Modern Impact
Today, the overarching feminist movement continues. Political strategies used in the past continue to be utilized today. Political and social activists organize via social media and in the public sphere. Women's marches of the 21st century echo suffrage parades of 1910's. Feminist movement strategies have morphed to fit the current era but owe their current utilization to past feminist efforts.
Below, a short investigation into current feminist strategies and methodologies is displayed. Feel free to interact with any of the pictures below for further information.
On February 14, 2018 a deadly shooting occured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen students and staff members were killed. Many of the survivors of the shooting became strong activists for gun control. Emma Gonzales, a survivor of the shooting, gave a powerful speech at the 2018 March for Our Lives rally. In her speech, she shared very personal details such as the full names and personality characteristics of many of the victims. This is reminescent of the CR strategy to use personal details and put a face and a name to an issue. Her tone was emotional and vulnerable yet strong and determined. Gonzales, like many activists before her and many current acrivists, was able to use her experiences and emotions to affect change in others. [Compare this to audio from the 1969 Redstockings Abortion Speakout]
Consciousness-raising is still actively used but has also expanded to a variety of topics. NOW is still an active organization and currently focuses on reproductive rights and justice, economic justice, ending violence against women, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, and constitutional equality. The Redstockings speakout was a momentuous moment that inspired current dialogue on reproductive rights. Current organizations such as Shout Your Abortion #SYA use a similar structure of having women tell their stories.
Women's Marches are held globally to increase awareness of social issues involving women and for the advocacy of women's rights.
Marches continue to be an important activist strategy in modern-day protests. The 2019 Women's March had anywhere from 665,324 to 735,978 participants either in Washington, D.C. or in over 300 other locations across the country.
A similar Women's March was held in Austin, TX in 2017 and subsequent years. Local news outlets reported that up to 50,000 individuals participated in this event. In London, media outlets also reported that "thousands" of individuals participated in the Women's March in 2017.
Parallels exist between the actions of the WSPU and modern feminist movements of Britian today. Some of the similar tactics involve an, "Enough is enough," mentality.
In 1913, suffragette Emily Davidson stepped in front of the King's horse at Epsom Derby in protest. Her funeral led to a large procession of suffragettes, parading through the streets of London, which attracted global attention. These tactics of large marches echo today's modern feminist movement, as women take to the streets and garner worldwide attention in the era of Donald Trump and #MeToo.
Since Donald Trump's election, record numbers of women have been running for office in the UK. Women connect the legacy to vote with other women's issues, such as violence against women and the pay gap, and continue to fight for their rights, as the suffrage movement did 100 years before them.
Suffrage set the foundation for the progessive increase of gender equality and increased social spending. When women gained suffrage, more money was spent on hospitals, education, and charities. Thus, education increased in quality after women gained the vote. Additionally, the study, "Women's Suffrage, Political Responsiveness, and Child Survival in American History," suggests that suffrage corresponded with a 8-15% decrease in child mortality in America. These influences of suffrage live on in modern social programs, education system, and health care system. Accordingly, suffrage produced long term, positive impact on society, as women voted in favor of spending towards the social sphere.