Feminism

Question 1

liberal feminism

Answer 1

Liberal feminists are concerned with the human and civil rights and freedoms of the individual. They believe that all humans should be equal; therefore all men and women should be equal. They are also reformist in the sense that they believe that change should be gradual and careful, not rash or revolutionary. Therefore changes towards greater equality for women should be gradual, they believe that equality legislation, for example can secure equal opportunities for women.

As well as changes in the law, liberal feminists seek cultural changes. In their view traditional attitudes towards women prevent equality. For example, women being seen as less rational and more emotional prevents their involvement in decision making roles, and encourages their confinement to domestic labour and childbearing. Liberal feminists reject the idea that biological differences make women different (less capable) than men. They equally reject the idea that men are less caring or emotional than women.

Question 2

liberal femenism, sex and gender- oakley

Answer 2

Oakley makes a key distinction between sex and gender:

Sex refers to the biological difference between men and women - FIXED

Gender refers to culturally constructed differences between the ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’, transmitted across the generations via gender role socialisation - SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED

So, gender roles vary according to the time and place, comparative studies reveal great differences in expectations and attitudes towards men and women in different countries and in different times.

Question 3

liberal femenists, gendered socialisation

Answer 3

key areas to change according to liberal feminists, so they focus on men contributing more to domestic labour and also encourage more male role models within education. They believe that over time, this will encourage cultural change and that gender equality will become the norm.

Liberal feminism is therefore an optimistic theory, believing that change is occurring, reducing sexist/traditional attitudes, and that political changes are leading to progress towards a fairer society.

Liberal feminism can be seen as a critique of functionalist views on the family – instrumental and expressive roles, which are seen by functionalists as biologically inevitable. Liberal feminism challenges this assumption. However, liberal feminists are least conflictual in their approach, as they believe that equality is possible within society as it currently arranged.

Question 4

evaluation of liberal feminists

Answer 4

Liberal feminists have played an important role in highlighting the inequalities between men and women, in employment, the family, the media and so on. Their work has emphasised the socially constructed nature of gender differences. However liberal feminists have been criticised for being overly optimistic, regarding laws as having the potential to ‘fix’ prejudices and change attitudes. They ignore the fact that there may be deep seated structural causes of women’s oppression, and Walby (1997) argues that they offer no explanation for overall structure of gender inequalities. Marxist and radical feminists argue that broader changes need to be made if women are to gain true equality.

Question 5

radical femenist, brownmiller

Answer 5

argues that the root of women’s oppression lies in sexual violence. This makes all women fear men which maintains patriarchal control of women.

Question 6

radical feminism, the personal is political

Answer 6

Oppression takes place in the public sphere of the workplace, media and politics as well as the private sphere of the family. They claim that all relationships involve power and they are political when one person uses this power to dominate another. Radical feminists argue that relationships between men and women are rife with sexual politics (Millet)

Question 7

radical feminist, rich

Answer 7

Radical feminism also draws attention to the nature of sexuality as a natural biological urge – and therefore outside the scope of sociology. In contrast radical feminists argue that patriarchy constructs sexuality so as to satisfy men’s desires. Rich argues that men force women into a narrow and unsatisfying ‘compulsory heterosexuality’ which becomes the only socially acceptable form of sexuality.

Question 8

radical feminists and the need of social change

Answer 8

Radical feminists argue that for change to occur to benefit women, relationships and therefore sexual politics must be transformed.

Question 9

radical feminists, separatism

Answer 9

men and women living apart; consciousness raising – when women share experiences in groups, they see that they are not alone. This may lead to collective action, such as marches; political

Question 10

radical feminists; lesbianism

Answer 10

is the only non-oppressive sexuality, therefore they recommend lesbianism

Question 11

evaluation of radical feminist views

Answer 11

Marxists argue that it is capitalism and not gender that causes women oppression. Radical feminism offers no explanation of why female subordination takes different forms in different societies; it assumes that all women are in the same position and ignores class and ethnic differences between women. Separatism is criticised as being impossible or unachievable. Patriarchy has also been argued to be in decline, with recent changes in laws, reforms, and equal opportunities. Finally, radical feminists overlook women’s violence towards men and violence within lesbian relationships.

Question 12

Marxist feminism

Answer 12

Marxist feminists reject liberal and radical feminists’ explanations for the causes of women’s oppression. Instead, they see women’s subordination as a result of capitalism. Although men benefit from women’s subordination, the main beneficiary is capitalism. Women’s subordination results from women’s role as an unpaid domestic housewife role, which places them in an economically dependent position in the family.

Question 13

marxism femenism

women are seen as a source of cheap labour

Answer 13

they can be paid less because it can be assumed that they are dependent on their husbands

Question 14

marxist femenism

women are a reserve army of labour

Answer 14

during boom and recession women can be called upon to work

Question 15

marxist femenism

women reproduce the labour force

Answer 15

through their unpaid domestic work, nurturing and socialising children to become the next generation of workers

Question 16

marxism femenism

women absorb anger

Answer 16

(Ansley – women are the ‘takers of shit’) from their husbands who feel frustrated with the system, posing no threat to the system and prevents them realising the true cause of their frustration (i.e. capitalism)

Question 17

barrett- the ideology of familiaism

Answer 17

Barrett argues women’s roles also support the capitalist ideology, to maintain positive feelings and motivation for the capitalist system to continue. The nuclear family is perceived as ideal, and is a place where women can achieve fulfilment through motherhood and the housewife role. For Barrett, the revolution must also remove familial expectations about the role that women play. This would free the sexes from restrictive stereotypes and ensure that domestic labour was shared equally.

Question 18

evalustion of marxism femenism

Answer 18

It fails to explain women’s subordination in non-capitalist societies (however was Marx trying to explain non capitalist societies?!)

Unpaid Labour may support capitalism, for example housework, but this doesn’t explain why women do it – Hartmann argues that Marxism is therefore ‘sex blind’

There is not enough emphasis on the ways that men oppress women and benefit from their unpaid labour

Question 19

dual systems femenism

Answer 19

This is a combination of Radical and Marxist feminist views, voiced by Hartmann who claim that women are oppressed by ‘patriarchal capitalism’. Women are oppressed in both the family and in paid work (being restricted in their careers by a glass ceiling and the dual burden within the home). Therefore the two systems – capitalism and patriarchy reinforce each other.

Question 20

difference femenism

Answer 20

All the types of feminism we have looked at so far assume that women share a similar situation and a similar experience of oppression. By contrast ‘difference feminists’ argue that we cannot see women as a homogenous group. They argue that women’s oppression and experiences is the product of a wide variety of factors including, racism, homophobia, class, capitalism etc. Difference feminists argue that the other types of feminism focus on a very white, westernised notion of gender. Difference feminists therefore disagree with essentialism – seeing all women as essentially sharing the same experiences, for example women in developing countries faced by famine and poverty have very different concerns to western women.

Question 21

postmodrenist femenist

Answer 21

Women’s position has changed in the era of postmodernity according to Postmodernist Feminists. Women’s position has probably improved as they have more choice and freedom, and are able to create new roles and identities for themselves.
Women also benefit from postmodernity in education where they have more choice regarding subjects they can study and possible career opportunities, and women could benefit from more flexible and customised educational experiences; for example, a single mum can study via Open University and get a degree around supporting her family.
In terms of beliefs, women are more likely to be members of new age movements and use them for self-improvement purposes as well as support. Women have also benefitted from more liberal values in postmodernity, i.e. women can now become priests and bishops.