Material feminism, a central idea in oppression, can be defined as societal tools used to construct gender and fortify the patriarchy. These tools are intertwined into what society deems as acceptable in performing gender. These materials can be how media displays femininity (hairless skin, flawless, hourglass figure, a demure temperament), how women are supposed to dress (modestly or they risk gaining the wrong attention from men), what is made available to women (we still haven’t achieved equal pay for doing the same jobs as men), and how women are viewed by the opposite sex (sex objects). Material feminism also addresses how there are certain expectations for women (cooking,cleaning, baby-making machines). Times are changing, though, and I’d say for the past 20 years major progress has been made.

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