FEMINISM

Answer 1

Feminists study society from the perspective of women; they see women as subordinated by men, and seek to free women from their oppression. However, different feminists differ on the means in which they should do so. Liberal feminists seek legal reforms and a change in attitudes to bring equality. Radical feminists, however, see patriarchy as the fundamental conflict in society and believe separatism is the only solution. Marxist feminists determine capitalism to be the main beneficiary of women’s oppression and not men. Difference feminists determine all women to be different, and therefore each woman experiences a different level of oppression.

Question 2

LIBERAL FEMINISM

Answer 2

Believes that equality should
be brought about through
education and policy
changes. They try to change
the system from within.

Question 3

RADICAL FEMINISM

Answer 3

Believe equality can only be
achieved through gender
separation and political
lesbianism. Change is brought
about through protest and
violence

Question 4

MARXIST FEMINISM

Answer 4

Believe that capitalism is the
cause of women’s oppression and that this oppression helps to reinforce capitalism. This is done in THREE WAYS:
- WOMEN ARE THE RESERVED ARMY of labour
- REPRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION of WORKERS.
-WOMEN ABSORB ANGER, ANSLEY: ‘takers of shit’, soak up frustration from their EXPLOITATION AT WORK
CUSHIONING EFFECT – ZARETSKY

Question 5

DIFFERENCE FEMINISM

Answer 5

DO NOT see women as a SINGLE HOMOGENOUS GROUP - differences of CLASS, ETHNICITY, SEXUALITY etc. all lead to DIFFERENT EXPEIRNECES of PATRIARCHY. Hence, they emphasise DIVERSITY.
​DIFFERENCE FEMINISM argue FEMINIST THEORY claim ‘FALSE UNIVERSALITY’: claims to APPLY to all women, but in reality, it is only about the experiences of WHITE, WESTERN, HETEROSEXUAL, MIDDLE-CLASS WOMEN.

DIFFERENCE FEMINISM criticise RADICAL, LIBERAL and MARXIST FEMINISTS for being ESSENTIALISTS, see women as ESSENTIALLY the same and therefore FAIL to REFLECT the DIVERSITY of women’s experiences.

eg WESTERN FEMINISMs concern with SEXUALITY doesn’t EXTEND to WOMEN in POORER COUNTRIES, access to WATER is MORE OF A CONCERN