Feminism

Question 1

What are the three waves of feminism?

Answer 1

1. first wave (19th-20th century)
2. Second wave (1960-1990)
3. third wave (1990 to present)

Question 2

What is the radical feminist approach?

Answer 2

focuses on the nature of patriarchy.
Catherine Mackinnon:
- theory of women’s legal oppression
- sexuality has been appropriated, warped and manipulated by male interests and patriarchal power.
- women have been alienated from their sexuality
- the legal system is grounded in maleness, in form and substance

Question 3

What is post modern feminism?

Answer 3

Carol Smart

• contested essentialized conceptions of women
• rejects radical feminism’s faith in law’s transformative capabilities.

Judith Butler
- gender is performative, not a natural state of being.

Question 4

Criticisms of Feminism

Answer 4

• the assumption of a dominant male centric legal system is an exaggeration
• there is no consensus on how to combat sexism in law
• post modern feminism weakens the resistance against the patriarchy.