Feminism Flashcards
What is essentialism?
The belief that the fundamental biological differences between men and women are key to understanding the status of women.
What does sex refer to?
The biological difference between men and women.
i.e. Women give birth and tend to have lower physical strength
What is the differences in views of sex in feminism?
-Essentialists view biological differences as important to our understanding.
-Radical feminists argue that biology explains the inferior status of women but there’s no reason for this to continue. Shulasmith Firestone argued should remove sexual functions of women to remove this difference (androgyny). She placed more importance on sex than gender.
-Liberal feminists see the importance of sex differences but regard them as insignificant compared to gender roles
What agreements are there about sex in feminism?
-Biological differences explains (to what extent is variable) the inferior status of women
What does gender refer to?
The societal role and behavior of both men and women, how they are characterized. Cultural differences.
What do feminists think about sex and gender?
They want to challenge the historical/patriarchal view that the sex differences between men and women means women are more suited to their current role.
What do liberal feminists believe about gender?
-Liberal feminists believe that gender differences have been passed down culturally and artificially created. Sexist attitudes must be stopped from being passed down by education and legislation.
-Women self-assigned inferiority and men are socially conditioned to feel superior
What do feminists agree about gender?
They agree that gender has been artificially created and is maintained through generations.
What do feminists mean by ‘personal is political’?
The private sphere (relationships and family) is a way of men exercising power of women so it becomes inherently political and part of the patriarchy.
(radical feminist view)
What do liberal feminists believe about ‘personal is political’?
-Liberals believe that the public and private sphere should be separated. State should not be involved in the private sphere (harm principle). Public sphere is the concern of state (workplace, media)
What do feminists agree about the state?
They agree that the state is part of the wider patriarchy.
What do liberal feminists believe about the state?
-Liberal feminists believe the state is needed to solve. Changes to education system, legal/political equality, anti-discrimination legislation, equal pay regulation, tackling domestic violence, awareness programmers, female quotas in politics
What do radical feminists believe about the state?
-The liberal attitude to change (anti-discrimnation elgislation, education) is superficial because patriarchy is mroe systematic
-Must tackle culture through a cultural reovlution
-State can’t be part of the solution as it’s patriarchal in nature
What do socialist feminists believe about the state?
-The state is an agent of capitalism which in turn exploits women. state indirectly oppresses women
What is the patriarchy?
A complete system in which women are exploited (equivalent to capitalism for socialists). Proposed by Friedan after first wave feminism failed in achieving equality.
What do radical feminists believe about the patriarchy?
-Patriarchy as a complete system of exploitation
-It’s removal is essential through: full scale attack on cultural values, violent resistance to male dominance, female counter culture seperate to society
Revolutionary apporach
-Female consciousness is necessary
What do liberal feminists believe about the patriarchy?
Characteristic of society which can be challenged through gradual, peaceful change. Reformists
What do equality feminists believe?
Equality for women in all spheres, equal opportunities
(usually liberal feminists)
What do difference feminists believe?
-Men and women have fundemental differences which should be recognised and embraced in society
-Attributes associated to women (nuturing children, caring) could create a better world - better custodians of environment, less war
What problem do equality feminists have with difference feminists?
Inequality will likely benefit men since society is determined by men
What is intersectionality?
From post-modern feminism (key thinker bell hooks) the belief that women from different background experience different problems.
May include: race, class, sexual orientation etc.
What was Engel’s theory about the industrialised economy and women?
Pre capitalism women enjoyed a more prominent place in society.
Capitalism reduced them to wage slaves.
Constituted a reserve army of labour working at low wages when male labour was scarce. Used to keep wages low.
What do feminists agree about the economy?
-Form of unpaid labour at home (enables men to earn more money)
-Pool of part-time, low wage, disposable labour for times of economic growth
-Tend to be paid less (gender pay gap, raising children etc.)
- Glass ceiling - top employees are usually men
What does Sheila Rowbotham believe about the economy?
A modern socialist feminist building on idea of Engels.
Patriarchy and capitalism are wound up together.
Need to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a new world which focuses on women.
Both women and workers need to organise.
