Womens Liberation | Germaine Greer
The Women’s Liberation Movement began to gain recognition and effect in Australia during the same year The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer was published. This publication established Germaine Greer’s position as a spokeswoman for radical feminism and women’s sexual liberation. It made Australian women question their existing lives and what they may be missing out on and how they may go about changing that, demanding liberation from their traditional roles.
Greer questioned the stereotypical view of a women’s place and the value to society of having women live in passive subservience to men. Greer stated that “The Female Eunuch was advocating delinquency among women.” |
The Female Eunuch represented the stereotypical view of women being victims of make dominated society and culturally, psychologically and socially subservient to men. Greer viewed marriage as a form of women slavery. It supposedly represented women’s acceptance of stereotypical household women.
The aim of the women’s liberation movement included:
· Culture and Education
Literature was used in order to raise consciousness of Women’s rights. Many magazines and books were written in the 60’s and 70’s detailing the attitudes towards women and the liberation of women.
· Equal Opportunity
Equal opportunity in the workplace was widely discussed during the womens liberation movement. As well as this equal pay and equal recognition to men were also very important.
· Health
In the area of health, the women's movement sought greater access to contraception, abortion and protection from violence by men. They lobbied for greater research into and treatment of women's health conditions such as breast cancer.
· Sexuality
The contraceptive pill had given women more freedom in their sexual relationships, but sex itself was now seen as a major area of men's power over women. Feminists explored alternative ideas of sexuality such as same-sex relationships or the choice not to enter into relationships at all.
The Women’s Liberation Movement was a big step forward in the form of women’s rights during the 60’s and 70’s. The Women’s Liberation Movement was important to the Political Development of Australia due to the rights and Liberation that resulted from the efforts of women all over Australia. This movement created a major wake throughout Australia.
Throughout the Movement Germaine Greer refused to get involved but she was very inspirational and one of the main reasons that it succeeded in creating a new life for women in Australia. Greer was an individual and used her democratic rights so that women may know that they are not what men create but they too are individuals.
Germaine Greer was extremely influential and inspirational to Australia, specifically the population of Women. The women’s Liberation has had a lasting impact on Australian Society and has influenced today’s views on women and their rights.