1. Feminism
Helena Pourzand

2. What is Feminism? Feminism
1. Advocacy of the rights of the women (based on the theory of equality of the sexes).

3. History
Feminists and scholars have divided the movement's history into three "waves". The first wave refers mainly to women's suffrage movements of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (mainly concerned with women's right to vote). The second wave refers to the ideas and actions associated with the women's liberation movement beginning in the 1960s (which campaigned for legal and social rights for women). The third wave refers to a continuation of, and a reaction to the perceived failures of, second-wave feminism, beginning in the 1990s.

4. Setting the scenes
During 19th century, woman started to campaign for equal rights and react against the suffocating Victorian image of the ‘proper role’ for woman.
Back then, woman were treated unequally for example; they felt that woman seeking education and alternatives to marriage and motherhood were frowned upon.
During World War 1 ( ), woman out demands to one side to help with the war effort
In 1918, women were finally given the vote, providing they were thirty years of age, owned a property or held a degree.

5. 1990-2000 they saw that film theory could be employed as a radical act.
These gatherings are exploring a new feminine paradigm of power that’s based on tolerance, mutuality, and reverence for nature that have long been identified with women.
Early Feminist studies began to theorize on stereotypical images of female representations in film and the overt focus on the woman’s body.
Haskell believed that the ‘women’s film’ emerged to compensate for the fact that woman were excluded from most genres (Western, Gangster, ect). Overall her book implies that historically, films ignored the achievements women attained in real life.

6. Psychoanalytic approaches to Feminism
Claire Johnston and Laura Mulvey both produced seminal articles in the 70s, which were to have a huge impact on the study of film and media.
In the male- dominated film industry, men and two widely different roles; behind the camrea, concerned with production and technology and as actors.
In contrast, woman would work in the costume and makeup departments (traditionally associated with the domestic sphere).

7. Case Study: Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! Based on the 1999 West End Musical
Musicals are commonly considered to be ‘women’s films’
Mamma Mia! Can be seen as the most Feminist films of the year because it breaks with many Hollywood conventions.
It is a ‘women’s film’ in terms of genre, production, female characters and narrative trajectory, which accordingly presents an ideal opportunity to explore Feminist issues.
Mamma Mia! Was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Catherine Johnson.
This film is about women; their sexuality, ageing lifestyle, male and female relationships.

8. Conclusion
Feminism can be seen as site of social and intellectual debate. There is a focus on women’s experience of sexuality, work and the family.
Feminists have worked to achieve rights for women, to promote women’s artistic undertakings in order to challenge the stereotypical representations of woman.
Much has changed in Feminist film theory. The gaze is definitely no longer considered to be male; it can be homoerotic, oppositional and so on