Feminism

Question 1

What is feminism

Answer 1

An ideology that aims for gender equality

Question 2

Outline the history of feminism

Answer 2

1 first wave 1850’s-1940’s focused on legal and political rights for women, most famously in UK with suffragette movement which ensured equal suffrage with men in 1928
2 second wave 1960’s-1980’s so used on different roles that society expected of men and women
3 Third Wave 1990’s was concerned that feminism had failed to recognise the concerns of women in other cultures
4 fourth wave 2008 onwards is feminism reacting to on line mysogyny?

Question 3

What are the differences between sex and gender

Answer 3

Sex refers to biological differences, catergorised by words male and female and remains the same regardless of time and culture

Gender refers to the social and cultural differences between men and women categorised by words masculine and feminine expectations differ across time and culture

Question 4

What would feminists argue about gender stereotypes

Answer 4

1There is no justification to place stereo types on people despite biological differences
2 That in a patriarchal society the gender roles given to women are to keep them inferior and in less powerful positions than men

Question 5

What are the traditional roles of women

Answer 5

Caregivers and supporters of men’s roles (wife secretary nurse)

Question 6

What do feminists identify patriarchy as

Answer 6

A system run by and for men

Question 7

What are the 6 areas through which patriarchal ideas dominate society as stated by Sylvia Walby

Answer 7

1 the sate - women have been denied representation and are underrepresented in formal positions of power
2 household - women have been discouraged from occupations outside of the home
3 culture- society has always reinforced messages to women through culture. Adverts emphasised a woman’s domestic role. There are now unrealistic expectations of women’s appearance
4 sexuality - women were made to feel abnormal for having sexual feelings while encouraging men to fully explore their sexuality
5 paid work - when women were allowed to take up paid work they were pushed towards low paid or part time jobs or jobs which put them in an assistant position to a man
6 violence - domestic abuse has only recently been taken seriously in society previously it was considered a private matter

Question 8

State 2 ideas that are key to feminist ideology

Answer 8

1 patriarchy
2 the personal political

Question 9

Explain the idea the personal is political

Answer 9

It is a slogan which challenged society’s views about women Feminists challenge the idea that what goes on between a man and a woman in private relationships has nothing todo with the rest of society

Question 10

What do these private issues refer to

Answer 10

1 household division of labour
2 attitude towards women who want to work
3 morality associated with women’s sexuality
4 objectifying women

Question 11

What are the public and private spheres

Answer 11

Public - society
Private - home

Question 12

Why do feminists believe personal is political

Answer 12

Because they believed that these private issues were ways of keeping women in their subordinate place in society - it was about power and therefore was political

Question 13

What does the patriarchy argue about human nature

What does personal is political argue

Answer 13

That some men are predisposed to oppress women and some argue for the complete separation of men

Feminists reject that women’s nature makes them more suited to domestic roles and are less capable than men

Question 14

What is the patriarchy view of the state

What is the personal political view

Answer 14

The state helps patriarchy by reinforcing the patriarchal values. The state institutions are dominated by men who argue feminists legislate in their own interests

Feminists argue that the state reinforces the difference between private and public oppression

Question 15

What is the patriarchy view of society

What is the view of personal political

Answer 15

Any issue to do with feminism and society usually relates to a discussion of patriarchy. Radical feminists want patriarchal society overthrown and believe women will not be treated equally under any conditions

Feminists seek to change society by removing the distinction in patriarchal society to enable oppression in the private sphere to be removed

Question 16

What is the patriarchy view of the economy

What is the view of personal political

Answer 16

Feminists argue that patriarchy is the reason that women have historically been restricted to the home and their jobs have traditionally been considered less important thus less well paid

Feminists believe that women are restricted from entering the economy as equals to men because of the misconception that their key role should be in the home

Question 17

State 3 other key ideas of feminism

Answer 17

1 equality
2 difference feminism, 3 intersectionality

Question 18

What is equality feminism

Answer 18

They believe that the differences between men and women are irrelevant and both are equally capable of fulfilling all roles in society except child bearing

Question 19

What is difference feminism

Answer 19

Essentialism - argue that differences between men and women are natural and say equality feminism has encouraged women to reject womanhood and be more like a man in behaviour

Question 20

What is intersectionality

Answer 20

Emerged in the 80’s and critised feminism for only considering the concerns of white (mainly middle class) women ignoring other classes and cultures

Question 21

What are the 2 main types of feminism

Answer 21

Liberal and socialist

Question 22

Describe liberal feminism

Answer 22

1 mainly associated with demands for women’s vote i

Question 23

What are the core principles of liberal feminism

Answer 23

1 individualism - women should have freedom they need to grow as individuals in society
2 equality of opportunity - women and men have equal chances in life
3 foundational equality - all humans are of equal moral worth and value. In law all humans are entitled to the same rights
4 reformist - society does not require fundamental or radical change as society progresses inequalities will be rectified by a change in the law which will change attitudes and role modelling women in non traditional roles

Question 24

Describe socialist feminism

Answer 24

Believes that gender inequalities in society come from economics and capitalism

Question 25

What are socialist feminisms core ideas and principles

Answer 25

1 eradication of capitalism which creates patriarchy and subordinates women in order to to fulfil the labour roles - do domestic work for free, reproduce and bring children up with capitalist values, look after their husbands and replenish his energy
2 economic and social inequality - women should be liberated through a socialist revolutio. When capitalism is removed women will be treated as equal
3 radical/revolutionary - social feminism is a radical movement as they wish to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a socialist society. Only then will women become equal to men
4 marriage and family - removing women from the workforce makes them financially dependent on their husbands

Question 26

State a liberal feminist key thinker

Answer 26

Betty Friedan she believed in foundational equality and fought for legal and political equality and equal opportunity in education and the workplace

Question 27

State a socialist feminist key thinker

Answer 27

Juliet Mitchell argued that women are oppressed in 4 ways
1 reproduction
2 sexuality
3 socialisation of children
4 production
She argued women should fight both capitalism and patriarchy to create a classless society and only when all 4 areas are transformed will women be truely free

Question 28

Describe radical feminism

Answer 28

The only feminists who define society solely as patriarchal and believe the biggest problem in society if gender inequality
2 they reject liberal and socialist views that feminism can be understood with any other ideology
3 they believe only through a radical sexual revolution can patriarchy be removed and women freed

Question 29

State the types of radical feminists

Answer 29

1 equality radical feminism - outraged by views of other radicals as it gives men the opportunity to put women back in the kitchen
2 difference feminism or cultural-suggest women should stop denying their female nature by imitating men
3 separatist feminism - extreme , women separate themselves from men believing they are predisposed to dominate women

Question 30

Identify and explain the beliefs of 2 radical feminists

Answer 30

1 Andrea Dworkin - known for her views on pornography arguing it was the reason for violence against women as it encouraged men to fantasise over dominating and exploiting women
2 Erin Pizzy did work on domestic violence and founded a women’s refuge

Question 31

Describe post modern feminism

Answer 31

Is about being different - all women are uniquely different argues patriarchy appears in many different ways depending on a woman’s race, class or identity

Question 32

What are some of the conflicts in post modern feminism

Answer 32

1 nudity - some feminists think public nudity is degrading and oppressive to women others see it as empowering - women owning their bodies and sexuality. Others believe public displays of nudity are playing into the hands of patriarchy

2 appearance slutwalk originated in Canada after police suggested women should avoid dressing like sluts as a precaution against sexual assault
3 wearing the burqa or hijab - many feminists see this a sign of patriarchal oppression being forced on women some Muslims reject this arguing they feel freed from the oppressive focus on appearance in western society

Question 33

How does each strand view patriarchy

Answer 33

Liberal - don’t recognise the term as oppression they see it as discrimination which can be eradicated by making small gradual adjustments
Socialist - recognise patriarchy as systematic oppression but argued it is caused by capitalism
Radical- it is systematic institutionalised and key form of male power
Post modern feminists - it is in society and changes according to class ethnicity and religion. Society needs to recognise the different forms

Question 34

How does each strand view sex and gender

Answer 34

Liberal- all humans are liberal creatures so the distinction of sex and gender is artificial. Women are as capable as men and should have equal chances in society
Socialist - reject and seek to eradicate gender stereotypes required by capitalism as it needs women to do domestic work and other functions
Radical - gender roles are created by patriarchy to opress women
Post modern - gender roles are forced on women and they are different according to class and colour

Question 35

How does each strand view personal is political

Answer 35

Liberal - reject it their focus is discrimination in the public sphere
Socialist - the person IS political women are forced into domesticity to help reproduce the labour force and other capitalist functions
Radical - politics is found wherever there is an imbalance of power and women are suppressed in both public and private spheres through male domination
Post modern - support the radical feminist view of society as political

Question 36

How does each strand view difference v equality

Answer 36

Liberal - all humans are of equal moral worth and are entitled to the same rights
Socialist - believe in sexual and class equality
Radical - most believe gender inequality is created by patriarchy but difference feminists argue women should not seek to replicate male behaviour but be free to be women
Post modern - women’s different experiences explain the different ways they are oppressed

Question 37

How does each strand view intersectionality

Answer 37

Liberal - all women no matter class religion or ethnicity should be treated equally
Socialist - capitalism oppresses women and working class men they must unite to remove capitalism and patriarchy
Radical - all women are equally oppressed by patriarchy but in different ways
Post modern - different groups of women experience different types of oppression

Question 38

How does each strand view reform or revolution

Answer 38

Liberal - society will change gradually as women gain greater rights and take on more roles usually associated with men
Socialist - only an economic and socialist revolution will rid society of capitalism and patriarchy
Radical - a social revolution is needed to rid society of entrenched patriarchal values
Post modern - oppression of different classes and ethnicities also needs to be eradicated.

Question 39

Identify 3 key thinkers

Answer 39

1 Charlotte’s perkin Gilman - socialist feminist
Key ideas
1 societal presussure - gender stereotyping from young is wrong little boys and girls should not dress and play with different toys
2 economic independence - women’s dependancy on their husband for money is at the heart of oppression

2 Simone de Beauvoir
1 society moods women into their behaviours - not born a woman made a woman
2 men ar the norm and women are the other women have accepted this

3 Shiela Rowbotham - socialist argued capitalism’s is part of the system of female oppression
1 oppression of women predates capitalism so it can not have created patriarchy but they are linked and a revolution is needed to eradicate both

Question 40

Debate to what extent do feminists agree over the concept of patriarchy

Answer 40

Agree
1 most feminists agree that women are descriminated against in society publically
2 gilman and de Beauvoir were among the first to identify gender stereotyping and Millett defined descrimination as cultural not biological
3 there is agreement amongst equality feminists that patriarchy is not a static concept
4 the majority of equality feminists agree that patriarchy must be opposed in the public spheres of society

Disagree
1 liberal feminists tend to discuss discrimination rather that’s patriarchy and focus on public spheres in society
2 liberal feminists believe state societ and economy can be reformed of descrimination but radical feminists argue there must be a revolution to change both public and private spheres
3 post feminists argue most female goals have been achieved and descrimination does not exist
4 postmodern feminists argue patriarchy is far more complicated than radical or socialists have imagined

Question 41

Debate to what extent do feminists agree and disagree on human nature

Answer 41

Agree
1 all equality feminists would agree that the understanding of sex and gender is crucial to understand human nature
2 equality feminists argue human nature is neither male nor female and gender is cultural and not biological. Masculinity is artificially created
3 liberal radical, socialist and post modern feminists are all equality feminists believing biological difference are not important and women are as rational as men
4 most feminists agree with de Beauvoir and Millett that these gender roles are imposed on women socialising them to believe gender roles are natural

Disagree
1 different feminists disagree with equality feminists in their understanding of human nature and believe women should embrace their natural femininity
2 difference and cultural feminism is more extreme version that challenges the dominance of male values in society and argues women’s values should be promoted as they are superior
3 liberal, radical, socialist and difference feminists argue sex is biological fact
4 post modern feminists believe nature is more complex

Question 42

To what extent do feminists agree and disagree about the role of the state

Answer 42

Agree -
1 historically the state has helped make women subordinate to men
2 feminists broadly agree that the state can be restructured to enhance the position of women in society and economy
3 the majority of feminists agree that the state should tackle patriarchy in public society and economy

Disagree
1 radical feminists see the state as promoting and sustaining patriarchy
2 liberals say state should only intervene in public sphere of society radicals argue state must intervene in private sphere
3 socialist argue the state must be abolished so women can be free from capitalist and patriarchy oppression

Question 43

Debate - to what extent do feminists agree and disagree on society

Answer 43

Agree
1 all agree women face discrimination in society and it is historical
2 social attitudes have seen women play a subordinate and supporting role to men in society to the point where women see there gender roles as natural
3 equality and advancement in society has been difficult for women because of innate cultural institutionalised disadvantages

Disagree
1 liberals argue that there is discrimination in the public sphere - radicals patriarchy is in every part of society
2 they have different views on patriarchy in society liberals - argue society can be reformed by the state
Radicals have lots of solutions how patriarchy can be eradicated
Socialists argue society is economically determined by male capitalism and a revolution is needed to change the status for women and workers
3 post modern feminists argue need to look at gender alongside other factors like race class and age which all disadvantage women
4 post feminists argue patriarchy has largely been defeated but post modern would say this view has ignored the struggles of women of couloir and lower social classes

Question 44

Debate - to what extent do feminists agree and disagree about the economy

Answer 44

Agree
1 they believe the economic world discriminates against women in the workplace
2 the labour market is divided because of gender roles women are employed in proffesions seen as femineand men in masculine roles. Male dominated professions tend to be better paid than female dominated
3 senior roles in business are dominated by men because they are perceived as being more logical and better decision makers
4 feminists agree with breakdown of gender stero types women can achieve equality in the workplace and no longer be economically dependent on men

Disagree
1 equality feminists argue biological differences are unimportant in the workplace while difference feminists argue biological differences do matter
2 liberals argue the workplace can not be reformed by the state but socialists argue women’s place in the workplace can only be achieved by revolution
3 radicals argue patriarchy is cultural and not economic
4 post modern feminists argue liberals, radicals and socialists fail to see impact of race on gender and economic oppression