3. Feminism Flashcards
What is feminism
The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities
What are some key issues for feminism
Equal rights, Rights to their own body, Equal Pay
Also allowing men to feel safe enough to be vulnerable = women can be strong
What is a feminist belief
sexual discrimination is still a widespread problem and women are still striving to achieve financial, educational, domestic and legal equality to men
What are the four basic tenants of Sociological feminism
Inequality between men and women
Conflict between men and women
Gender inequalities are socially constructs
Importance of patriarchy in explaining inequality
What is a patriarchy
Men dominating society
Feminism means change, not abolition of the way society exists
Why are domestic violence rates down
The victim is afraid of reporting their assaulter in fear of more abuse
More often than not, it is the man abusing the women
What is first wave feminism
1850s+
Higher education for women available
Access to more jobs- medicine
Married women property rights
Improvement in divorced and separated women’s child custody
What is second wave feminism
1960/70s
Female group discussed women’s rights
Oppressed and exploited by patriarchal society
Annual conference held - Oxford 1970
Equal Pay and opportunities
Free contraception and abortion
24hr childcare
What two legislations were introduced in the 1970s
Equal Pay Act 1970
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
What is third wave feminism
1990s+
Critic of politics, experiences were over generalised of middle class, Heterosexual viewpoints
Ignored women of colour, poor, LGBTQ+, non-western women
What were Slyvia Waltby’s 6 Structures of feminism
Paid work
Household work
Culture
Sexuality
Violence
The state
What does she mean by Paid work
Men are always (16-60+) paid more than women
What does she mean by Household work
Women spend more time on household chores
Men spend more time on specifics such as outside garden care and DIY
What does she mean by Culture
Women = sexualised on magazine covers
Men = Professional, handsome, smart
What does she mean by Sexuality
A man sleeping around is celebrated
A woman sleeping around is shunned by society - a hoe, whore, slut
What does she mean by violence
Women are more likely to be killed by their partners, on average
Known as gender based violence
What does she mean by the State
Female MPs are fewer
In 2015, it wasn’t even 30% of parliament
What do liberal feminists believe
equality will happen eventually
steady improvement in female position
change in social attitudes, laws, education
Some contemporary liberal feminism issues
Gender pay gap- illegal in the UK
transparency to address gap
promote flexible work arrangements
support women’s career progression
What is liberal feminism
the desire to pursue freedom without completely uprooting existing institutions, using educational change to bring about equality
Where did Liberal Feminism come from
Second wave, 1960s
Betty Friedan- The feminine mystique
NOW- national organisation of women
campaign for maternity leave, child care
Rights to female body
Housewife Syndrome
What do radical feminists believe
patriarchal oppression and exploitation of women is everywhere in society
women are socialised into accepting their place in society
men aggressively exercise dominance
men benefit from inequality
Contemporary Radical feminism issues
violence is deep rooted in society
toxic masculinity downplays male aggressions- ‘Reclaim the Night’
dismantle institutions that uphold patriarchy
liberation requires fundamental shift in society to end patriarchal views
What is Radical Feminism
female independence from men, at any level to bring about change
men consciously exploiting women
Where did Radical Feminism come from
patriarchy is universal
women’s main enemy is men
All men benefit from patriarchy
legal change is unlikely to provide equality
Political lesbianism/separationism
matrilocal - all female households
What do Marxists Feminist believe
patriarchy suits the need of capitalism
women are unpaid domestic labourers
true equality can only occur when capitalism is dismantled
Contemporary issues for Marxist feminists
Capitalism disproportionately exploits women
low paid jobs are undervalued by society
reserve labour army = women
suffer funding cuts by government
challenge capitalism and patriarchy sustaining it
What is Marxist feminism
Focuses on the way capitalism and patriarchy work together to exploit and oppress women
Marxist theory, gender inequality in the economy
advocate social upheaval into communist state afterwards
Where does Marxist feminism come from
Women create and socialise the next generations, absorb mens frustrations at their own oppression
Women rely on men while pregnant
Patriarchal nuclear families only
overthrown capitalism is ideology for feminism to allow equality
key concepts in Marxist Feminism
Economic exploitation of women
Reproductive Labour
Intersection of Gender and class
Capitalism, Patriarchy interconnected
Call for collective action and change
What do Intersectional/difference feminists believe
experience of all women should be accounted for
all ages, disability, religions, class
not just a middle class women problem
Contemporary issues for Intersectional Feminists
reproductive justice
Racism, socioeconomic inequalities
specific needs of marginalised
impact of immigration policies
holistic approach needed
What is Intersectional feminism
represent women from all different backgrounds of society, to campaign for equality for everywhere
Where does intersectional Feminism come from
women are not a single homogenous group who all share the same issues
essentialists
white middle class women dominate feminism
What is patriarchy
a feminist term to describe a society based on male dominance
ideology of male power over women
What is a malestream sociology
Where sociology focuses on men rather than women
Strengths of Liberal feminsim
promoting gender inequality
reveal injustices in female lives
social construct of gender differences
influence social policies
Limitations of Liberal Feminism
ignore need for revolutionary action
overly optimistic
symptoms not causes of oppression
fails cause of gender inequality
Strengths of Radical Feminism
raises profile of private issues
expose social construct of gender roles
Limitations of Radical Feminism
violence to achieve aims
man hating causes further division
ignores element of choice
ignores progress already made
ignores positives
Strengths of Marxist Feminism
importance of economic production
greater understanding of women’s oppression in structure
Limitations of Marxist Feminism
still oppressed in non-capitalist societies
no explanation to why women do more unpaid labour than men
lack of emphasis on how men oppress women not just capitalism
Strengths of Intersectional Feminism
Allow for analysis of different forms of oppression
Different forms of resistance
Limitations of Intersectional Feminism
subgroups can weaken feminism
Segal, abandons objective of social structures
