A Plea For The New Millennium

            Benhabib’s initial plea for the nineties was to emphasize the ongoing paradigm within feminist theory and politics. Her main area of focus was on the contemporary manner in which “feminist theory [was] about to unfold in the coming years,” (Benhabib 1). However, years later and well into the 2000s we find ourselves still experiencing the same and even different sorts of paradigm wars with regards to contemporary feminist theory. Women as “social and political agents” are still seen as lesser individuals in the public sphere than their male counterparts, likewise there is a link to the American State and how identity and difference play a role in our society and politics, (Benhabib 2). The identity of the woman is still continuing to be defined by our gender and societal norms.

            On one hand, she presents the existence of standard feminist vs. postmodernist feminism. Postmodern feminist did not come into existence until the middle of the 1980s, when many writers, despite not being particularly keen to feminist theory in general, appealed to the likes of feminist theorists. In particular, American feminists took strong to the “French postmodernist thought” and how it “coincided with a set of intense political and cultural struggles within the American women’s movement,” (Benhabib 4). Societally speaking, feminism and postmodernism were not two things that would have always gone hand-in-hand. But due to the changes experienced prior to the 1990s, some “fundamental changes in the theoretical landscape of North American feminism,” (Benhabib 5). Womankind was on the cusp of a new wave of empowerment.

            Moreover, because “postmodernist and/or poststructuralist feminist theory challenges precisely this dichotomy between sex and gender” as a society, and as those who are educated on feminist theory we have to find new ways to keep applying these past theories and discoveries and trends, (Benhabib 7). Take for instance LaVerne Cox and her method of radicalizing the acting world, becoming the first transgendered woman to be nominated, let alone win an award in a category which favors actors over actresses. She is an advocate for LGBT rights as well as an actress, but she is also someone who has been pioneering feminist theory since her mainstream breakthrough in 2013 with the television series Orange Is The New Black. She has been able to use her platform as an actress and as an advocate to challenge feminist ideals like never before, including be the first transgendered woman to be featured on the cover of a major publication, in her case Time Magazine. It’s as if feminism and perhaps feminist theory have experienced another wave of rebirth.

Moving forward, a new form of feminism and feminist theory is emerging, and has since the start of the 2000s. The development of new theories with regards to postmodern feminist is not cyclical, but rather it continues to grow and build with the ideas of the past. Society, and in particular American society and its norms still relies heavily on our sense of patriarchy, because to an extent it is instilled in all American citizens from birth. Our gender roles and norms, our identities when we face society, all of these elements are still relevant, and well, alive when we think about postmodernist feminist theory. The politics and theories of feminism and feminist theory still do not have the ability to function without the approval of a male populous, but there are still pioneers for advocacy and change that are making this effort on behalf of women everywhere. Another individual who challenges the notion of tradition, patriarchy and identity is Emma Watson, as a United Nations Ambassador and the HeForShe Campaign that began in 2014. In her speech, Watson spoke of a new breed of feminism, perhaps more contemporary than any other postmodern work. She stated that feminism was not about hating men, but rather about wanting equality from all positions. Simple enough, correct? Not quite. In her speech, Watson emphasized the importance of not just practicing feminist theory within society and teaching girls about it, but rather that we should also teach men about it as well. Watson’s aim with her speech was to present another facet of the always expanding sphere that is feminism, feminist theory and its politics.

            In conclusion, perhaps what postmodernist feminism with regards to the new millennium should teach us is that as a general populous we continue to evolve. This includes men and women and the application of postmodernist feminist theories and politics in the real world, and in particular within American society. The paradigms that presented themselves in the mid-1980s and into the 1990s are still issues we continue to struggle and face as women, as well as men. Identity and difference are still entities we search for in our every day lives and roles. The way that postfeminist theory weaves itself into our lives is that it continues to reinforce the fact that the times and society are changing, and therefore still evolving; though we may not have the ability to completely do away with the overwhelming sense of patriarchic reign in the United States, new ambassadors for contemporary feminism politics and theories are paving the way for change to occur in the [near] future.

 -Valeria Vargas Caro

Works Cited

Benhabib, Seyla. “From Identity Politics to Social Feminism: A Plea for the Nineties.”

Web. http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/EPS/PES-Yearbook/94_docs/BENHABIB.htm. 1-13.