5. Feminism - Non Core Political Ideology

Question 1

Feminism

Answer 1

Political ideology that aims to create an equal society between men and women

Question 2

What publication first began the feminist movement?

Answer 2

In 1972, English Liberal Mary Wollstonecraft published ‘A Vindication Of The Rights Of Women’

Question 3

What are the 4 different strands of feminism?

Answer 3

• Liberal feminism
• Socialist feminism
• Radical feminism
• Post-modern feminism

Question 4

What are the 4 areas that feminism looks at?

Answer 4

• Human nature
• The state
• Society
• The economy

Question 5

What are the main ideas and principles of feminism?

Answer 5

• Sex and gender
• Patriarchy
• The personal is political
• Equality and difference feminism
• Intersectionality

Question 6

Who are the 5 key thinkers?

Answer 6

1. Charlotte Perkins Gillman
2. Simone de Beauvoir
3. Kate Millett
4. Sheila Rowbotham
5. bell hooks

Question 7

Sex

Answer 7

Biological differences between men and women, which are seen as being inevitable, natural and unalterable

Question 8

Gender

Answer 8

• Societally determined
• Refers to cultural and economic differences, which lead to men feeling superior and women feeling inferior
• Gender is designed to subordinate women, by defining characteristics that women should aspire to have, (Ex: Emotional and sensetive)

Question 9

What is the main biological difference between men and women?

Answer 9

Women can have children and play a more decisive role in the life of a new born, (Ex: Feeding)

Question 10

Essentialism

Answer 10

• Term refers to the fundamental biological differences between men and women
• Some feminists say that the biological differences are irrelevant
• However, some say that they are essential to understanding the status of women

Question 11

How important are sex and gender in feminist thinking?

Answer 11

Sex
* It is inevitable that women will take the lead role in child rearing, so men will dominate in the outside world of work
* Women are physically weaker than men, so they will inevitably have a weaker position
* Women are born with innate, nurturing and non-aggressive characteristics and are therefore less suited to the competitive capitalist world

Gender
* Men have a vested interest in maintaining their superiority in society
* Roles of motherhood and homemaking were viewed as less significant than making money outside of the home, therefore making men more superior
* The gender role of women, is embedded into their consciousness from such an early age, that women themselves don’t understand its patriarchal origin
* In modern society, there is no reason why the biological status of women should affect their role in society + Which therefore means that gender differences represent an artifical construct, designed to prepetuate the patriarchy

Question 12

What are liberal feminists views on sex and gender?

Answer 12

• Liberal feminist, such as Betty Friedan, accept the significance of sex differences, but regard gender differences as an artificial construct designed to prepetuate the patriarchy
• Inferiority of women is learned behaviour by both men and women and it is rooted in the history of civilisations + It is also reinforced by other institutions, including media institutions
• Liberal femists therefore believe that reform, through legislation for equality, and education are the only ways to combat sexist attidues - As male superiority and patriarchy will otherwise be continued to be passed down through generations, continuing the cycle

Question 13

What are socialist feminists views on sex and gender?

Answer 13

• Simone de Beauvoir was a socialist feminist who believes that society’s ‘gender norms’ are socialised and un-natural, but are manufactured in a way, which makes them appear to be natural
• ‘One is not born, but rather becomes a women’ + ‘No biological, psychological or economic fate determines the figure that the human female presents in society; it is civilization as a whole that produces this creature’ - The Second Sex - Simone de Beauvoir
• This quote can be interpreted as saying that sex and biological factors aren’t what makes women appear to be inferior to men in society, but rather the influences of civilisation on gender
• Socialist feminists also believe these gender roles are assigned to women by the patriarchy to make them a cheap source of labour + So that even the women who did work, were mainly low-paid and part-time employees
• The solution for social feminists is the destruction of capitalism, or at least significant modification
• Women’s working conditions, pay and opportunities should be protected the same way it would be for a man and that the capitalist world must learn that women are not ‘second-class labour’