Feminism Flashcards
Liberal feminism
What is the solution to gender inequality?
Changes to policies
Changes to socialisation (role models and education)
Liberal feminism
Sexism
Sexist attitudes and beliefs are culturally constructed
Liberal feminism
Evaluation
Their work has helped highlight that gender inequality is learnt
Criticised for over-optimism
Don’t recognise patriarchy or capitalism as a cause for inequality
Radical feminism
Patriarchy
Claim patriarchy is universal
Primary cause for inequality
ALL men oppress women
Radical feminism
Firestone
Origins of patriarchy lie in women’s ability to bear and care for babies
Radical feminism
Brownmiller
The fear of rape is a powerful deterrent against women going out alone at night
Radical feminism
Separatism
Men’s oppression of women is exercised through intimate domestic and sexual relations
Living apart will stop this
Radical feminism
Political lesbianism
Stop ‘sleeping with the enemy’
Radical feminism
Evaluation
Draw attention to domestic violence, rape and porn
No explanation for WHY women are in their position
Ignore race/ class oppression
Ignore good men/ good marriage
Solutions are unrealistic
Marxism feminism
Capitalism
Woman are a source of cheap labour
Women are a reserve army of labour
Women reproduce the labour force
Women absorb anger
Marxism feminism
Barrett
Must give more emphasis to women’s consciousness and motivation
Marxist feminism
Evaluation
Show greater understanding of structural factors than other feminists
Fails to explain women’s positions in non-capital societies
