Feminism

Question 1

Summary/Introduction

Answer 1

Now seen as post feminist era, successful movement
Achieved traditional goals (anti-discrimination, anti-sexism, equal rights, equal opportunity)
Inaccurate stereotypes and preconceptions harm image of movement
New questions arise (relations between sexes)
2 types: liberal similar thoughts, reform method Radical vary thoughts, revolt method

Question 2

Feminism today

Answer 2

Liberal feminists found legal success but still campaign against sexist attitudes and seek equality of opportunity
Don’t interfere in other cultures, but forced marriage, denial of female education, dress restrictions and polygamy still occur
Socialist feminists think still exploited
Radical feminists still believe should resit male dominance
More specific groups arise (black and Muslim feminists)

Question 3

Feminism Origins

Answer 3

Enlightenment inspired feminist ideas, equal rights
Wollstonecraft (1759-97) women need good education and be considered useful, gender roles important. But can become independent, parliament should pass law to improve conditions, little impact but planted idea
Second wave feminism (1960s) critiquing post-industrial society, broader movement, identified alienation of certain groups (black population, gay community, poor, youth, women)

Question 4

Views on economy

Answer 4

All feminists believe women discriminated against in economic world:
Unpaid labour in home
Low part-time labour, only used when needed
‘pay gap’
‘glass ceiling’ women never achieve senior positions
Socialist feminists inspired Engels and blame capitalism, inferior wage slaves, only used when needed
Modern socialist feminists: women exploited by capitalism, like men were. Sheila Rowbotham (1943-) women should revolt against capitalism. CAPITALISM CAUSE OF WOMEN STRUGGLES

Question 5

Liberal Feminism

Answer 5

REFORM FOR WOMEN’S FREEDOM AND EQUALITY
Gilman: bio differences irrelevant, state assigns inferior roles, allow men to dominate,after 20th century suffragette movement: women still clearly inferior, Betty Friedman 1960s, cultural issue ‘problem with no name’ most women don’t realise oppression, men don’t realise dominant

Question 6

Radical Feminism

Answer 6

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REVOLUTION

1969: Millet “Sexual politics” men oppress women in all fields of life
1970: Germaine Greer “The Female Eunuch” believed men hate women and teach them to hate themselves
1970: Firestone “The Dialectic of sex” struggle between men and women, bio differences enslave women to gender roles (housework and child birth)

Question 7

Socialist Feminism

Answer 7

REVOLUTIONARY, ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION TOWARDS SOCAILISM
Engels: women just used as cheap labour, criticised by modern feminists
Rowbotham (1943-) Economic liberation and equality should be first then sort cultural male dominance
Chicago Women’s Liberation Union (1969) led socialist feminism in the USA

Question 8

Views on The State

Answer 8

NOTHING DISTINCT
main characteristic is ending female oppression,
Radical feminists think successful laws not enough

Question 9

Examples of Feminist legislation succeeding

Answer 9

Equal pay laws (EU Law)
Female quotas in politics
Awareness programs in schools
Anti-discrimination laws, in most modern societies

Question 10

Views on Society

Answer 10

PATRIARCHAL IN NATURE,
Radicals believe patriarchal not capitalist (as socialist think) patriarchy in every aspect of society, must be up-rooted, may need violent resistance
Liberals similar but reform not revolt, improve gradually

Question 11

2 attitudes of Feminism to Society

Answer 11

Equality Feminism: equal in all areas
Difference Feminism: accept differences in society
Neither superior, some argue caring nature of women would reduce war, some argue difference creates inequality that men will benefit
Simone de Beauvoir argued must be equal

Question 12

Intersectionality

Answer 12

multiple identities as well as sex and gender, variety in social and cultural background face different problems

Question 13

Views on Human Nature

Answer 13

Liberal feminists - accept sex differences, gender differences artificial construct (‘cultural conditioning’), must break cycle for equal opportunity
Socialist feminists - women oppressed, become cheap labour, solution: destroy or modify capitalism to improve working conditions and opportunities
Radical feminists - Juliet Mitchell (1940-), cultural revolution needed, gender affects all life, Firestone believed in androgyny (choose sex identity, may choose none)
‘the personal is political’ distinguishes radical and liberal feminists as liberal separate private and public spheres, radical (firestone) don’t

Question 14

Essentialism

Answer 14

some feminists believe bio differences could explain inferiority, define gender roles, radical believe gender roles not needed in modern day