feminism Flashcards
history of feminism
- first wave- focused on legal and political rights of women like suffragette movement
- second wave- focused on different roles that society expected of men and women
- third wave- focused on feminism in other cultures and people of colour
- fourth wave- online misogyny
define sex
biological differences between men and wimen
define gender
social and cultural differences between men and women
define patriarchy
system of social structures which allow men to exploit women
6 structures of patriarchy
state- women have been denied representation and positions of responsibility
household- domestic jobs, discouraged from having a job
culture- women’s primary role seen as caregiver, unreasonable expectations
sexuality- repress sexual desires otherwise they are seen as “unladylike”
paid work- low paid or part time jobs, assistant jobs, nurturing children like education
violence- domestic abuse
what is the “personal is political”
patriarchy found in private and public sphere and what goes on in the private sphere like domestic violence should be of public interest
define equality feminism
seeks equality for men and women even despite biological differences
define difference feminism
men and women are fundamentally different
define essentialism
difference feminists belief biological factors are significant in the different behaviour of men and women
what is political lesbianism or lesbian separatism
women trying to escape from the domination of men by isolating themselves to be together
define intersectionality
other factors other than gender can change a women’s experience like race
liberal feminists view on human nature
- individualism- women should have the freedom they ended to be autonomous in society
- foundational equality- all humans are equal
liberal feminists view on state
- equality of opportunity
- state should promote female liberation through legal and political equality
- reject patriarchy as systematic oppression of women, but instead it discriminates against women
- reform should only take place in public sphere
liberal feminists view on society and economy
- women are stuck doing domestic work and held back
- reform is needed by democratic pressure to change gender the law and through the process of role modelling
socialists feminists view on the state
- reject the liberal ideas of state as neutral body as it works in the interests of capitalism
- capitalism creates the patriarchy
socialists feminists view in society and economy
- women are oppressed through reproduction, sexuality, children and production
- want a classless society where men and women are equal
- women play subservient role and act as a reserve army of labour
- only revolution can bring about change where men should join women to fight against capitalism
- traditional- one revolution needed
- modern- 2 revolutions needed, where they need to overcome both gender and class inequalities
- socialists societies- childcare would not only be concern of women
radical feminists view on society
- purely patriarchal
- “personal is political”
- need for radical sexual revolution
radical feminists view on state
- promotes interests of patriarchy and should play a role in eradicating patriarchal values in private and public sphere
what do radical differences feminists believe
- men and women differ in biology (essentialism)
- do not want women to be “male identified”
what do radical equality feminists believe
- biology does not determine difference in sex
- want society where gender ceases to structure a persons identity
post modern feminists view on society
- patriarchy in paid work and state
- focus on individual experiences, rather than grouping women together
- intersectionality- feminists ideologies focus on white middle class women
- seek to understand different cultures and recognise different types of oppression
radical feminist view on economy
- economy is a distraction
- equalising wealth is not enough
Gilman ideas
- use of sexuality to survive by pleading their husband
- women need economic interdependence
- gender stereotyping in childhood is wrong- forces young girls to conform to a domestic role
- communal housing should be constructed for men and women to live singly
- women should take their place in the workforce and be freed as domestic slaves
de Beauvoir ideas
- women are taught and socialised to become women
- otherness- men are the norm, and women are the other
- initially believes socialise development and class struggle was needed to solve society’s problems
- no longer believe revolution was sufficient
- motherhood turned women into domestic slavers
- women have accepted and internalised their otherness- including other women
- mystique feminine nature oppresses women- women shouldn’t refuse “a man’s way” or believe they cannot have masculine qualities
Millet ideas
- family is the key to patriarchy - transfer of ownership during marriages
- socialisation gives men power and denies women power
- female oppression was both political and cultural
- stereotypes reinforces through friends, school and media
- art and literature produced works degrading towards women
- called an end to monogamy- have more than one partner to share the laid
- sexual revolution
Rowbotham ideas
- women are oppressed economically and culturally
- capitalism and sexism are closely linked- radical change needed
- revolution within revolution needed
- dual response for public and private sphere
- marriage resembled feudalism
- domestic work by women allowed the reproduction of men’s labour
- men took refuge in the family for alienation under capitalism
hooks ideas
- excludes concerns of women of colour- recognise different experiences
- at a young age children are knocked down and told to fit into boxes
- girls are taught to change themselves to attract and pleas
- intersectionality
- feminism has not succeeded in creating political solidarity
