Laura Darnell

Date Approved

2018

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

Social Work

First Advisor

Dr. Angie Mann-Williams

Second Advisor

Dr. Angie Mann-Williams

Third Advisor

Dr. Lynn Nybell

Abstract

Feminism is a social movement that aims to end the oppression of women and to create opportunities for advancement of women. There are several types of feminism that have their own set of values and beliefs: liberal feminism, radical feminism, cultural feminism, and womanism. Central to these types of feminism is the call for sexism to cease and for women to have equal opportunity. Embedded within modem feminism is intersectionality, which is described as the effect of multiple oppressions that affect women. Misogyny, the hatred of women, affects the way that women feel about themselves. This is done through a process called internalized misogyny. While the value of women is set by outside forces, it is especially harsh on minority women. The way that minority women feel about their bodies can be described as a type of intersectional and internalized misogyny. In response to the value that society places on women's bodies, women have formed a movement called the "Body Positivity" movement. It is intersectional as it calls for personal worth, and establishing unique beauty- which can be applied to women of all races and cultures. This is implemented through a program called the Be Body Positive model, and through social worker's work with clients. It is important that social workers continue to work on feminist theory and women's issues with the body, as it is a social justice issue concerned with the Code of Ethics.

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