5.1 Feminism core ideas Flashcards
1
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5
List the core principles of feminism
A
- Sex and gender
- Patriarchy
- ‘The personal is political’
- Equality and difference feminism
- Intersectionality
2
Q
1
Describe unity on sex
A
- Most feminists argue that sex (anatomy, DNA and hormones) is biological fact
3
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2
Describe unity on gender
A
- Largely agree that gender is a cultural phenomeon
- has been used to assert male-dominated state and ideal expectations of men and women (gender stereotypes)
4
Q
2
Describe liberal views on sex and gender
A
- sex a biological fact
- women are as rationally capable as men and should be treated as such
5
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6
Describe radical views on gender
A
- sex a biological fact
- gender artifically constructed
- gender roles a product of patriarchy
- Millett and hooks perceived gender construction as beginning in family unit in chldhood
- gender roles neither natural nor inevitable
- Women are equally rational and should therefore be given equality of opportunity
6
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3
Describe socialist views on sex and gender
A
- Sex a biological fact
- Gender artifically constructed
- Gender roles a requirement of capitalism- needs women to accept domestic work to support men
7
Q
2
Describe Gilman’s views on gender
A
- Gilman argued that gender roles are socially constructed from young age
- women socialised into thinking that they are naturally weaker than men, subordinating them to will of men
8
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3
Describe post-modern views on sex and gender
A
- Many Post-modern feminists contend that transgenderism and sex change means that sex is no longer a scientific fact - therefore sex is socially constructed
- Gender roles also socially constructed
- Gender roles extremely vary due to intersectionality
9
Q
2
What is the patriarchy?
A
- The social and political system that supports male domination and female subordination
- Popularised by kate Millett within radical feminism (‘rule of men’ within public and private sphere)
10
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4
Describe unity on the patriarchy
A
- Patriarchy is a form of systemic control and male dominance rooted in societal institutions
- Second and third wave feminists assert that gender roles are artificial constructs created within patriarchy to enforce female subordinance
- Millett defined discrimination as cultural, not biological, phenomenon
- Patriarchal structures can and should be overthrown to achieve sexual equality
11
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5
Describe liberal feminist views on the patriarchy
A
- Focus on socio-economic discrimination rather than patriarchy
- Gender inequalities derived from legal sphere
- Gradual reform to public sphere of society, rather than private sphere - will lead to change over time
- State, society and economy can be reformed of discriminatory tendencies within Western society
- examples inlcude access to education, changes to divorce laws, enfranchisement, etc
12
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4
Describe radical feminist views on the patriarchy
A
- Patriarchy permeates every aspect of life
- Patriarchy should be challenged in both private and public spheres
- Argue that patriarchy is too institutionalised and pervasive to be reformed democratically
- Must instead be revolutionary change in both public and private spheres (though disagreements on how to conduct this)
13
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3
Describe different feminist solutions to the patriarchy
A
- Millett advocates change in social consciousness via the arts and literature, precipitating a revolution in the head
- (Greer advocated communal living)
- Gilman critical of marriage
14
Q
4
Describe socialist feminist views on the patriarchy
A
- Capitalism rather than patriarchy the primary source of female oppression
- Female consciousness (acceptance of gender roles) created by men as part of capitalist system
- Rowbotham - revolution needed to destroy capitalism and patriarchy to end oppression against women
- Therefore agree with radicals that revolution is needed, though for different end goals
15
Q
4
Describe postmodern views on the patriarchy
A
- hooks argued that patriarchy has taught women to hate themselves and spreads social division
- patriarchy more complicated than radical and socialist feminists imagined because of intersectionality
- argue for revolution to overthrow patriarchy and replacement with power of love between social groups
- revolution needs to also achieve end to black discrimination, otherwise black women will remain oppressed
16
Q
2
Describe how intersectionality affects the patriarchy
A
- patriarchy applies differently to middle-class white women and poor black women
- patriarchy therefore enforces interlocking systems of white supremacist capitalist control
17
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3
Describe unity on ‘the personal is political’ among feminists
A
- All believe that relationships in public sphere based on power and dominance
- All agree that women deserve equal pay, representation, etc (though disagree on whether state should provide this)
- Radicals, socialists and post-moderns agree on the intrusion of the patriarchy in the private sphere
18
Q
5
Describe liberal feminist views on ‘the personal is political’
A
- Focus on public sphere of society (e.g. equal pay)
- Our actions do affect eachother in public sphere, not in private sphere
- Argue that state have no right to intervene in private life of women
- Private sphere outside remit of public’s concerns and patriarchy’s effects
- Private sphere is how women choose themselves to live
19
Q
4
Describe radical feminist views on ‘the personal is political’
A
- Argue ‘the personal is political’ - patriarchy is prevalent in private sphere and therefore should be open to public scrutiny
- View liberal distinction between private and public sphere as dangerous
- If women engaged in child-rearing and homemaking, then it is an aspect of wider patriarchy and outside public sphere as it affects their opportunities in society
- Most women do not understand this concept as their consciousness has been distorted by male-dominated society
20
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4
Describe socialist feminist views on ‘the personal is political’
A
- agreed with radical feminists between public and private sphere, though focused more on impact of capitalism
- de Beavoir advocated contraception to allow women to control bodies and avoid endless childbearing
- Rowbotham argued capitalism forces women into domesticity to help reproduce for labour force
- Rowbotham likened marriage to feudalism where women were akin to serfs paying feudal dues to their husband
21
Q
2
Describe Gilman’s views on ‘the personal is political’
A
- Gilman berated misery of women’s private lives and exploitative nature of domestic roles
- Argued for gender-neutral garments and playthings to reduce pressure to conform to motherhood
22
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4
Describe the views of Millett (radical) on ‘the personal is political’
A
- Believed that family was social construct and not a natural arrangement
- Patriarchy grants men ownership over their wide and children
- Family unit socialised the young into recognising male authority and female marginlisation within society
- Marriage saw women losing their identity by taking their husband’s surname
23
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1
Describe post-modern views on ‘the personal is political’
A
- private sphere more complicated due to intersectionality
24
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6
Describe equality feminism
A
- Believe biological sex differences are inconsequential
- Human nature is ‘adrogenous’
- Gender differences are socially constructed
- Therefore no specific innate feminine traits
- Equal, genderless society is aspirational
- Majority of feminists (liberal, radical, social, postmodern) are equality feminists
25
Q
4
Describe De Beavoir’s views on equality feminism
De Beavoir is an equality feminist
A
- dismissed idea of innate female characteristics
- argued women have been dominated by childrearing
- ‘her ovaries condemn her to live for ever on her knees’
- advocated contraception, abortion, rejection of family and monomagny to allow women to compete in society
26
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1
What is monomagny?
A
- A relationship with only one partner, rather than multiple
27
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4
Describe difference feminism
A
- Minority of feminists subscribe to essentialism - biological differences consequential and do shape different human natures
- Originated from first-wave (liberal) feminists who asserted gender-specific characteristics, depsite being intellectually comparable
- Gilman believed in innate female qualities
- argue that women attempt to replicate male behaviour, neglecting their naturally more caring, nurturing and communal talents
28
Q
4
Describe cultural feminism
A
- More radical form of difference feminism
- Claim female values to be superior and should be promoted
- ‘female essence’ - caring and nurturing vs aggressive and competitive
- eco-feminists have argued replacing patriarchy with matriarchy to develop a better functioning society
29
Q
3
Describe the emergence of intersectionality
A
- Pioneered by postmodern thinkers
- Hooks criticised liberal and radical feminists for generalising female issues from perspective of white, middle-class woman
- Previous attempts to solve discrimination had failed to address intersectionality (e.g. 19th amendment)
30
Q
3
Describe intersectionality
A
- overlapping spheres of discrimination: sex, race, class, disability etc
- black women face double-discrimination
- workforce disfigured by gender and race - many black jobs dominated by men and female employment dominated by whites
