Feminism

Question 0

Liberal feminists call for cultural change. Why is this?

Answer 0

To reduce the prejudices and stereotypes of women

Question 1

What do liberal feminists believe?

Answer 1

That women can achieve gender equality through gradual reforms such as laws

Question 2

What does Ann Oakley draw a distinction between?

Answer 2

Sex and gender

Question 3

What does Ann Oakley describe sex as?

Answer 3

The biological differences between males and females

Question 4

What does Ann Oakley describe gender as?

Answer 4

The culturally constructed differences between the masculine and feminine roles and identity roles assigned to males and females

Question 5

Liberal feminism can be seen as the critique of what view and why?

Answer 5

Functionalism because they challenge the division between instrumental and expressive roles

Question 6

What are some of the criticisms of liberal feminists?

Answer 6

They are too optimistic as it’s not just laws that need changing but capitalism and patriarchy. Sylvia Walby argues that they offer no explanation for the structure of gender equality

Question 7

What do radical feminists believe?

Answer 7

They believe that patriarchy is universal and male domination of women exists in all societies which benefits men

Question 8

What does Shulamith Firestone believe about the origins of patriarchy?

Answer 8

She believes that the origins of patriarchy lie in women’s ability to have children

Question 9

What do radical feminists believe to be the primary form of social inequality and conflict?

Answer 9

Patriarchy

Question 10

What does Susan Brownmiller say about rape?

Answer 10

Fear of rape is a powerful deterrent against women going out alone at night

Question 11

According to radical feminists, what do men create to control women?

Answer 11

Sexuality

Question 12

According to Adrienne Rich, what do men force women into?

Answer 12

A narrow ‘compulsory heterosexuality’

Question 13

What 3 changes do radical feminists suggest occur?

Answer 13

Separatism, consciousness-raising and political lesbianism

Question 14

Give some criticisms of radical feminism

Answer 14

Marxists say that class is the primary form of inequality and Anna Pollert argues that radical feminism has little value of explaining women’s’ position as its a circular argument. Separatism is unlikely to ever be achieved and Jenny Somerville believes single sex households are unlikely to take over because of heterosexual attraction

Question 15

What do Marxist feminists believe?

Answer 15

Women’s position in society is rooted in capitalism

Question 16

Marxism feminists believe women’s subordination performs 4 important functions. What are these functions?

Answer 16

Women are a source of cheap/exploitable labour, women are a reserve army of labour, women reproduce the labour force and women absorb anger

Question 17

According to Barrett, why do women marry and live in nuclear families?

Answer 17

Barrett says it is the ideology of ‘familism’ which shows the apparent natural division as man as the breadwinner and the woman carrying out the expressive role

Question 18

What do Marxist feminists believe to be essential for the liberation of women?

Answer 18

The overthrow of capitalism

Question 19

What does Julie Mitchell believe about femininity?

Answer 19

It is so deeply ingrained that it is difficult to dislodge

Question 20

Give 2 criticisms of Marxist feminism?

Answer 20

It doesn’t explain oppression in non-capitalist societies, it doesn’t explain why women are domestic labourers

Question 21

What do difference feminists argue about feminist theory?

Answer 21

It has claimed a ‘false universality’ as it is only about white, western, heterosexual middle-class women

Question 22

What sort of feminist is Barrett?

Answer 22

Marxist feminist

Question 23

What do dual systems feminists combine?

Answer 23

The key features of Marxist and radical feminism in a single theory

Question 24

What are the two systems that are referred to in the dual system?

Answer 24

An economic system (capitalism) and a sex-gender system (patriarchy)

Question 25

How do dual systems theorists such as Heidi Hartmann see capitalism and patriarchy?

Answer 25

They see them as two intertwined systems that form a single entity - patriarchal capitalism

Question 26

Does does Sylvia Walby, a dual systems feminist, argue? Give an example

Answer 26

She argues that the interests of capitalism and patriarchy are not always the same, for example, while capitalism demands cheap female labour for its workforce, patriarchy resists this, wanting to keep women subordinate to men

Question 27

What do difference feminists argue?

Answer 27

They argue that middle class and working class women, black and white women, lesbian and heterosexual women have different experiences of patriarchy and capitalism etc.

Question 28

What do difference feminists argue feminism has claimed?

Answer 28

A ‘false universality’ for itself - it claimed to be all about women, but in reality it was only about the experiences of white, western heterosexual women

Question 29

What does the idea of essentialism refer to?

Answer 29

That all women share the same fundamental essence - all women are essentially the same and all share the same experiences of oppression

Question 30

Who sees Marxist, liberal and radical feminists as essentialist?

Answer 30

Difference feminists

Question 31

What is poststructuralism concerned with?

Answer 31

Discourses and power/knowledge

Question 32

What are discourses?

Answer 32

Ways of seeing, thinking or speaking about something

Question 33

What is the poststructuralism view?

Answer 33

They believe that there is no fixed essence of what it is to be a woman because our identities are constituted through different discourses