patriarchy system which oppresses, and exploits her while she is very kind and tolerant about Ishaka's behavior of spending with other girls like Malaika.

(B) The first wave of feminism; generally refers to the nineteenth and early twentieth century in the western world. This phase revolved largely around gaining basic legal rights for women that today we cannot imagine reality without. Politics and business were completely dominated by powerful men who didn’t consider women capable enough to be a threat. Women were confined to their households and didn’t retain any control there as well. Unmarried women were seen as the property of their fathers, and married women the property of their husbands. They didn’t have the ability to file for divorce or be granted custody of their children. It was a period of feminist activity during nineteen century and early twenty century, it started particularly in Unites Kingdom then Canada then Netherland and late in United States of America. The demand was on the;

·         Equalities by women suffrage (women voting rights). They argued that if women will be given a chance to vote they will enrich political parties, means women and men are equal in all respect.

Second-wave feminism; was a period of feminist activity and thought that began in the United States in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades. It quickly spread across the Western world, with an aim to increase equality for women by gaining more than just enfranchisement. Whereas first-wave feminism focused mainly on suffrage and overturning legal obstacles to gender equality (voting rights and

Property rights), second-wave feminism broadened the debate to include a wider range of issues: sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights, de facto inequalities, and official legal inequalities. It was a movement that was focused on critiquing the patriarchal, or male-dominated, institutions, and cultural practices throughout society. Second-wave feminism also drew attention to the issues of domestic violence and marital rape, engendered rape-crisis centers and women's shelters, and brought about changes in custody laws and divorce law. Feminist-owned bookstores, credit unions, and restaurants were among the key meeting spaces and economic engines of the movement,(Gerhard,2001).

·         Second wave feminism, demands on equality and reconstruction of society in order to achieve their goals.

Third-wave feminism; is an iteration of the feminist movement that began in the United States in the early 1990s and continued until 2010s.  in the civil-rights advances of the second wave, third-wave feminists embraced individualism and diversity and sought to redefine what it meant to be a feminist According to feminist, the "confusion surrounding what constitutes third-wave feminism is in some respects its defining feature, to establish that third-wave feminism was not just a reaction, but a movement in itself, because the feminist cause had more work ahead. The term intersectionality to describe the idea that women experience "layers of oppression" caused, for example, by gender, race and class. Third-wave feminism began in the early 1990s, arising as a response to perceived failures of the second wave and also as a response to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second wave. Third-wave feminism seeks to challenge or avoid what it deems the second wave's essentialist definitions of femininity, which (according to them) over-emphasize the experiences of upper middle-class white women. Third-wave feminism also contains internal debates between difference feminists such as the psychologist, there are important differences between the sexes and those who believe that there are no inherent differences between the sexes and contend that gender roles are due to social conditioning.

·         They demand on father changed in Styrial type of women as well as the language that has been used to define women.

Conclusion

The term feminism can be used to describe a political, cultural or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women. Feminism involves political and sociological theories and philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference, as well as a movement that advocates gender equality for women and campaigns for women's rights and interests. Although the terms "feminism" and "feminist" did not gain widespread use until the 1970s, they were already being used in the public parlance much earlier.

REFERENCES

Barry, k. (1995). The Prostitution of Sexuality: The Global Exploitation of Women. New York:                              University press

Eptein, C.F.(1988). Deceptive Distinctions Sex, Gender and the Social Order. New Haven: Yale                           University. press

Gerhard, F. (2001). Desiring Revolution, Second Wave Feminism and the rewriting of American                            Sexual thought. New York: Colombia University press.

Marilley,S.m.(19960). The Feminism of Equal Rights Women Suffrage and the origins of liberal                             feminism in the United States.