component 2: feminism Flashcards
areas of agreement
HUman Nature: reject idea of innate differnces between men and women - distinction between sex and gender. Gender distinctions are social constructs rather than human nature. Women are socialised into deminine roles through family used to keep them in subordinate position. Once patriarcy = gone gender distinction will be overcome. human nature = androgynous.
Society: all argue society is patriarchal run in interests of men. WOmen are in subrdinate positions in society. Represenations of women in media and art and lit - female sexuality, want a society where women are free to dedvlop, ablosih patriarchy.
State: Agrue that state is patriarchal - promotes interest of men. Males dominate positions in state. Laws serve interests of men. state can play a role in improving womens position in society, reove legal and political discrimination.
Economy: Women are discriminated against in economic sphere e.g. economic dependence on men in family. Feminists agree that gender equality in economy needs to be achieved and radical change.
areas of disagreement
human nature: Differenc feminists arggue ther is differences between men and women based on nature rather than nurture. Mens agreesive behaviour is basis of patriarcy. We should celebrate womens values instead of wanting male values.
Society: Libs - focus on legal and political discrimination.Rads - view patriarchy as root of oppression. SOcialists - focus on economic issues, connection between capitalism and patriarchy. Post-modern: discuss intersectional nature of opression. Society in future: LIbs want reform of exisitng society to make equality, socialists want double revolution to remove cap and patriarchy. Radical - revolution of consciousness.
State: Disagree over how state end patrtiarchy.. Lib - view state as key in reducing womens oppression,should only concern itself with public sphere. Other feminists would see benefits of these reforms but want more. rad - state is part of patriarchy, will only change if there is revolution in women’s consciousness. Social - dual revolution.
Economy: Libs argues for legal and political equality to ahcieve gender equality in public sphere of eocnomy. SOcialists - capitalism is root of oppression, want economic equality. Pst-modern - race and class influence omens position in the economy
liberal feminists
- earliest feminism, women are capable of making rational choices, entitled to same lagal and poltiical status as men.
- Less likely to use the term patriarchy, use it to refer to unequal rights which can be changed in exisitng society.
- Agree that women should not be oppressed due to biological differences but accept some gender differences,accept biological imperative in motherhoos.
- criticised for wanting reform but not going far enough. Socialists criticise it for not recognising ways capialism deends on patriarchy.
- seperated into 2 waves: wave 1: women’s suffrage, wave 2: recognised there was a wider cet of cultural and social beliefs that kept women in a subordinate position e.g. womens role in family.
radical feminism
- Share the view that patriarchy is the most significant division in soceity, argue for for revolutionary change of women’s consciousness.
- Sex and gender: argue ofr adrogynous view of human nature, true liberation of women would come about when these sex differences were viewed as irrelevant.
- views on patriarchy - see capitalism as primary division in society, exists throughout all aspects, overthrow of patriarchy requires fundamental change to nature of society.
- Power relationships can found in all relationships between men and women. Liberal feminists criticise it for ignoring traditionl family to many women.
socialist feminists
- looked at ways in which oppression of women benefitd capitalism e.g. unapid labour of housewives.
- View on patriarchy - view patriarchy and capitalism as intertwined, therefore overthrow of capitalism would mean overthrow of patriarchy. .
- Priotiritise class over gender, see patriarchy and cap as interlocking system of oppression. Women exploited due to low wages and oppressed by culture of male dominated family, therefore need a double revolution.
- Lib fem oppose idea get rid of capitalism to get rid of oppresion,radical claim they see patriatchy as a produt of capitalism and therfore see oppression women as secondary importance compared to the proletariat struggles.
post-modern feminism
- see patriarchy as being constructed from differnt narratives, can’t be tackled seperately from other forms of oppression
- argued that sex was a socialconstruct like gender, we all have feminine and masculine traits, idea of distinction between the sexes is oppresive.
- believe in intersectionality - criticised previous forms of feminism for ignoring black and working class women’s experience of patriarchy.
- want to understand ways in wwhich gender, race, religion and class combined to determine female destiny.
key thinkers 1
Simone de beaviour (liberal):
- women were taught and socialised into becoming a woman: “one is not born, but rather becomes a woman.” called motherhood a way of turning women into slaves. stated women were seen as the ‘other’, men were the norm women were deviants.
Kate Millet (radical)
- family is seen a patriarchy’s key institution,girls taught to know their place. Patriarchy operates in all asects of society including literature and art- it degrades women. Millet attacked romantic love called for monogamous end to marriage and family - proposed a sexual revolution.
key thinkers 2
key thinkers: charlotte perkins gilman wanted alternative living arrangement with communal living so housework and childcare could be shared.
shelia rowboth argued women face double oppression, expolited, so womens oppression would require a double revolution
key thinker: bell hooks - argued against idea that women were a homogenous category sharing the same lfie experiences, white middle class women did not serve as an accurate represenation of all.
