Feminism Flashcards
What is Essentialism and a tinker to go with it?
Argue biological differences are important and lead to distinct differences in their fundamental natures
Carol Gilligan: Bio differences affect the way men/ women think and there are specific male and female charateristics as eac sex as a specific nature
What is existentialism and a thinker to go with it?
Gender roles are socially constructed to form stereotypes
Simmone De Beauvoir; Bio differences used by male dominated society as justification for gender roles and characterising men as the norm
One is not born, but rather becomes one
What did Perkins Gilman say about upbringing?
From childhood girls forced into social constraint that prepares them for motherhood byu clothes/ toys
Socialised to think theyre naturally weaker
Definition of patriarchy
System of gov designed for, and run in the interests of men wic creates institutionalised gender oppression against women
3 ways the patriarchy is in society
Culture- media reinforces gender roles
Violence- domestic abuse ignored
Sexuality (GREER)- Encouraged to repress natural sexual desired, expected to be pure
2 ways the patriarcy is in the Economy
Household work: discouraged from pursuing career outside of ome, complete majority of housework, conditioned to believe domesticity is destiny
Paid work: Pushed to supportive/ nurturing roles + Pay gap 10% less
How is the patriarchy pervasive in the state?
Denied access to voting/ positions of power
Fewer female politicians due to working ours- have to look after kids
Discourage women from politics
What do first wave liberal feminists believe? + thinkers
Legal equality would solve problems as representatives would take female issues into account
Taylor MIll: Women should have same right to vote and play a role in law making
What do 2nd wave liberal feminists believe in?
Even with legal equality, still social expectation holding women back
Need to also challenge sexist attitudes and stereotypes (without law being applied to priv sphere)
Who said the term ‘the problem with no name’ after women gained legal equality but still discriminated against?
Betty Friedan
Whats thhe public sphere?
Visable area of society were relationships are public
WHats the private spere?
Less visable area of lives centred on home life
Radical feminists argument on the person is political + thinker
Kate Millet:
Patriarchy starts in the family, traps women in domestic work and recreated discrimination for the next generation
Family grants men ownersip over women and enhances idea of male superiority
WHo said ‘The family is patriarchys chief institution?
Kate Millet
Socialist feminist argument on the person is political + thinker
Unpaid labour by women necessary for capitalism to exist
Rowbotham: home is space for men to recover from alienation of capitalism
LIberal argument for the person is political
Focus more on public sphere eg equal pay/ work conditions
Priv life is outside the remit of political analysis, make own choices
But some elements of priv spere politicised to increase freedom eg reproductive rights
Whats equality feminism + thinker
Seek equality for men and women in society
De Beauvoir: Female characteristics are a myth to confine women, men and women are essentially the same
Whats difference feminism
Bio differences do determine gender differences
Sexes are different yet equal, or even women have preferential characterisics
Whats cultural feminsim
Seeks to challenge male dominance and promote womens values as superior
Mary daly
We are biologically destined towards a patriarchhial system as it’s everywhere across the world
Whats intersectionality?
Women have multiple, overlapping identities as well as gender whic creates a difference experience of the patriarchy
Key intersectionalist thinkers
Belle hooks- BAME women experience patriarchy differently from white m/c
Feminism up to a point as ignored issues of BAME women
Black women told to minimise blackness to focus on women
Crenshaw- black women impacted by bot sexism AND Racism
What do all radical fems agree on
Propose destruction of patriarchial society
Revolutionary outlook
Stress importance of female consciousness in criteque of patriarchy
4 key radical thinkers
Kate millet- abolis nucleur family
Greer- sexual liberation
Firestone- eliminate biological role
Dworkin: Lesbian communiies to acieve true liberation from men
What do socialist feminists overall think
Gender inequality stems from economics and capitalism creates the patriarchy
need to seek liberation from economic dependence
