Feminism

Question 1

Sex

Answer 1

Biological differences between men and women

Question 2

Gender

Answer 2

The cultural differences between the sexes, leading to male superiority

Question 3

What do equality feminists seek?

Answer 3

Equality for men and women in society

Question 4

What do difference feminists argue?

Answer 4

That men and women have a fundamentally different nature from one another, and that these differences must be embraced

Question 5

Intersectionality

Answer 5

The belief that different types of women have different experiences of the patriarchy

Question 6

Liberal feminism

Answer 6

Believe the existence of the patriarchy to be preventing the liberation of women
Otherness
Gender equality
Patriarchy combatted through education and legislation

Question 7

Socialist feminism

Answer 7

Engels
Seek the destruction of capitalism as a precondition for the liberation of women
Support nationalisation - would eliminate the need for women to compete against men for unemployment
Seek the liberation of women from their economic dependence upon men

Question 8

Radical feminism

Answer 8

Propose the destruction of the patriarchal society
Stress the importance of female consciousness
Difference feminists
Replacing the nuclear family with communal forms of child rearing, removing male domination of the family
Sexual liberation
Elimination of biological roles - androgyny
Cultural feminism - accept the existence of gender differences, which should be embraced

Question 9

Post-modern feminism

Answer 9

Propose that women must be given the freedom to make choices for themselves

Question 10

Simon de Beauvoir

Answer 10

Human nature - Gender differences are unnatural, and are created by society
The state - Reinforces a culture that prevents women from expressing their freedom and identity
Society - Social constraints prevent women from attaining self-realisation and freedom - existentialism
The economy - Male domination of the economy restricts the life choices open to women
Concept of ‘Otherness’ - men are perceived as the norm and women as deviants from this norm

Question 11

bell hooks

Radical feminist

Answer 11

Human nature - Women have multiple identities and therefore experience multiple forms of oppression
The state - Dominated by white males and therefore reflects and reinforces their dominant position in society
Society -
The economy - Women of different economic status experience difference forms of economic oppression
Family - undoing the traditional family was the key to true sexual revolution

Question 12

Sheila Rowbotham

Socialist feminist

Answer 12

Human nature - Female consciousness of the world is created by men
The state - The servant of capitalism
Society - Nature of society is economically determined. Reflects the dominant position of capitalists and men
The economy - Marxist perspective - Women are a low-paid reserve army of labour

Question 13

Kate Millet

Radical feminist

Answer 13

Human nature - Women are capable of freeing themselves from male oppression by engaging in lesbian relationships (sexual liberation)
The state - The agent of the patriarchy - part of the problem, not the solution
Society - Characterised by the patriarchy, which is all-pervasive and infests both spheres
The economy - N/A

Question 14

Patriarchy

Answer 14

A society dominated by men, where women are seen and treated as inferior

Question 15

Private sphere

Answer 15

Aspects of life of concern to the individual and those close to them.

Question 16

Public sphere

Answer 16

Aspects of life of concern to the whole community, and therefore the state

Question 17

Reserve army of labour

Answer 17

Women form a reserve army of labour in industrial capitalist systems, in order to increase output and keep wages low, but can be dispensed with when not required

Question 18

Different types of feminism

Answer 18

Liberal feminism
Radical feminism
Socialist feminism

Question 19

Otherness

Answer 19

The position of women in patriarchal society as an inferior minority and subordinate to men

Question 20

Gender discrimination

Answer 20

Aspects of a patriarchal society that limit women’s life choices, economic prospects and career options, as well as resulting in lower pay and poor job security

Question 21

Gender equality

Answer 21

Aim of achieving complete legal and cultural equality for women

Question 22

Cultural feminism

Answer 22

Accepts that women are born with different cultural characteristics to men as well as biological differences

Question 23

Feminist view of human nature

Answer 23

Sex and gender distinctions

The personal is political

Question 24

Feminist view of the state

Answer 24

No overall theory of the state
Socialist - see the state as an agent of capitalism, and thus believe that it must be destroyed
Complicit with the patriarchy
Liberal - A state dominated by men will never address the patriarchy - legislation required
Radical - Legal reform is superficial, as they do not address the systemic nature of the patriarchy, with the state unable to combat it as it is a patriarchal institution itself

Question 25

Feminist view of society

Answer 25

Patriarchy
Equality and difference feminism
Intersectionality

Question 26

Feminist view of the economy

Answer 26

Universal - The economy discriminates against women

Socialist - Capitalism has reduced women to inferior wage-slaves, constituting a reserve army of labour

Question 27

Tensions within feminism over the patriarchy

Answer 27

Liberal - modern phenomenon to be combatted through legal and cultural reform
Radical - Deep historical roots, and has penetrated deep into male and female consciousness
Socialist - Economically based

Question 28

Tensions within feminism over how liberation can be acheived

Answer 28

Liberal - Legal and economic equality
Radical - Change of male and female consciousness
Socialist - Transformation of employment patterns and the economic structure of the family

Question 29

Tensions within feminism over a women’s freedom

Answer 29

Liberal - Women should be free to choose how they conduct their lives
Radical - Freedom for women is not sufficient; Men’s domination must be destroyed and their consciousness of superiority reversed
Socialist - Women cannot be free until they achieve economic freedom

Question 30

Essentialism

Answer 30

The belief in the importance of biological distinctions

Question 31

Liberal feminist response to the issue of sex and gender

Answer 31

Accept the significance of sex differences but regard gender differences as an artificial construct, created by the patriarchy
No reason why biological differences should be converted into gender differences
Focused on the need to reform, through legislation and education

Question 32

Radical feminist response to the issue of sex and gender

Answer 32

Believe gender differences to be deep rooted
A cultural revolution therefore is required to combat patriarchy
Androgyny

Question 33

Socialist feminist response to the issue of sex and gender

Answer 33

See the oppression of women as being bound up with the whole operation of capitalism
Patriarchal societies assign an inferior gender role to women, so that they cam become a cheap source of labour - unpaid at home / low-paid and part time
Dispensable
Solved by destroying capitalism

Question 34

The personal is political

Answer 34

The idea that all relationships between men and women are based on power and dominance
Liberal feminists - Advocate the separation of the private sphere from the public sphere
Radical feminists - See the private sphere as an aspect of the public sphere - everything is political (reflections of the patriarchy)