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It exists since the times of the French Revolution 1789, forming of womyn clubs and participation of womyn in political struggle. At the end of the 19th andbegining of the 20th century, with the development of new socio-economic formations and the Working class, with womyn of course, the movement develops new basis.During the First and the Second World War many womyn were working in the factories and fields replaceing the man who were in the war. When the wars have finished it was expected that the womyn would leave the work places and cede them to the man that returned from the war. But the great need for the womyn labour force commenced in the field of light industry. Since then, the economic indenpendance of the womyn begins and gradual take over of the work places that were reserved strictly for men.
Womyn got the right to vote at the begining of the 20th century also. The first country to do that was New Zealand in 1893. But the majority of the western states didn't do a thing until the end of the World War One.Political rights were equaly important for womyn as all the others were; they demanded too represent the others, not just to be represented.
It's often stated that the only real revolution was the sexual revolution. By that term it's considerd the fact that the womyn is now more in the line with the man then ever. Not just that she's alowed, but she's encouraged to learn what her rights are, and especialy the needs that serve her own satisfaction.
Still there are those who claim that the equality of the two genders left great consequences on the society, family and privileges of men. But majority are those, especialy young ones, who think that the equality makes life more easy, interesting and more just.
Womyn are still organizing protests, awakening the conscience of those who do not understand the real values of womyn. The struggle against the discrimination will last 'till the last man realizes that the womyn have same potentials as men. The prejudice about better abilities and inteligence of men are not justified and they must disapear as soon as possible. Isn't the fact that womyn are burdend with jobs (at home and workplace) that she acomplishes successfully an evident proof that she can do much more then she is alowed?! The economic discrimination which is expressed by smaller wages for the same work, lesser possibilities for the promotions etc. is also completly unjustified. Also absurd is the phenomenon of distinguishing the man and womyn roles where ther is no basis for that.
Because of these and like types of discrimination, the womyn conscience, for the overcome of these differences and the complete equality with man on all the levels, has been awaken. The need for the constant proving, which is present years into the history, becomes excessive. The men realize that it is absurde to continue fighting for the privileges for which they have no vindication and bow their heads even more in front of the woman who overcomes them in many aspects
Social movements are an important social strenght and initiators of diferent changes in modern socirties. Feminist movement is one of them. The ideas of feminism directed to the destruction of a part of the social order that men created are mostly achieved. Woman i right beside the man on the social scale. Unfortunatly in the certain aspects of social life, politics for example, womyn still have a lot of work to do.But the collective conscience is expanding, and soon every difference will be succsessfully overcomed, thanks not just to the struggle of womyn, but to rational thinking and understandig of men too.
Ivona Skokandiæ