My thoughts on modern day feminism | Dr Ade van Heerden | TEDxGreshamPlace

Summary

The speaker addresses the evolution of feminism and its impact on women's mental health, challenging modern myths that portray women as victims and promote sexual promiscuity as empowerment. Highlighting statistics to counter these narratives, the talk encourages young women to recognize their inherent strength, education, and leadership abilities, advocating for self-respect and hard work as the path to true empowerment.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The speaker expresses both excitement and apprehension about discussing feminism and mental health, highlighting the controversial nature of these topics.
• 📚 A brief history of feminism is provided, outlining the four waves starting from 1848, focusing on the evolution from fighting for basic rights to advocating for all minority groups.
• 🔑 The core essence of feminism is changing, with the fourth wave being more about identity politics and less about legal changes, often led by celebrities and social media rather than grassroots activism.
• 🚫 The speaker criticizes modern feminism for perpetuating myths about women being victims, which can negatively impact mental health by fostering a victim mentality.
• 📊 Statistics are cited to challenge the narrative that women are more victimized than men, emphasizing the need for a balanced view on gender-based violence.
• 🚫 The script criticizes the 'free the nipple' movement and sexual promiscuity as a means of empowerment, arguing that it leads to lower self-esteem and mental health issues.
• 💔 The rise in breast surgeries following sexual liberation movements is highlighted as evidence of women feeling pressured to conform to unrealistic beauty standards.
• 💪 The speaker emphasizes that true strength comes from honoring and respecting one's body, rather than seeking validation through sexual liberation.
• 👩‍💼 The script argues against the notion of women needing empowerment, stating that women are already powerful and capable, with statistics showing women's success in leadership and education.
• 🚀 The speaker encourages young women to recognize their inherent power, work hard, and strive for their goals without waiting for external empowerment.
• 🌟 The final message is one of positivity and resilience, urging women to stand firm in their greatness and to understand their worth and potential.

Q & A

What is the commonly accepted definition of feminism?

Feminism is commonly defined as the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of equality of the sexes.

How does the speaker describe their emotions before the talk on feminism and mental health?

The speaker describes having conflicting emotions of excitement to share ideas and a sense of vulnerability due to the controversial nature of the topics.

What are the key issues addressed in the first wave of feminism?

The first wave of feminism, starting in 1848, focused on women's basic control over their lives, the right to own property, abolishing slavery, and the right to vote.

What were the main goals of the second wave of feminism in the 1960s?

The second wave of feminism aimed to secure approval of the birth control pill, fight for anti-discrimination laws like equal pay for equal work, and legalize abortion within limits.

How does the speaker characterize the third wave of feminism?

The third wave continued to fight for reproductive rights, the gender pay gap, and sexual discrimination, but also saw the rise of a feminist 'kill all men' era, where musicians encouraged anger towards men.

What is the core message of the fourth wave of feminism according to the speaker?

The fourth wave, starting around 2012, is characterized by a broader fight for all minority groups, against racism, classism, and for the LGBTQ+ community, and is mainly led by celebrities and social media rather than grassroots activists.

What are the three myths about feminism that the speaker wants to address?

The three myths are: 1) Women are victims, 2) Sexual promiscuity is the only way to express control of one's body, and 3) Women need empowerment.

What statistics does the speaker provide to challenge the myth that women are victims?

The speaker cites statistics showing that in South Africa, the percentage of people experiencing violence or crime was 3.6% for women and 3.9% for men, and WHO data showing that men experience higher murder rates than women.

How does the speaker argue that the 'free the nipple' movement has had a negative impact on women's self-esteem?

The speaker points out that since the movement's launch, there has been a 30% increase in breast augmentation and designer nipple surgery, indicating that women are not feeling stronger or liberated but are instead altering their bodies to fit in.

What is the speaker's view on the concept of 'women empowerment'?

The speaker believes that the concept of 'women empowerment' implies a lack of power and suggests that women should recognize their inherent power and work hard to achieve their goals.

What message does the speaker want to convey to young girls about their identity and potential?

The speaker wants young girls to understand that they are not victims, they are powerful, they should honor and respect their bodies, and they have the potential to achieve greatness through hard work.