Feminism

Question 1

The challenge to malestream sociology

The contribution of feminist theory
General features of feminist theory

Answer 1

Feminist sociological theory emerged as challenge to sociology seen as male stream - neglected experiences of women
Exposed limitations of early white m/c feminist perspective
Inequalities of power that generate conflict and differences of interest + recognition of importance of patriarchy
Walby patriarchy embodied in 6 structures (The household, paid work, the state, sexuality, male violence, cultural institutions)

Question 2

Liberal feminism

Answer 2

Women’ inequality arises from lack of = opp (sexism/ stereotyping) = keeps them in lower paid/ status jobs
legal/ economic/ social equality will come from, legal reform (free/affordable childcare)
E: Over-optimistic/ reducing effect of women’s subordination Ignore wider power structures.
Marxist and Radical feminists argue that revolutionary changes are needed.

Question 3

Radical feminism

Answer 3

patriarchy most fund. form of inequality - found in all personal and private spheres of life. All personal relationships with men involve sexual politics (power struggle).
Firestone et al - women’s sub to women’s biology (childbirth) - makes them dependent on men and vulnerable allows men to develop physical and psych. control over them.
purpose: women live separately. lesbianism, childbirth independent
E: Marxists feminist - cap not patriarchy is main source of women’s sub. it benefits not men

Question 4

Marxist feminism

Answer 4

Gender inequality arises from nature of capitalist society not from patriarchy.
women = cheap labour force - can be sacked during periods of economic recession.
Free labour
women’s’ expressive role Ansley ‘takers of shit’
capitalism is the root cause of women’s oppression
E: Doesn’t explain patriarchy has existed in all known societies not just capitalist societies

Question 5

Dual systems feminism

Answer 5

Capitalism and patriarchy seen as 2 dual separate systems that interact and reinforce another in the form of ‘patriarchal capitalism’. Generates dual role for women as homemakers and paid workers
e.g primary responsibility for housework creates economic dependence on men.
Both structures combine with other factors like class + ethnicity to generate multiple causes for the subordination of women - structures not men who are source of female inequality
E: X primarily theoretical approach - dont offer solution to problem of women’s subordination

Question 6

Difference feminism (Black feminism)

Answer 6

suggest other variants of feminism viewed women’s subordination through the eyes of white m.c women. Subordination + oppression can take diverse forms in a postmodern society.
E.g. sub. differences in experiences of women specific groups may face multiple oppressions intensified by patriarchy - black w/c lesbians may experience patriarchal oppression in different ways to white m/c heterosexual women
E.g. - different groups of women have different conceptions of what oppression means - hijab
E: Liberal/ radical - by emphasising differences between women attention deflects from problems shared by all women

Question 7

Feminism as a political ideology

Answer 7

1st wave - late 19th century/early 20th - right to vote/ education
2nd - Women’s liberation movement of 1960’s/ = rights in legal institutions etc (set track for improved equality of opportunity)
3rd - ongoing continuing struggles of 2nd wave/ new issues raised by DF
All focussed on changing women’s lives