AWARDS ‘09: Evolution Of The Feminist
21 January 2009
Rose Holyoak will be awarded a First Class Honours Degree for her study on 'third-wave feminism'.
We hear repeatedly that feminism is irrelevant in the 21st Century because women have achieved equality, but the third-wave movement is proof that there is still much to be done
Rose Holyoak
Celebrity icons such as X-Factor judge and Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole and ‘Girl Power’ architect Geri Halliwell would not fit the profile of a third-wave feminist according to a new University of Derby study exploring this area.
Sociology student Rose Holyoak has been analysing who typifies a third generation feminist in the modern era, to follow in the footsteps of the suffragettes (first-wave:1900s) and the likes of Germaine Greer (second-wave: 1970s).
Rose says that although highly successful, Cole and Halliwell don’t champion women’s rights, so they are more typical of ‘post-feminists’ – benefiting from feminism’s achievements – rather than of the growing third-wave feminist movement in the UK pushing to improve women’s rights.
Rose, 22, from Derby, said: “My research was not actually about whether these celebrities are feminists or not, but it is important to try and identify who would constitute a third-wave feminist in the UK.
“The group that I studied, East Midlands Feminists, have been actively campaigning on issues such as pornography, violence against women and abortion rights.
“Far from being sex-obsessed, frivolous and individualistic, these young women enact feminism in their daily lives through the jobs they do, the places they volunteer, and the values and beliefs they hold.
“We hear repeatedly that feminism is irrelevant in the 21st Century because women have achieved equality, but the third-wave movement is proof that there is still much to be done.
“The feminist movement in the UK is diverse and sees women of all ages and backgrounds working collectively to achieve agreed aims.”
She cited last year’s Million Women Rise march through Central London, with 5,000 women taking part to raise awareness of and campaign against global violence against women as an example of this.
Rose’s study was part of her BA (Hons) Sociology degree at the University of Derby, for which she receives First Class Honours at its Awards Ceremonies this week.
Her academic work was considered of such a high standard that she will also be awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for Academic Excellence (the best undergraduate performance at the University), and has secured work at the University as a research assistant.
She is now exploring the nature of third-wave feminism in the UK in more detail with sociologist Dr Kristin Aune, as there is currently very little academic research in this area.
And Rose, who describes herself as a third-wave feminist, said: “Due to a lack of academic research in the area, I feel active third-wave feminists in Britain have found themselves being misrepresented as ‘apolitical’ and ‘shallow’.
“The idea that younger feminists are somehow rebelling against older feminists just doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.”
Common misconceptions identified by Rose’s degree research are:
- that feminism is dead, or no longer relevant to young women’s lives.
- that younger feminists are rebelling against older feminists who they perceive as humourless and too radical.
- that third-wave feminists are apolitical, individualistic and obsessed by popular culture.
Rose’s tutor Dr Kristin Aune, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Derby, praised the student’s work and said: “Rose’s research demonstrates that young women are not apathetic but are active in political campaigning. It also shows that there is still work to be done to improve women’s position in society.”
Sabrina Qureshi, Coordinator and Founder of Million Women Rise, said: “As long as violence and discrimination remains a reality of women's lives in the 21st Century, the myth that equality has been achieved lies exposed. Rose's research highlights the relevance and importance of collective action by women for women if we are to move beyond the rhetoric.”
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For more information about this news release, contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038 or email: s.redfern@derby.ac.uk