Martial arts and feminism are closely aligned, as both promote gender equality and empowerment. The resilience, dedication, and determination of women martial artists is reflected in their overcoming societal stereotypes, breaking into male-dominated fields, and excelling themselves culturally, intellectually, economically, physically, and in many other aspects. Martial arts have provided females with several benefits in terms of health, confidence, and overall well-being. Let us begin with an overview of feminism and then dive deeper into how it relates to martial arts.
An overview of feminism
Feminism may be understood as a broad spectrum of ideologies and socio-political movements, whose aim is to define and establish the economic, political, social, and personal equality and empowerment of the sexes. The view held by feminism is that women are not treated equally in modern societies, as these societies are patriarchal, meaning that the male viewpoints are prioritized in these societies. Accordingly, efforts are made in improving the roles and privileges of women in education, employment, healthcare, politics, sports, personal relationships, and other outcomes for women in the society. These efforts have resulted in feminist movements and the supporters of such movements are known as feminists.
ABC News In-depth video “What Is Feminism? | BTN High”:
LondonCityGirl video “What is Feminism? || Feminism explained simply”:
Seventeen video “What It Means To Be A Feminist”:
BBC Ideas video “What is feminism? | A-Z of ISMSs Episode 6 – BBC Ideas”:
In 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft, a British writer and philosopher, wrote a book titled, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, wherein she argued that due to a lack of education, women were discriminated on the basis of private property and class, and women needed equal rights as men. Due to this book, largely, she is considered as the founder of feminism, or as one of the founders.
Encyclopaedia Britannica video “Did You Know: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman | Encyclopaedia Britannica”:
Nonetheless, there have been writers before her who have advocated equal rights for women. For example, Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher in his work, “The Republic” states that women should receive equal education, work alongside men, and also share equally in the different aspects of a state. Works of such early writers are known as “protofeminism”, which anticipated modern feminism as known today.
@historyextra video “Was Plato a feminist?”:
The modern western feminist movement is characterized by multiple movements, known as “waves”. The first wave began in the 19th and the early-20th centuries, with the promotion of women’s right to vote in what is termed as the “women’s suffrage movements”. The second wave began in the 1960s, with the campaign of social and legal equality for women, and it was termed as the “women’s liberation movement”. Sometime around 1992, a third wave began which focused on diversity and individuality. With the advent of the internet, a fourth wave began around 2012, wherein the social media was used to fight against misogyny, a rape culture, violence against women, and sexual harassment, which gave rise to several movements including the #MeToo movement.
Helen Explains video “Four Waves of Feminism: what are they? From the Suffragettes to #MeToo”:
The Newsmakers video “The history of western feminism explained”:
All these waves have divided feminism into broadly three main divisions, as liberal, radical, and socialist/Marxist feminism. However, the late 20th century has also seen the emergence of newer forms of feminism like psychoanalytical feminism, postmodern feminism and more.
United 4 Social Change video “Liberal Feminism: Freedom From Within the System – Feminism Series | Academy 4 Social Change”:
@tutor2u-official video “Radical Feminism | 60 Second Sociology (Sociological Theory and Debates)”:
PHILO-notes video “What is Socialist Feminism?”:
Feminism advocated gender equality, and the term “gender” usually meant men and women. Therefore, initially feminism meant that men and women should have equal rights in all respects.
WorldFish video “Gender Equality: Now”:
Nowadays, in feminism, the term “gender” also includes the LGBTQIAi+ community.
Big Think video “Berkeley professor explains gender theory | Judith Butler”:
Jubilee video “Does Feminism Include Trans Women? Female Feminists vs Antifeminists | Middle Ground”:
Modern feminism initially started with the first wave during the women’s suffrage movements which demanded the right for women to vote. However, modern feminism seems to have been broken since it appears that nowadays women do not want to vote.
Sky News Australia video “‘Go be equal’: Anti-feminist clashes with journalist over women’s rights”:
These different waves of feminism might have resulted in making men having less education, not being able to get jobs, and rather than being equal, generally becoming unequal to women.
Big Think video “The disappearance of men | Christine Emba”:
Big Think video “Male inequality, explained by an expert | Richard Reeves”:
CBS Sunday Morning video “The effect of gender disparities on men”:
These social conditions affecting men have prompted many to state that feminism fought against misogyny (hatred of women, or woman-hating), but nowadays feminism has become synonymous with misandry (hatred of men, or man-hating). Many have suggested that the term feminism needs to be changed, or the feminist movement itself may need to end, or feminism may need to be replaced with another movement that might be termed as “equalism”, or the language needs to be changed since language has some power to make a change happen.
TDC video “Emma Watson’s Speech on Feminism”:
The Institute of Art and Ideas video “The future of feminism | Ella Whelan”:
TEDx Talks video “Stop fighting for feminism | Minh Thuy Ta | TEDxBaDinh”:
TEDx Talks video “Why I am not a feminist | Betsy Cairo | TEDxMileHighWomen”:
Martial Arts and Feminism
With respect to martial arts, women always had equal rights, and they equally participated in battles alongside men, as is documented in the histories of various cultures around the world. Even in the mythology of these cultures, one finds goddesses with warlike qualities.
@factsunfolded333 video “Goddess of War in different Mythologies #shorts #mythology #god #war #entertainment #hindu #egypt”:
Aside from mythology, the military histories of several countries have seen women play a very prominent and a very active role in warfare. For example, Joan of Arc in France, Hua Mulan in China, and the Onna Musha (female samurai) in Japan, to name a few.
Imre Vince video “Joan of Arc – (1999) Full Movie in HD”:
Filipa video “Mulan: Rise of a Warrior (2009) w/ eng subs”:
American Heroes Channel video “Tomoe Gozen the Legendary Female Samurai Champion”:
Women also played an important role in both world wars.
Women in World War I
National WWI Museum and Memorial video “How WWI Changed America: Women in WWI”:
Imperial War Museums video “Did WW1 really promote women’s rights?”:
Jorje L. Banda video “Women’s Battalion of Death 10th Anniversary Edition | WW1 FULL MOVIE | 1080P FULL HD | English Subs”:
Women in World War II
Scholastic video “Beyond the Story: American Women During World War II”:
Smithsonian Channel video “Women Proved to be Exceptional Pilots During WWII”:
FFF Full Free Films video “WOMEN OF VALOR | Full WORLD WAR II DRAMA Movie HD | SUSAN SARANDON”:
As is evident from the above videos, in warfare, gender equality always existed. There is gender equality even in martial arts that are practiced as a sport. There are innumerable female martial artists who have, or are continuing, to make their valuable contributions in martial arts. For example, some of the famous female martial artists, in no particular order, are Uma Thurman, Cynthia Rothrock, Angela Mao, Michelle Yeoh, Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey, Zhang Ziyi, Kara Hui, Karen Sheperd, Lucy Liu, Ham Seo-hee, Itsuki Hirata, Cris Cyborg, Yukari Oshima, Christine Rodriguez, Maggie Q, and many more.
GQ video “Michelle Yeoh Breaks Down Her Most Iconic Characters | GQ”:
Blu-ray Extras video “Lady Kung Fu Speaks – An Interview with Angela Mao”:
[Please turn on the CC button on the video for English subtitles]
cronosmantas video “Cynthia Rothrock Interview”:
Good Morning America video “Ronda Rousey talks new memoir, ‘Our Fight'”:
Beat video “Interview with Cynthia Luster (Yukari Oshima) 2005”:
[Please turn on the CC button on the video for English subtitles]
kingofkungfu2002 video “‘The Karate Diva’ – A Karen Sheperd Tribute (best viewed in 720p)”:
ONE Championship video “Ham Seo Hee vs. Itsuki Hirata | ONE Championship Full Fight”:
Supa Luta Brasil video “Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg FULL FIGHT (UFC 4)”:
Neil Leo Ross video “World War Ziyi (Zhang) – Grandmaster Crouching Tiger in the House – NLR Fight Montage + Leftfield”:
ucwradioshow video “Interview with Martial Arts Champion and Leader Christine Bannon-Rodrigues”:
HollywoodsDeadEdits video “Maggie Q | Badass Tribute |”:
kingofkungfu2002 video “‘My Young Auntie’ – A Kara Hui Tribute”:
DailyWire+ video “Gina Carano Breaks Down Her Career Highlights | From MMA to the Mandalorian”:
Flashback FilmMaking video “Training Charlie’s Angels (2000) Behind The Scenes (Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore)”:
E! Insider video “”Kill Bill” Turns 18: Live From E! Rewind | E! Red Carpet & Award Shows”:
Common viewpoints
When feminism intersects with martial arts, then the most common viewpoints are that martial arts programs are not gender inclusive, there are not enough women in the dojo, there is a question of hormones, there is an issue of sexism, and there is differentiated training. There are many other viewpoints, but these are the ones that are commonly debated.
Gender inclusivity
The viewpoint is that martial arts schools focus only on men or women, and do not enroll students belonging to the LGBTQIAi+ community, and thus, there is no gender inclusivity in martial arts. Nonetheless, it is widely known that almost every martial arts school offers gender inclusivity. Otherwise, without training in martial arts schools, it would not be possible for students from the LGBTQIAi+ community to become highly trained martial artists, and also go on to win martial arts competitions. Thus, martial arts offer gender equality and is aligned with the feminist approach of gender inclusivity.
pegsonmmatest video “Transgender MMA Fighter Fallon Fox Beats Opponent in 39 Secondsr”:
Difference in hormone level
Yet another viewpoint is that biologically the level of the hormone testosterone is more in males as compared to females, and due to this difference, males tend to be more aggressive and violent than females. Aggression and violence have multiple factors and linking them with a single factor of hormonal imbalance is a subject of debate. However, irrespective of the level of hormone, women can also be equally or more aggressive and violent than men.
KATVchannel7 video “Bar brawl leads to police officer’s hospitalization and arrest of 7 women”:
In martial arts, the viewpoint of hormonal imbalance seems to be weak as there have been women martial artists who although biologically having a lower level of testosterone, have yet been successful in winning against male martial artists.
Randolph James Kyokushin Jutsukai Dojo video “Kyokushin Roses James 2nd Full Contact Fight in Mens MIddleweight Division 1987”:
Fewer women in the dojo
Generally, most martial arts training schools have more men than women students. Several different opinions are expressed for this phenomenon, with the major one being that society views martial arts as being not ‘womanly’ or ‘ladylike’, and thus, society does not encourage women to learn martial arts. Nonetheless, when it comes to defending oneself then there is nothing ‘manly’ or ‘womanly’ about it, as it is simply surviving the attack by defending oneself. Hence, this viewpoint of the society appears weak as is proven by many women martial artists, who have successfully defended themselves, due to their skill in martial arts. Therefore, every society should always encourage women to learn martial arts, by motivating them to join martial arts training schools. Moreover, having more women in the dojo, also helps feminism achieve its goal of gender equality.
British Pathé video “The Weaker Sex! (1933)”:
Sexism
Although the origin is not known however, the term “sexism” appeared during the second wave of feminism, with the meaning that women were discriminated due to their sex or gender. Sexism assumes that men believe they are superior to women and thus, treat women as inferior. In martial arts, one example of this feminist notion of sexism is supposedly displayed when a female martial artist undertakes sparring with a male martial artist.
The viewpoint is that when a female spars with a male partner, then either the male partner restrains himself or may go all out. When a partner goes all out then it results in a violent training session, and if a partner restrains himself then it results in a worthless training session. In both the cases of a violent or a worthless training session, the aim of sparring, which is to make sparring a learning session, is missed, and the male partner is blamed as being sexist. This viewpoint seems faulty, since in numerous martial arts schools there are sparring sessions, where both partners neither go all out nor restrain themselves completely, but rather maintain a balanced approach, so that utmost learning can be facilitated.
steven Lau video “Agency Wars III 3rd sparring session Greg vs Melanie Whitmore”:
Differentiated training
This viewpoint is an offshoot of a sexist approach, as some opine that the martial arts training given to men and women are different, largely because women are viewed as inferior and weaker. Men are given more difficult training routines, whereas women are given comparatively less difficult training routines, and thus differentiated training is given in martial arts schools.
However, this viewpoint seems to be incorrect, since the training routines in most martial arts are based on some kind of grading. The grading is generally in terms of the skill acquired in the performance of fundamental movements and patterns, breaking of boards/ tiles/ bricks, and self-defense movements, in addition to some theoretical elucidations of martial arts philosophy, tenets, history, or any other given topic. Every martial art school has its own rules and regulations for grading, and these remain the same, irrespective of the gender of the student. Hence, there is absolutely no differentiated training in any martial arts school, anywhere in the world. Thus, differentiated training does not seem to be a plausible viewpoint.
Colette VH Film Focus video “Pacific International Taekwando”:
Conclusion
Martial arts and feminism share the goals of empowerment and gender equality. There have been many women who have achieved black belts due to their intense and dedicated practice. They have also won several martial arts championships. Martial arts has exhibited a tremendous transformative effect on the overall health and confidence levels of kids, teens, adults, and seniors, of every gender.
BBC News Africa video “Taekwondo champion kicks gender inequality where it hurts”:
The values, discipline, physical fitness, and self-defense skills fostered in martial arts schools enable empowerment and equality for all students, without any bias of age, gender, nationality, or religion. Martial arts actively contributes to the feminist movement in realizing its goal of gender equality by promoting an environment of inclusivity, learning, mutual respect and belongingness for each and everyone.
BBC World Service video “The 82-year-old grandmother with a taekwondo black belt – BBC World Service”:
LevelUP video “Best Female Martial Arts | Motivation Video For Female Fighters | LevelUP”:
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