14.3 - Feminism Key Thinkers Flashcards
What was de Beauvoir’s key work?
‘The Second Sex’ 1949
What were de Beauvoir’s main ideas?
Femininity was an artificial societal construct.
‘One is not born, but rather becomes a woman’.
Humanist more so than feminist.
‘Otherness’ is imposed on women by men.
When was de Beauvoir active?
1908 - 1986
What was Kate Millett’s key work?
Sexual Politics 1970
When was Millett active?
1934 - 2017
How did Millett argue against liberal feminism?
‘the personal is the political’
What were Millett’s main ideas?
The family unit is the foundation of patriarchal thought.
Patriarchy reinforces heterosexuality as superior to homo/bisexuality.
Women’s gender roles are stereotyped in art and literature.
What was bell hooks’ key work?
‘Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism’ 1981
When was bell hooks active?
1952 - date
What were hooks main ideas?
Extension of feminism to women of colour.
Intersectionality - gender is not necessarily the most important factor in determining a woman’s life experiences.
What was Gilman’s key work?
‘The Yellow Wallpaper’
What were Gilman’s main ideas?
There is a link between sex and the capitalist economy (women are reliant on sexual assets to gratify men, who, in turn, support them financially)
Gender roles are socially constructed from a young age.
Economic independence for women.
When was Gilman active?
1860 - 1935
When was Rowbotham active?
1943 - date.
What is Rowbotham’s key work?
‘Woman’s Consciousness, Man’s World’ 1973
What were Rowbotham’s main ideas?
Capitalism worsens the oppression of women.
Family subjects and disciplines women to the demands of capitalism.
What does Gilman think of human nature?
Women are equal to men and biological differences are irrelevant.
What does de Beauvoir think of human nature?
Gender differences are not natural but the creation of men.
What does Millett think of human nature?
Women are oppressed by men and should free themselves by engaging in lesbian relationships.
What does Rowbotham think of human nature?
Female consciousness is socially constructed by men.
What does hooks think of human nature?
Women have multiple identities and therefore experience multiple forms of oppression.
What does Gilman think of the state?
No explicit views on the role of the state.
What does de Beauvoir think of the state?
The state reinforces a male-dominated culture which limits women’s autonomy and freedom.
What does Millett think of the state?
The state facilitates the patriarchy.
What does Rowbotham think of the state?
The state facilitates capitalism, which in turn oppresses women.
What does hooks think of the state?
White men dominate at the expense of women.
What does Gilman think of society?
Women have historically been assigned inferior roles in society.
What does de Beauvoir think of society?
Societal norms restrain both men and women from achieving self-realisation and true freedom of expression.
What does Millett think of society?
Society is patriarchal in both public and private spheres.
What does Rowbotham think of society?
Capitalist society reinforces the dominance of established males to the detriment of women.
What does hooks think of society?
Society is a multifaceted arrangement between different minority groups.
Women of lower societal class are oppressed on several different levels.
What does Gilman think of the economy?
Men dominate the economy because societal norms obligate women to a domestic role.
What does de Beauvoir think of the economy?
Men dominate economy life which limits the life choices open to women.
What does Millett think of the economy?
Resemblance to socialism, but peripheral to her feminism views.
What does Rowbotham think of the economy?
Women’s main role in the economy is to provide a reserve of labour.
What does hooks think of the economy?
Women face different levels of oppression.
White, middle-class, college-educated women face oppression but are more liberated than black working-class women.
