4. Feminism (Conflict) Flashcards
Feminism
-Feminisms sees society as male dominated with interests of women subordinated by men
-The feminist aim is to explain ways in which social culture and social institutions support patriarchy and to suggest ways in which this might be changed,
-There are 4 main types of feminisms:
Liberal feminism
-The main concern of liberal feminists is with inequalities in opportunities (gender discrimination) for women and the way socialisation reinforces traditional gender roles such as the family
-Sometimes called reformist feminists because they believe equal rights can be achieved by gradual reforms in society, without the need for a major revolution.
-Believe reforms can happen by brining changes in legislation to create more equal opportunities in society
Political reforms
-Lib feminists have focused their demands on political action to reform areas of gender inequality, such as in workplace and maternity care.
-For example, they’ve been successful in bringing changes in legislation such as EQUAL PAY ACT (1970) and SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT (1975).
Cultural change
-Lib feminists claim much of the gender inequality towards women can be explained in terms of cultural customs about what it means to be male or female.
-These cultural customs are the product of prejudices and sexist assumptions
-Cultural ideas about what it means to be male and female are becoming less fixed, with greater tolerance of alternative gender roles and women taking on more roles at work
Sex and gender (Oakley)
Oakley makes a key distinction between sex and gender:
-Sex refers to biological differences between men and women which is largely
-Gender refers to culturally constructed differences between ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’, transmitted across the generations via gender roles socialisation
-Oakley points out gender roles vary according to time and place. Comparative studies reveal great differences in expectations and attitudes towards men and women in different countries and in different countries and in different times; what is considered a proper role for one society and different in another
How to improve society
-Liberal feminists argue we must challenge sexist attitudes and gender stereotyping.
-Can be changed by changing key areas such as gendered socialisation in the family (e.g. men contributing more to domestic labour) and promoting more female role models in education
-Optimistic theory by believing change is occurring and is reducing sexist and trad attitudes through political progress
Radical feminism
-Believe gender inequality and subordination of women is due to patriarchy. They argue that:
-Patriarchy is universal; Firestone argues root of women’s oppression is a universal feature of society and lies in the biological ability of women to bear and care for infants. This makes women dependent on men
-Patriarchy is fundamental- radical feminists argue patriarchy is the most fundamental form of inequality and conflict; men are women’s main enemy
-All men oppress all women. All men benefit from patriarchy; especially women’s unpaid domestic labour and from their sexual services
-Patriarchal oppression is direct and personal. Takes place in public sphere of workplace, media and politics.
Sexual politics
Radical fem argue the personal is political:
-All relationships involve power and are political when one individual tries to dominate the other. Personal relationships between sexes are therefore political because men dominate women through them
How to improve society?
Patriarchy and women’s oppression is reproduced through personal and sexual relationships, these must be transformed if women are to be liberalised from male oppression. Radical feminists would like to see things introduced to reduce oppression:
Separatism
-Men and women living apart and creating a new culture of female independence, free from patriarchy.
-Some radical feminists would like to see the total abolition of the family as this prevents socialisation of gender inequality in the offspring, removing men from reproduction process
Consciousness raising
-Argue for women with whom they share experiences in groups and where they identify they are not alone. May lead to collective action such as marches
Political lesbianism
-Argue heterosexual relationships seem as ‘sleeping with the enemy’
-Therefore only type of non oppressive relations is lesbianism
Marxist feminism
-Reject liberal and radical explanations for cause of oppression and see it as rooted in capitalism
-Although men benefit from women’s subordination, the main beneficiary is capitalism
-Subordination results from their role of unpaid domestic housewife’s and places them in economically dependent position in family
Subordination forms a number of important functions for capitalism
-Women are the source of cheap exploitable labour, they can be paid less because it can be assumed they are dependent on their husbands
-Reserve army of labour
-Women reproduce labour force
-Wonen absorb men’s anger at capitalism, Ansley say women are ‘takers of #!?+’
Ideological factors
Some Marxist feminists argue non-economic factors must also be considered if we are to understand and change the position of women in society.
-Ideology of Familism: Barret (1980) argues we must consider the role of capitalist ideology in maintaining the oppression of women and for the capitalist system to continue. Presents nuclear family as ideal in which domestic division of labour is seen most.
