FEMINISM Flashcards
bullet point the 5 core ideas and principles of feminists
- sex and gender
- patriarchy
- personal is political
- equality and difference feminism
- intersectionality
describe the core feminist value of sex and gender
- feminists have a sharp divide between sex and gender, with sex being the biological difference
- gender being a socially constructed idea of the roles that society ascribes to men and women to encourage female passiveness and male assertiveness
- there is no reason for a distinction between masculinity and femininity
- the notions of masculinity and femininity are LEARNT BEHAVIOURS which differ based on culture, but are IMPOSED BY SOCIETY
- gender differences and these ideas of ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’ are socially and politically constructed
- but by creating these notions, society encourages women to conform to their constructed role of being passive, submissive, subordinate and docile
- believe that women and men should not be judged by their sex, which is enforced by social gender expectations
- believe in GENDERLESS ‘PERSONHOOD’ - no social role / influence
simone de beauvoir ideas of human nature
- equality feminist idea that women are equal to men - not inferior, not superior
simone de beauvoir ideas of society
- women are not born feminine, but are socialised into becoming the acceptable version of a woman
- women are better off in this spiritual ‘eternal feminine’ world without interference of male knowledge
- society and men place unrealistic expectations on women which isolate women and enforce the patriarchy - support this idea of OTHERNESS / male dominance
- women are fundamentally different than men, with society creating this idea that they deviate from the norm
simone de beauvoir ideas of the state
simone de beauvoir ideas of the economy
charlotte perkins gilman ideas of human nature
charlotte perkins gilman ideas of the state
charlotte perkins gilman ideas of society
- social conditioning: maternal roles for women are artificial and socially constructed
charlotte perkins gilman ideas of the economy
kate millett ideas of human nature
kate millett ideas of the state
- the state is merely an institution in which half the population (females) are controlled by a half male population
- the state is an institution which reinforces patriarchy and male domination over women
kate millett ideas of society
- the family is the key institution which entrenches patriarchy by socialising young girls into particular social expectations / conformity
- power relationships and ‘personal is political’ extends to the home, not just public sphere
- society creates these expectations of women being appendages to their husbands, instead of individuals, making it difficult for women to differentiate themselves
- women are forced to conform to specific gender identities
kate millett ideas of the economy
sheila rowbotham ideas of human nature
sheila rowbotham ideas of the state
sheila rowbotham ideas of society
- capitalism and misogyny are so closely linked that a radical change in social expectation can destroy these
sheila rowbotham ideas of the economy
bell hooks ideas of human nature
- intersections of race, class, religion allow for women’s experiences of oppression to be different - focuses on the INTERSECTION between these characteristics
- standpoint theory – individual knowledge is shaped by female social positions
- individual empowerment over the collective struggle
bell hooks ideas of the state
- the state is ineffective in remedying the consequences and impacts of female oppression and how some women face a double burden
- legal protections fail to protect intersections of gender and race, religion, class etc, they typically only protect one or the other
- critical of legal and political reforms to protect women who are discriminated with an intersection of different basis
- not all choices are equally liberatory in oppressive systems
bell hooks ideas of society
- black women have the lowest status of women in society
- feminist societies have not done enough for women who are not white and not middle class - the ideas of these women are only applicable to a specific subset of women
- mainstream feminist movements have often marginalised black women, and not taken into account the unique experiences of oppression of other women
- women in society must resist dominant narratives to promote alternative voices
- knowledge is influenced by hierarchical society
- media and representation shape social perceptions of race and gender, which entrench stereotypes, not challenge them
- black women in society need to subvert dominant narratives to emphasise their identity
bell hooks ideas of the economy
- without economic justice, access to healthcare, education, wages etc and access to formal legal equality would be limited
what is a key term when feminists talk about human nature
ANDROGYNY - human nature is sexless, and so your sex should be irrelevant to your social and political status
- link to this idea of genderless personhood
what do feminists think a motivation behind socially imposed gender norms are
- to impose order / patriarchy - creates a social hierarchy (displays that society continues to impose gender norms to maintain the patriarchy)
- to establish consistency
- to entrench male power
- maintain male power structures
describe the feminist view of the patriarchy
- patriarchy is a power relationship between men and women, which constricts female agency
- the patriarchy supports male domination, systematic and institutionalized oppression of women
- patriarchy creates a society of hierarchy, and entrenches this notion of a ‘glass ceiling’
- the patriarchy is an element of social conditioning, which forces women into lower status roles and constrains choice
- patriarchy is widespread in society, manifesting itself in economic, social and government ways
list the 5 key thinkers and what strand(s) they are in
- charlotte perkins gilman (radical)
- simone de beauvior (radical)
- kate millett (radical, socialist)
- sheila rowbotham (socialist)
- bell hooks (postmodern)
what are the 6 elements of patriarchy
- paid work
- patriarchy in a household
- culture
- sexuality
- violence
- the state
describe these elements of patriarchy:
- paid work
- patriarchy in a household
paid work:
- women have been confined to working in industries which men do not dominate - secondary roles
- women are underrepresented in higher paid job roles and over-represented in domestic spheres (economic patriarchy - women are NOT ECONOMICALLY REWARDED)
- men have access to paid work and therefore had financial responsibility, women only had to care for the family
patriarchy in the household:
- the family entrenches the patriarchy by teaching women / girls their social ‘role’
- the family imposes expectations on women and socialises them into clear roles to uphold patriarchy
describe these elements of patriarchy:
- culture
- sexuality
culture:
- patriarchy creates specific, separate roles for men and women
- imposing a culture on women of how to act (ie docile, passive, kind, caring), whilst encouraging men to act in (bold, aggressive and dominant ways)
- there are also physical cultures that the patriarchy imposes on women, such as their looks
- there are social cultures (ie diets) which distract women from furthering their social position, as these cultures distract women and establish insecurities
- patriarchal system aims to alienate women ‘ ie man hating women’
sexuality:
- women are isolated in society and encouraged to repress their sexual urges, based on social conditioning and being ‘ladylike’
- there are strict sexual rules for women over men
- society castigates and reprimands women for their sexual desires
escribe these elements of patriarchy:
- violence
- the state
violence:
- the patriarchy has justified the use of violence against women by their partners
- male violence toward women entrenches this self-imposed curfew and places social limitations on women and their actions
- society will by default ‘blame’ and reprimand the woman (despite her receiving violence), instead of dealing with an institutionalised culture of male dominance
- the patriarchy creates a norm to enforce male power
the state:
- the state continuously denies women fundamental rights, such as voting
- the state is disproportionately composed of men, women are under-represented
- society encourages women to recognise that things are not ‘as bad as they were’
the patriarchy can be talked about when regarding the state, society and economy. for the 6 elements of patriarchy, catagorise them under the state, society and economy
state:
- the state itself
society:
- patriarchy within the household
- culture
- sexuality
- violence against women
- potentially the state itself? (the idea of being grateful?)
economy:
- paid work
describe the feminist idea of personal is political
- the personal experiences of women’s oppression are because of living in a male dominated society (political situation)
- the patriarchal system is to blame for experiences of women
- the situations of women are not their fault, but are a consequence of power dynamics and social, systematic oppression
- because family life is deemed to be in the ‘private sphere’, this notion of personal is political does not apply here , because it is not political, due to not being in the ‘public sphere’ - which only justifies these situations of women
- all relationships between men and women are based on power and dominance (patriarchy)
describe the ideas of liberal feminist betty Friedan
- ‘problem without a name’ - women feel a degree of discontent toward their domestic situation, but this personal feeling of dis-satisfaction is widespread and ‘political’ for all women (personal is political)
describe the views of equality feminists
- women are the same as, and equal to men - society should reflect this
- differences are BECAUSE of patriarchy
describe the views of difference feminists
- argue men and women are fundamentally different in nature from one another (social equality)
- women should embrace and recognise their distinct and unique differences from men and reject imposed femininity
- women should not want to be equal to men, as this shows a desire to be ‘like men’
- we should not idealize angrogyny and sex differences, but should celebrate distinctive differences
- liberation through the idea of ‘difference’, not similarity
- believe in essentialism and the root differences between behaviour of men and women - such as female empathy and competitive male nature
define essentialism
essentialism:
- biological factors are significant in the difference of men and women
define cultural feminism
- a form of difference feminism which aims to challenge the dominance of male culture in society by promoting women’s values and to reclaim the beauty of femaleness
- this is to offset the negativity of female nature that is imposed by the patriarchy
what is eternal feminism
- idealizes women as modest, graceful, pure, civil and polite
- going against imposed patriarchal norms about sympathy and kindness
describe the core feminist idea of intersectionality
- women within feminism have different experiences of misogyny, and that feminism must be inclusive to embrace the individual different circumstances of women
- gender is not the single factor in determining a woman’s fate, experiences of women differ
- women do not only have a simple gender-based identity under which they are oppressed, this oppression intersects with class, race, age, religion etc - double burden
- different women will experience different types of oppression which are connected with their gender
- oppression cannot be distinguished purely based on gender
- thinks links to the complex idea of identity and more dimension to female oppression
- idea that the feminist movement should be inclusive
- experiences of patriarchy depending on the woman and other socio-economic factors
what do liberal, socialist, radical and postmodern feminists think on the patriarchy
liberal:
- patriarchy is a form of discrimination against women, but is not oppressive and widespread
- patriarchy is a disparity in rights and opportunities in terms of representation
socialist:
- patriarchy is systematically oppressive and caused by capitalism
- gender subordination and class inequality are linked systems of patriarchy
radical:
- patriarchy is a form of institutionalised and pervasive male power
- patriarchy is rooted in society and is a reflection of power structures
postmodern:
- patriarchy mutates and impacts people according to their race, class, ethnicity, religion etc
- patriarchy and its impact dependents on the intersectional circumstances of women
what do liberal, socialist, radical and postmodern feminists think on sex and gender
liberal:
- humans are rational, and because of this, the distinction of sex and gender is artificial
- women must have equal opportunities in society
socialist:
- rejects imposed gender stereotypes by capitalism
- capitalism imposes these distinctions to force women into free, domestic work
radical:
- gender distinctions are created to subjugate women
- women are tricked by society into fulfilling these gender roles
postmodern:
- gender roles for black working class women are different for white, middle class women
what do liberal, socialist, radical and postmodern feminists think on the personal is political idea
liberal:
- reject this idea, because they focus on public discrimination, they do not focus on the private life (do not compare public life)
socialist:
- women are forced into domestic roles in order to fulfill the demands of capitalism
- women’s domestic roles fuel capitalism
radical:
- female oppression is not personal and individual to them, but is a part of wider oppression of women
- female oppression is so common in life
postmodern:
- have a much wider interpretation of politics but support radical fems
- personal experiences of women allow for the consciousness of women to be raised
what do liberal, socialist, radical and postmodern feminists think on intersectionality
liberal:
- all women should be treated equally, no matter their race, religion, class etc
socialist:
- capitalism oppresses all working class people, these people should unite against oppressive capitalist forces
radical:
- all women are equally oppressed by patriarchal forces
postmodern:
- different groups of women will have different experiences with oppression
what do liberal, socialist, radical and postmodern feminists think on equality and difference feminism
liberal:
- support EQUALITY FEMINISTS - all humans are of equal moral worth and equal rights
socialist:
- support EQUALITY FEMINISTS - sexual equality means nothing without class inequality
radical:
- support EQUALITY FEMINISTS
- also support DIFFERENCE FEMS in believing that women should not aim to replicate male behaviour
postmodern:
- support EQUALITY FEMINISTS - the different experiences of women are crucial in understanding how they are oppressed
feminist similarities in views of the state
feminist differences in views of the state
feminist similarities in views of society
feminist differences in views of the society
feminist similarities in views of human nature
feminist differences in views of human nature
feminist similarities in views of the economy
feminist differences in views of the economy
feminist similarities in views of sex and gender
- social role in gender norms
- agreement that sex is a biological difference
- gender is a cultural role imposed for conformity ascribed by society (ie toys, clothes)
- idea that there is a social narrative - social expectations
- gender roles imposed on women ignore their nature
- believe women can only develop when they are free of social expectations, which preoccupies their mind and distracts them from true potential
feminist differences in views of sex and gender
- human nature is not sexless (androgynous) vs sexless
- men and women are fundamentally different
- difference between equality and difference feminists
- equality fems = full on equality (ie liberal fems)
- difference fems = women should not replicate male behaviour to be ‘like men’, women must promote their own values - essentialist views of human nature
- difference in emphasis on the negativity on female nature by patriarchy
- biological factors are significant between men and women
what to talk about when discussing state
- patriarchy
what to talk about when discussing human nature
- sex and gender
- equality and difference feminism
what to talk about when discussing economy
- patriarchy
- personal is political
- intersectionality
what to talk about when discussing society
- patriarchy
- personal is political
- intersectionality
economic conditions of women are critical of the degree of oppression they face (socialist and postmodern agreement)
feminist differences in views of patriarchy
- characterisation, origin and location of patriarchy
- liberal feminists deem it as a wider discrimination and oppressive, not as systemic
- liberal fems = patriarchy is only rooted in public systems
- radical fems, socialist fems = the location of patriarchy is in the home and the public sphere
- origin = socialists = because of capitalism, radicals = because it is its own system of oppression - how to overthrow and overcome patriarchy
- disparity between revolution and gradual change - revolution and fundamental change is the only method, but gradual change ensures stability
- disparity between using the state as a pre-existing avenue to implement change (ie liberal feminists) - emphasis on patriarchy
- socialist fems and radical fems - significant emphasis placed on patriarchy / its values and how it is absolutely fundamental in society in the economic systems
- liberal feminists - patriarchy is part of a wider system of oppression, less emphasis, more normalised
feminist similarities in views of patriarchy
- agreement of patriarchy being characterised as oppressive
- agreement among radical, postmodern and socialist feminists that this system is a pervasive system of oppression - agreement of patriarchal presence in public and private spheres
- agree that patriarchy exists in the private sphere in terms of domestic work as a woman is indebted to a man
- patriarchy limits women in public spheres and work opportunity
- socialist fems, radical fems, postmodern fems - how to overthrow patriarchy
- patriarchy needs a radical and revolutionary overthrow because it’s rooted in society
- agreement by radical feminists and socialist fems - this is the only way to achieve a classless, genderless society
feminist differences in views of personal is political
- definition of what personal is political identifies
postmodern = personal experiences of minorities have been ignored by a general feminist movement - definiton of political
- personal experiences of women are due to capitalism (acc to socialist fems), radical feminists thinking it is due to patriarchy - disagreement of prevalance of personal is political
- liberal feminists completely disagree with this idea, because they do not concern themselves with the private sphere, which is what personal is political bases itself on.
- socialist, radical and postmodern feminists completely agree with this idea, because of their emphasis on the domestic and private sphere
feminist similarities in views of personal is political
- the idea itself of personal is political
- it has been a concept supported by radical and postmodern feminists in recognising oppression in public and private spheres, and fostering inclusivity - personal experience is because of political situation
- the personal experiences of female oppression are because of their political situation
- support from radical, socialist and postmodern fems
feminist differences in views of human nature
feminist similarities in views of human nature
feminist differences in views of the economy
feminist similarities in views of the economy
feminist similarities in views of society
feminist differences in views of society
liberal fems ideas of state
- the state is an avenue changing political procedure to positively impact women
- the state must condemn active attempts against female emancipation
- the state is a vehicle for change and emancipation, as change and reform should only be made within the existing system
- the state is an institution to challenge legal and political impediments to equality and enforce complete equality of opportunity
- change should only occur within a pre-existing legal and political framework
liberal fems ideas of human nature
- humans are naturally individualists because they are RATIONAL - must have equal voting rights
- women are rational and individualist enough to be entitled to free choice, self sufficiency and individual dependency (instead of being economically dependent on men)
- ideas of equality of opportunity - women are rational enough to pursue their own fulfillment in private or public spheres
liberal fems ideas of the economy
- women should embrace doing domestic work / condemn this idea of personal is political when it comes to doing political work
liberal fems ideas of society
- society should promote equal rights and opportunity for women - FOUNDATIONAL EQUALITY
- society must enable women to thrive as autonomous individuals as society
- liberal feminists support large scale, gradualist changes as to maintain stability, whereby society should support gender roles becoming fluid to remodel society
- gradual social change in society will eliminate the patriarchy, which will kickstart equal opportunities
- liberal feminists critique the domestic sphere, attaching negative connotations to it, as women must ‘embrace’ such work
socialist fems ideas of society
- society exploits value from the work that women do
- oppression and exploitation of women occurs in both the public and private spheres
- society heavily relies on female roles in domestic work, yet do not credit them for this
- social expectations force women to conform to unfulfilling work and continue to fuel capitalism - society entrenches this obligation in women to maintain a system which oppresses them
- the only way to abolish the patriarchy is when capitalism is abolished, and when profound, revolutionary change can be implemented
- social relationships of female inferiority are purely entrenched by society
- social expectations have overthrown the rights of mothers and women, indebting women to men and the patriarchy
socialist fems ideas of state
- the state is purely full of bourgeoisie representatives, only further entrenching and normalising the exploitation of women and the patriarchy
- the state is not an avenue for enforcing change, they only will deepen oppression of women and limit their ability to achieve independence
- the state will refuse to change positions on patriarchy and capitalism because it benefits them
socialist fems ideas of economy
- capitalism and patriarchy are intrinsically linked, which automatically degrades female economic emancipation and capacity
- capitalism and the patriarchy fuel one another
- women are economically exploited - in terms of their paid work and expectations from the labour field (the economy fails to realise the quality and investments of women) - this leads to a cap on opportunity for women
- the economy expects women to maintain this double burden of balancing domestic work and being in the workforce
- there is a disproportionate amount of power in the home (men finance the home, women are financially dependent on these men, yet contribute their labour for free)
- overthrowing the capitalist system is the only way to fully and effectively liberate women and erode the patriarchy to create a CLASSLESS AND GENDERLESS society
- capitalism corners women into a double burden
socialist fems ideas of human nature
- the feminist movement can only progress via collectivism and unity among women - women must sideline their individual interests and unite to further society
postmodern fems ideas of society
postmodern fems ideas of state
postmodern fems ideas of human nature
postmodern fems ideas of economy
radical feminist ideas of economy
radical feminist ideas of state
radical feminist ideas of society
radical feminist ideas of human nature
