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Feminism

Subtypes Anarcha-feminism Black feminism Christian Feminism Cultural feminism Cyborg feminism Ecofeminism Fat feminism Individualist feminism Islamic feminism Jewish feminism Lesbian feminism Liberal feminism Marxist feminism New feminism Postmodern feminism Psychoanalytic feminism Radical feminism Religious feminism Separatist feminism Sex-positive feminism Socialist feminism Womanism Topics Feminist movement Pro-feminism Anti-feminism Theory / film theory Feminist sexology Women's rights Feminist economics History Women's history Feminist history History of feminism Suffrage Women's suffrage Suffragette Timeline New Zealand United Kingdom United States Waves of Feminism First-wave feminism Second-wave feminism Third-wave feminism By country Indonesia Iran Latin America Nicaragua Norway United Kingdom United States Lists Feminists Literature Topics

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Amazon feminism is dedicated to the image of the female hero in fiction and in fact, as it is expressed in art and literature in the physiques and feats of female athletes, martial artists, and other powerfully built women, and in gender-related and sexual orientations. Camille Paglia's interpretation of the "Uranian Aphrodite" is a good example of Amazon Feminism.

Amazon Feminism is an example of an evolutionary branch-off of Anarcha-Feminism, Third-wave feminism, and Riot Grrrl. It is best associated as forming during the 1990s via the writings of Camille Paglia. Historical criticism may hope to uncover more examples of Amazon feminism in the pre-90s literature.

Contents 1 Female athletes 2 Major concerns of Amazon Feminism 3 Criticism of Amazon Feminism 4 Origin of the term Amazon Feminism 5 Possible inspirations 5.1 Mass media fiction 5.2 Films 5.3 History 5.4 Literature 5.5 Mythology 6 See also 7 External links

The Ms. Olympia competition, started in 1980, gave great boost to the image of the physically strong woman. The first winner, Rachel McLish, did a lot to spread the idea of a muscular but feminine woman, and acted as a female hero in two films of limited success.

Amazon feminism is concerned about physical equality and is opposed to gender role stereotypes and discrimination against women based on assumptions that women are supposed to be, look or behave as if they are passive, weak, and physically helpless.

Amazon feminism rejects the idea that certain characteristics or interests are inherently masculine (or feminine), and upholds and explores a vision of heroic womanhood. Amazon feminism supports and celebrates women who attain and express mental and physical prowess, for example female strength athletes, martial artists, soldiers/women in combat, firefighters, police officers, lumberjacks, astronauts, powerlifters, wrestlers, boxers, etc.

The confidence and physical strength displayed by these women appeals to a sizeable group of men. Demonstrating the appeal of Amazon feminism, some of these men participate in contests of physical strength and athletic skill by wrestling female bodybuilders and other female strength athletes.

Some might equate Amazon Feminism with feminazism, misandry, Ayn Rand [1], and a severe hatred of masculinism, patriarchy, and the stereotype femme. It could also be associated with extremes view such as the SCUM Manifesto, which advocated a violent anarchic revolution to create an all-female society. Also, some criticize it as being anti-feminist, due to its connection to Camille Paglia and anti-men due to its connection with Valerie Solanas.

As noted in the writings of Camille Paglia,^{[citation needed]} Amazon Feminism is not opposed to masculinism. Amazon Feminism is seeking true gender equality through strong "physical" examples of woman, not the promotion of misandrous rhetoric.

The origin of the term "Amazon Feminism" can be traced to several sources, depending on the textual and contextual interpretations. The most notable are those by Thomas Gramstad:

• Amazon Connection
• The Female Hero

The Female Hero can also be found in the essay anthology Feminist Interpretations of Ayn Rand, which is edited by Mimi Reisel Gladstein and Chris Matthew Sciabarra (Pennsylvania State University Press, 1999).

• Xena
• Wonder Woman
• Chyna
• She-Hulk

• Aces: Iron Eagle III
• Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
• G.I. Jane
• King Arthur (2004)

• in war

• bell hooks
• Alice Walker
• Kate Chopin
• Virginia Woolf

• Athena
• Artemis
• Atalanta
• Hippolyta

• Session wrestler
• Amazons
• Heroine
• Superheroine
• List of superhero teams and groups
• Tomboy
• Goddess
• Goddess movement
• Kali
• Matriarchy
• Female roles in the military
• Monika Treut

• On The Trail of the Women Warriors - Lyn Webster Wilde is the author of the book with the same title.
• Lothene Experimental Archaeology - Women as warriors in history.
• Real Knockouts: The Physical Feminism of Women's Self-Defense - An interview with the author of the book with the same title.
• The Amazon Connection - A guide to online resources about Amazons, aiming to cover the entire spectrum of meaning that has been attributed to the term Amazon.
• Amazons International - A newsletter dedicated to the image of the Amazon or female hero in fiction and in fact, in art and literature, in the physiques and feats of female athletes, and in gender-related and sexual orientations.