Feminism: Biggest Development in the Modernization of Europe

Please respond to each of the following posts, #1 & #2 (at least 100 words for each response). Each response should be substantive and add something to the discussion, rather than simply restating or agreeing or disagreeing with something the original writer has written.

Post #1:  – Week 13

The modernization of Europe cannot be described on by a fixed set of principles but by the transformative process driven by the changes in science, technology, culture, and social norms that took place due to the advancement of industrialism that took place at the beginning of the century. One of the biggest developments was feminism. “In general, feminism can be seen as a movement to put an end to sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression and to achieve full gender equality in law and in practice” (Council of Europe). The advancement of women’s rights was often parallel to momentous events of the century. World War one could been seen as the catalyst event that started the first wave of feminism. Women left the home to work in factories to help compensate for the substantial number of males leaving the workforce to serve in the military. The role women played in keeping their respective countries running during such a devastating time was vital to their sense of empowerment. After WW1 a more concentrated effort for women's rights began to develop. “This first wave of feminism activism included mass demonstrations, the publishing of newspapers, organized debates, and the establishment of international women’s organizations. At around the same time, women became more active in communist, socialist, and social democratic parties because increasing numbers of women began to work outside the home in factories and offices. Women were first allowed to go to university in the early 20th century, having both a career and a family. In certain countries, when fascist parties gained power the feminist movement was banned” (Council of Europe). After WW2 there was a resurgence of feminist movements with the rise of communism. The fight against communism was parallel to the struggle for feminism; both were a fight for individuality. As a result, women across Eastern Europe began to organize and demand equality without sexism.  

"First we talked, then we published some articles-nothing big, of course. In a matter of days we were attacked by the official women's organizations, Women's Conference, by politicians, university professors, famous columnists for - importing foreign ideology” (Drakulic, 128) 

In the 1960’s and 70’s feminist for more focused-on women's liberation. Different groups had different ideas about how this should be done. Liberal feminists wanted better equality laws and reform of institutions such as schools, churches, and the media. Radical feminists argued that the root cause of women’s inequality is patriarchy: men, as a group, oppress women. They also focused on violence against women by men and started to talk about violence in the family, and rape. Socialist feminists argued that it is a combination of patriarchy and capitalism that causes women’s oppression” (Council of Europe). 

Post #2: – The brutality of the first World War from a soldier's perspective

Compared to any of the previous large scale wars, World War One was two hundred percent more advanced. With the outbreak of an industrial revolution throughout across the world, supplies and technology were racing forward. Machine guns, tanks, poison gas, landmines, and many more ripped through and decimated infrantry. With all these new technologically advanced weapons, soldiers at the time most likely did not know what they were capable of. The scars and horrible images left behind from the battlefields are still ghastly to current day. Thousands of horses were also used during the war. If they weren't worked to death pulling heavy machinery, they were road into battle and managled by the war machine. Soldiers would spend entire days going horse to horse putting a bullet bewteen their eyes to stop their suffering. The fight was long and grueling without much ground made. If you weren't blown up, burned alive, or gunned down, you most likely spent your days in the trenches. Those men "lived in a veritable hell of shelling and sniping, flying body parts, rotting cadavers, and blinding gas." (Smith 103). The PTSD from the fighting was understandable.Those men went through an unseen before hell, but the worst part was not necessary the worst part. The waiting out in the wet cold winters for the war to end had to have been unbarable. With no mans land being the only thing between a soldier and certain death, it was not comfortable to be "safe" behind your own lines. The men would get gangrene and trench foot resulting of the amputations of many feet and legs. Trench guns were also inspired by the Trench Warefare of World War One. A 12 gauge blast to your fellow soldiers face or limb from close range would leave them dismembered. Many methods or horrors of World War One would be considered war crimes today. The men fighting in the war were not prepared for what was to come of them. They also were unaware of what they were capable of doing to another man and what they would be willing to do to stay alive.