Lipstick feminism

Lipstick feminism (also known as girlie feminism or girly feminism)[1][2] is a variety of feminism that seeks to embrace traditional concepts of femininity, including the sexual power of women, alongside traditional feminist ideas. The concept emerged within the third-wave as a response to ideals created by previous movements, where women felt that they could not both be feminine and a feminist.[3][4]

Unlike the early feminist campaigns that focused on the basic fundamental rights of women, starting with the Women's Suffrage Movement, lipstick feminism seeks to prove that women can still be feminists without ignoring or negating their femininity and sexuality.

Despite the stereotypes surrounding feminism and the dominant social narratives surrounding feminism during their time, women like Zora Neale Hurston and Emma Goldman argued that by using philosophical ideas of aesthetics and ideas of femininity, it is possible to empower and analyze the ways that gender works in everyday life. Lipstick feminism embraces the ideals of womanhood and the sensualities of a woman. Scholars of lipstick feminism believe that women have a right to act in accordance with passion and sexuality.[5][6] In one sense, the successes of second-wave feminism made it possible to reclaim aspects of femininity that were seen as disempowering, like make-up or stilettos.[7]

  1. ^ Gilley, Jennifer (2005). "Writings of the Third Wave: Young Feminists in Conversation". Reference & User Services Quarterly. 44 (3): 187–198. ISSN 1094-9054.
  2. ^ Foss, Karen A.; Foss, Sonja K.; Ruggerio, Alena Amato (2022). Feminism in Practice: Communication Strategies for Making Change. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-4786-4758-4.
  3. ^ Betty Luther Hillman (2013). ""The Clothes I Wear Help Me to Know My Own Power": The Politics of Gender Presentation in the Era of Women's Liberation". Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies. 34 (2): 155. doi:10.5250/fronjwomestud.34.2.0155. JSTOR 10.5250/fronjwomestud.34.2.0155. S2CID 140328991.
  4. ^ Gurrieri, Lauren; Drenten, Jenna (4 May 2021). "The feminist politics of choice: lipstick as a marketplace icon". Consumption Markets & Culture. 24 (3): 225–240. doi:10.1080/10253866.2019.1670649. ISSN 1025-3866.
  5. ^ Sweeney, Fionnghuala (2015). "'Beautiful, radiant things': Aesthetics, experience and feminist practice a response to Kathy Davis". Feminist Theory. 16: 27–30. doi:10.1177/1464700114563244. S2CID 146827952.
  6. ^ Davis, Kathy (April 2015). "Should a feminist dance tango? Some reflections on the experience and politics of passion1". Feminist Theory. 16 (1): 3–21. doi:10.1177/1464700114562525. ISSN 1464-7001. S2CID 147235777.
  7. ^ Natasha Walters, Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism (2010) p. 129

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