Culture + Feminism

Question 1

what is feminism + type of theory?

Answer 1

is a conflict theory between sexes with women subordinated to men

Question 2

what are assumptions of feminists?

Answer 2

• identifies society as patriarchy as system which privileges male and maleness
• subordinates woman and femaleness

Question 3

what do feminists think about cultural differences?

Answer 3

• feminism SUPPORTS cultural relativism - cultures differ in the role and respect they give to women
• strongly patriarchal cultures subordinate woman and enforce this with threat and violence
  LINK: Mead 1928 + 1935

Question 4

what is patriarchy?

Answer 4

it is a systematic domination by men + subordination of women
- women are confined to domestic sphere (home, housework, child care)
- women are paid less (gender pay gap)
- have restricted promotion / glass ceiling –> invisible barrier that men can pass through but woman can’t
- physical threat (male violence against women, rape culture)

Question 5

what do feminists think about western liberal democracies?

Answer 5

• they think it’s linked to the industrial revolution - Engles: women work for free
• liberal for men - but women are restricted in their options + behaviour
• democracy was only for men at first

Question 6

what are feminists opinions about the importance of ideology (think of media, education and religion)?

Answer 6

they think it hides and justifies unfairness
media - fem would point out media puts out images of feminity particularly images that sexually objectify, appearance + sexual appeal
education - certain subjects are not feminine subjects e.g. mathematics are considered non-female subjects usually the ones that qualify you for the highest paying job
religion - sudeo-christiain society –> religion that represents women as sinful creatures

Question 7

what was the first wave of feminism (19th century)?

Answer 7

• right to vote –> called woman’s suffrage / suffragettes
• 1893 in New Zealand 1st country to give women right to vote, 1928 in UK, 1920 in US
• gave legal equality e.g. owning + inhibiting property, running businesses, going to uni)

Question 8

what was the second wave of feminism (mid-20th century)?

Answer 8

• 1960s + 1970s
• the feminine mystique 1903 - Betty Friedan unhappiness of American Housewives
• Sex discrimination Act 1975: made it illegal to discriminate against women
• more focus on changing patriarchal culture, ending discrimination

Question 9

different types of feminism?

Answer 9

liberal - equality through education, political reform, gradual change
radical - protest, women-only communities
marx fem - link patriarchy with capitalism, revolutionary form of feminism

Question 10

key study - Mary Wollstone

Answer 10

came before 1st wave fem
- start of the feminist movement
- wrote vindication of the rights of women (1792) - focus on education

Question 11

key study - Ann Oakley

Answer 11

Conventional families (1982)
focus on family + upbringing, girls raised differently from boys
- focus on female compliance, attention to appearance, non-agression

Question 12

EVAL of feminism - strengths?

Answer 12

• activism –> not just understanding society but changing it
• identifies sexism, double-standards, worse outcomes for women
• argues for social change

Question 13

EVAL of feminism - weakness?

Answer 13

• biological critique - biological differences between males and females might imply social differences (functionalism)
• different biological differences lead to men and woman having different preferences and priorities
• but this risks justifying male violence as biological too

Question 14

summary of feminism

Answer 14

• systematic domination by men and subordination of women
• patriarchy
• first wave / 19th cent, woman’s suffrage, legal equality
• second wave / 1960s + 1970s challenging sexism + discrimination
• critical view of traditional institutions
• OPPOSSES traditional views of gender and the family