Feminine features as political tools: the cases of Femen and Women of Liberia

This paper is an analysis of the different ways in which feminism can be understood, using as examples the cases of the feminist movements Femen and Women of Liberia. Both are distinguished by using feminine features as political tools, and both have been an issue of interest for audiovisual productions. Each one is the main subject of two documentaries: Ukraine is not a Brothel, that concerns Femen movement; and Pray the Devil Back to Hell, that concerns Women of Liberia movement. I shall use this material in order to present each. After presenting them I will analyze them in light of the definition and division of feminism that Karen Offen, scholar of the University of California, does. I will then conclude that Femen is an example of what she calls 'individualistic feminism', and Women of Liberia an example of what she named 'relational feminism'. I will also conclude that the political position they achieve is also due to the branch of feminism they represent.