Feminism Flashcards
1
Q
Sex and Gender
A
- sex- biological differences between men and women
- Gender is used to explain the “innate characteristics” of men and women
feminists argue that there is no evidence/justification for gender roles being ascribed to people- different cultures have different ideas as to what constitutes to masculinity/ femininity- showing gender is learned behaviour imposed by society. - Feminists argue that “ideal” gender types for men and women is a way for society to keep women to be subordinate
2
Q
Patriarchy- walby
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- society dominated by men and run in the interests of men.
- Walby identified patriarchy’s pervasiveness as a “system of interrelated social structures which allow men to exploit women”- there are 6 overlapping structures
- State- women have been denied representation in the formal positions of power
- Household- women have been conditioned to believe that domesticity is destiny- discouraged to pursue occupations
- Violence- there is a “dark side” to family life- domestic abuse only recently been taken seriously
- paid work- women are pushed towards lower-paid/ part time jobs/ ones that focus on nurturing children.
- Sexuality- society forces women to repress their natural sexual desires
- Culture- society has sought to reinforce its messages- good wife expectations and beauty standards
3
Q
The personal is the political
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- slogan of second wave feminism
- most feminists distinguish between private and public sphere- traditionally feminists believed subjecation of women had been limited to public sphere- however second wave sought to convey idea that relationships between men and women are based on power not just those in the public sphere.
- idea that aspects of life that should be considered personal were part of the system that sought to repress women- things like domestic abuse which was normalised- “personal is political” aimed to raise awareness amongst women so they could challenge the status quo.
- Many feminists (millet) identify family as key area of oppression- they see it as fulfilling roles to keep women and girls in their place
4
Q
Equality and difference feminism
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- Equality feminism- seek equality for men and women and believe biological differences between men and women are inconsequential in modern society
- Difference/ essential feminism- small group of feminist- argue men and women are fundamentally different- believe there are essential biological differences between men and women- call for highlighting/ valuing the differences between men and women rather than encouraging women to deny their distinctiveness- they argue traditional feminism encourages women to deny their own nature which only alienates women from themselves- they encourage women to accept and respect their own female qualities.
- some difference feminists go further stressing superiority of womens cultural values- believe that compassion will overcome masculine qualities of selfishness and violence- they challenge dominant argument of women being inferior
- difference feminism has been controversial amongs other feminists as they believe that suggesting women are passive, nurturing etc then it will undermine the progress that the womens movement has made.
5
Q
intersectionality
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- arose with third-wave feminism- criticised previous forms of feminism for ignoring black/ working class womens experiences
- Crenshaw showed black women were often marginalised by feminism and anti-racist movements because their concerns did not fit comfortably with either group.
- Bell hooks- women were homogeneous category essentially sharing the same life experiences- stemmed from realisation that middle class women did not serve accurate representation for women as a whole- aimed to widen the narrow focus of feminism and welcome different women with different experiences due to class, religion or ethnicity.
6
Q
Liberal feminism
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- best understood through taking liberal values of individualism and foundational equality and applying them to women- women are entitled to same rights and freedoms
- Wollstonecraft- fighting for women’s rights
- an early form of feminism associated with demand for women’s suffrage- an assumption that once women had a vote they would have a voice
- wanted equality of opportunity- access to public sphere and legal and political equality.
- Betty freidan- women as capable as men in any career path- held back by society as only a few career paths were “acceptable” for women.
- it is reformist- gender imbalance can be overturned through democratic pressure- once barriers to women entering the workplace have been removed then it is only a matter of time before women enter all areas of industry
- Want gender stereotypes to disappear.
- do not seek to challenge the private sphere- argues society should give equality of opportunity to stay at home or work- rejects idea of patriarchy as the pervasive oppression of women, instead it highlights the discrimination against women
7
Q
Socialist feminst
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- believes gender inequality in society stems from economics and capitalism.
- Friedrich engels noted that women served the need of capitalism and this was the reason women were oppressed
- charlotte perkins gilman- envisaged socialist societies as revolving around alternative living arrangements where childcare would not be concerned with individual mothers- instead it would be more communal- couples alongside other couples allowing the responsibility to be shared
- believe capitalism creates patriarchy- men and women should join together to remove patriarchy- this will bring about women liberation
- tradition prioritise class over gender- modern see patriachy and capitalism as the interlocking system of oppression
8
Q
Radical feminism
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- there needs to be radical change in society- sexual revolution
- a collection of ideas by different feminists united by a belief that society can be defined as purely patriarchal- gender inequality is the foremost system of oppression
- Associated with “the personal is the political”- politics (power relationships) can be found in all relationships between men and women- highlight how patriarchy pervades every aspect of life.
- Kate Millets Sexual politics started the thinking process- critiquing patriarchy with a focus on its role in the family- studied books, art and literature, and marriage all degrade women.
- Greer believed - women socialised into believing sexual desires and wanting them satisfied was unacceptable- engage in sexual activity to procreate not enjoy.
- disagree with eachother within radical feminsim as have different focus points- all agree patriachy is alive and well in modern society.
9
Q
Post-modern feminism
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- associated with third wave feminism- “difference” feminism
- arguing against the fixed notions of women that had occupied the thoughts of many feminists- argued for a more fluid understanding of being a woman as experiences are different
- challenge the notion that gender alone was primarily the factor affecting women in society- argued it could be race, religion or class- criticised feminsts for focusing on white, middle-class women
- bell hooks suggested a combination of sexism and racism led to black women having the lowest status of any group in American society- they were marginalised from the mainstream feminism movement
- hooks criticised idea of second wave “sisterhood” which sought to find commonality of oppression between women- as it gave white middle class women a voice and discouraged women of colour- instead hooks argued women should seek to understand the different cultures of women by recognising the differences, under this a genuine sisterhood can be found.
10
Q
Human nature
A
- feminists are divided on their view- vast majority are equality feminists- believe men and women are the same in nature- the distinction between ex and gender is artificial- support gender equality- believe stereotypes are a social construct
- Difference feminists disagree- men and women have fundamentally different natures stemming from biology- essentialism
- Equality feminist believe patriarchy can be overthrown when gender roles and stereotypes are challenged- believe biology should not determine social position- difference feminists believe liberation can only be achieved when women are encouraged to allow their different natures and creative spirit to flourish
11
Q
The state
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- Liberal feminist believe state can play a role in promoting female liberation by promoting legal and political equality- state can also ensure equality of opportunity between sexes.
- radical feminists disagree- believe providing an equal, legal framework is insufficient to overthrow patriarchy- argue state promotes the interests of patriarchy.
- Socialist feminist reject liberal idea of state as a neutral body- it works in the interests if capitalism and thus patriarchy.
- liberal feminists believe state should concern itself only with correcting inequalities in the public sphere by promoting equality of opportunity and outlawing discrimination.
- Radical feminists believe state has a role to play in eradicating patriarchal values in the public and private spheres by outlawing pornography and ensuring harsher punishments on domestic violence, rape and other crimes against women.
12
Q
Society
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- all feminists believe women are not treated equally in society- differ in extent to which they think there is a problem and the reason behind it.
- liberal feminists- women are discriminated against in society- focus attention solely on public sphere.
- Radical- society is pervaded by patriarchal values that seek to preserve mens dominant position- argue the “personal is political” in all relationships between men and women- therefore focus on public and private sphere.
- Radical equality feminists- want a society which gender ceases to structure a persons identity- radical difference feminists believe this encourages women to be “male identified” and perpetuates the feeling of otherness
- post-modern feminism- challenge notion that “gender” is the sole factor of determining womens oppression in society, argue black working-class women have different experiences of patriarchy to white middle class women- intersectionality
13
Q
The economy
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- socialist feminist believe the economy is the key determinant of female oppression- capitalism in the economic sphere, not patriarchy determines nature of female oppression in society- capitalism needs women to play subservient role in economy and society- as a reserve army of labour.
- modern feminists argue that there is interplay between capitalism and the economy and patriarchy in society that causes the oppression of women
14
Q
Charlotte perkins gilman- socialist feminist
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- wrote the yellow wallpaper- women suffering from mental illness and being closeted by her husband- post natal depression link and treatment by her husband being the opposite of what she needed- mental stimulation and an escape from monotony
- sex and domestic economics went hand in hand- for women to survive they were reliant on sexual assets to please husband so he would support his family
- argued from childhood, young girls are forced to conform to domestic role and motherhood- should be no different with what boys and girls wear or what activities they do
- economic independence only thing that could bring freedom for women and make them equal to men- motherhood not stop a woman from working outside the home
- communal housing- allow individuals to live singly and still have companionship and comfort of a home- men and women both economically independent with women taking their place in workforce alongside men
15
Q
simone de beauvior
A
- “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”- women are taught and socialised to be a “woman”- called motherhood a way of turning women into slaves as they are forced to focus on mothering and femininity rather than politics
- discussed issue of “otherness”- referred to fact women were considered fundimentally different from men- women were “deviants” whilst men were the “norm”- argued women have accepted the otherness- so was inferior in their own eyes too- women need to become conscious of domination before they can struggle against it
- dismayed idea of a seperate, mystical “feminine nature”- argued the idea of a womans nature is an example of further oppression
- recognised womens movement had done something good but said that feminist shouldn’t reject being part of a mans world
