fe Flashcards
Liberal feminism
advocate legal and political equality, against
sexism and discrimination, through legislation, working
gradually within the existing social system rather than
acknowledging systemic oppression of women
Socialist/Marxist feminism
more explicit conflict perspective,
focusing on link between capitalism and patriarchy (through
private property owned by men), where women are seen only
as consumers and housewives / mothers of future workers;
wish to end ‘domestic slavery’ through more radical change
than liberal feminists
Radical feminism
take on patriarchy and traditional family
constellation as the root of the exploitation of women
* Structural causes should be tackled:
* Abolition of the nuclear family?
* Sexual harassment / domestic violence are part of systematic
oppression
* Men determine conceptions of beauty and sexuality, turn women into
sexual objects
* Critique: patriarchy is a very general notion suggesting this has
always existed in essentially similar ways and based on sex
rather than gender. Alternative; gender regimes
Black feminism
much feminist thought came from white women
whose experiences cannot be generalized just like that
* Intersectionality of race and gender (and class?)
* Black women have to deal with discrimination based on gender
and race
* In their experience, race is often more dominant
Postmodern feminism
difference and otherness are
‘celebrated’, there is no overarching cause or explanation, focus
on language by deconstructing binary concepts and recasting
opposites in positive terms
Queer theory
This theory argues that identities are not fixed,
objective or real entities, but rather constitute a specific discourse
* Example: homosexual identity as we know it today was not available to
gay men/women before 20th century as it was not part of the dominant
discourse on sexuality back then
* But such identities should not be essentialized, as any such move
would keep binary oppositions intact
* Like postmodern theory, this is a very cultural approach while a more
materialist approach might offer better, more realistic insight into the
actual living conditions of people who often do not experience their
identity being as free-floating as suggested here
Conflict theories
argue that racism may have roots in economic
and colonial relations (e.g., slavery), but is increasingly seen as
interlinked with politics, ideology, and culture as well.
Critical race theory
Racism is ‘normal’ everyday experience of people of color in
Western world, not a deviation from a non-racist norm. It is
deeply embedded in institutions and therefore persistent.
Laws may protect against explicit blatant racism, but not
against its everyday manifestations
2. Majority groups benefit from this everyday racism and feel
little need to change things
3. Social constructionist: how minority members are seen and
treated changes depending on how ‘useful’ they are
4. To understand racism from the inside, CRT is very interested
in in-depth understanding of experiences of minority members
Assimilation model
they should adapt, get rid of their old way
of life and adapt to the majority culture as fully as possible
Melting pot
traditions of immigrants blend with those of
dominant culture and this creates new cultural patterns
* Hybridity would be the result: cuisine, fashion, music etc.
* Often boils down to assimilation as only what fits with and is enjoyed by
majority groups is superficially incorporated in new cultural pattern
