Feminism Flashcards
What is the feminist perspective?
Structural conflict theory that takes a bottom up approach
What does female subordination mean?
take away a woman’s power and influence
less life chances
Why is feminism linked to modernism?
Like functionalism and marxism, feminism is also a response to modernism. It is a modernist theory that provides and explanation of the consequences of the effects of industrial society on the position of women.
How is feminism a political movement?
It is not just a sociological theory it is also a political movement.
It seeks to improve women’s position in society. It is therefore politically motivated.
It is a political ideology.
What do feminists mean by the word malestream?
They believe that traditional sociological theories have been malestream. They have been theorised by men. They have ignored female experience or simply generalised and applied male experiences to females.
Why do we have feminism?
It challenges the views that
- women are intellectually inferior to men and that females are ‘The Second sex’- BEAUVOIR
- women are deemed as the weaker sex and are emotionally irrational- CHESTER
- Biological Sex Role Theory- EAGLEY - more are stronger physically and therefore more intelligent
- women are financially dependent on men and their job is in the household
What feminists were involved in the first wave of feminism and what did they do?
FAWCETT
- leader of the national union of women’s suffrage
- writing and speaking career discussing women’s education
PANKHURST
- work for the women’s suffrage and spoke at rallies
- non militant aspect
First wave feminism
Mid 19th to early 20th century
Suffragists- peaceful, educating people, silent protests
Suffragettes- militant action, bombs in post boxes, vandalise
- fight for social and political inequality
1918- women over 30 allowed to vote
1928- received the vote on equal terms
Second wave feminism
1960s and 1970s
post WW2, liberation movement
- equal representations
- contraception, choice and flexibility over family roles, right to a career
1970- Equal Pay Act
1976- Sex Discrimination equality act
3rd wave feminism
1980s and 1990s
Difference feminist argue that we cannot generalise women’s experiences this way- don’t all live in a conventional nuclear family
White, black, Asian, MC, WC all have very different experiences from one another
What did WALKER say in difference feminism?
- sexism and racism are bound together- intersectionality
- mainstream fem movement is white, MC women
- positionality perspective- writing from your own cultural background and position
What did SAADAWI say in difference feminism?
Argue Arab women can be oppressed by religious and cultural values and practises
- fighting against female genital mutilation
- should be banned and deemed as sexual violence against girls
Fourth wave feminism
2010s
A reaction to post feminism
- celebrates diversity of gender identity
- deconstructs patriarchal ideas
- reconstructs them from a position of power- slut walk
- semiotic guerrilla warfare- lipstick n heels shifted from powerless to powerful
What is LIBERAL feminism?
- OAKLEY gender roles are a social construction
- can change stereotypes through re-education
- optimistic on The March of Progress
- aim to achieve equality through law
Supporting arguments for LIBERAL feminism
1) YOUNG N WILLMOTT
- men are doing more domestic tasks
2) parents socialise, and have similar aspirations for their sons and daughters
3) more women than ever before in employment
4) continuing reform changes paternity rights
CHALLENGES to LIBERAL feminism
1) Equal pay act is hard to monitor/ regulate
2) Prejudicial attitudes still exist regarding women and maternity leave and part time employment and pay
3) DOBASH N DOBASH
- significant violence against women in Western countries
4) FERRI N SMITH
- women still do most of the domestic labour (dual burden)
What is MARXIST feminism?
1) women reproduce the labour force
- unpaid domestic labour, socialise next generation
2) Women absorb husbands anger because of the alienation they feel at work
- ANSLEY - punch bag theory, otherwise be directed at capitalism
3) women are the reserve army of labour = cheap labour
- extra workers, employers can let go to return to their primary role of unpaid domestic labour
What do Delphy and Leonard say about marxist feminism?
women are at economic disadvantage compared to men a they carry out more unpaid labour (childcare and housework) than men
Supporting argument for MARXIST feminism
1) women more likely to suffer from domestic violence
2) more likely to be employed as the reserve army and would pick up part time/ flexible work
- 30,000 sacked a year for being pregnant
- 440,000 lose pay outs/promotions as a result of pregnancy
CHALLENGES to MARXIST feminism
- ignores benefits of family
- ignores preference theory
- MC women may not feel oppressed cannot generalise all economic positions
- radical feminist say patriarchy pre-dates capitalism
What is RADICAL feminism?
- men are the enemy
- separatism, political lesbianism, matrilocal
- biology is the source of female oppression
- birth control helped women have more choice
- test tube babies
Supporting arguments for RADICAL feminism
Sommerville - don’t have full equality
a) politics- MILLET men pass law and SPs that benefit themselves- women are outnumbered in parliament
b) school - objectification, up skirting, male gaze
CHALLENGES to RADICAL feminism
- ignores progress
- birth control, divorce, job opportunities
- separatism is unlikely to work, heterosexual attraction won’t disappear- impractical solution
- promotes extremism - branch is discredited
