Feminism Essay Plans Flashcards

1
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Introduction

A
  • Define: Feminism is a political ideology aiming to create an equal society between men and women
  • Define: Sex refers to the inevitable, natural and unalterable biological differences between men and women
  • Define: Gender refers to societally determined differences between men and women, (usually relating to cultural or economic differences) - Gender is also designed to subordinate women, by defining characteristics that women should aspire to have
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2
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

P1 - Liberal Feminism

A
  • Charlotte Perkins Gilman argued against ‘Dawrinism’
  • Perkins Gilman argued that biological differences were irrelevant and said there is no reason why men can’t play an equal role in modern economies
  • Women have equal brain power to men
  • On the other hand, Liberal feminists, such as Betty Friedan accept the significance of sex differences, but regard gender as an artificial construct designed to prepetuate the patriarchy
  • Friedan says that inferiority of women is learned behaviour and that it is rooted in the history of civilisations + It is also reinforced by other modern institutions, such as the media
  • Solution: Reform, (Including legislation for equality as well as education), is the only way to combat sexist attitudes - Otherwise, male superiority and patriarchy will continue and will be passed down generations *Continual cycle
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3
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

P2 - Socialist Feminism

A
  • Simone de Beauvoir - Society’s gender norms are socialised and unnatural, but manufactured in a way which seems natural
  • ‘One is not born, but rather becomes a women’ - The Second Sex - Simone de Beauvouir - Sex and biological factors aren’t what make women appear to be inferior in soceity, but rather the influences of society and civilisation on gender
  • Gender roles are assigned to women by patriarchy to make them a cheap source of labour - Most women who did work were low paid and part-time labour
  • Sheila Rowbotham says that the cohesion of the patriarchy, capitalism and gender roles subordinate women
  • Therefore, in an economic slump it is mostly women who are let go, as they are viewed as despensible labour
  • Solution: Destruction of capitalism, or at least significant reform + Women’s working conditions, pay and opportunities should be protected in the same way it is for men + Capitalist world must learn that women are not ‘second-class labour’
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4
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

P3 - Radical Feminism

A
  • Kate Millet believe that the patriarchy is an artificial system of gender roles, which have been imposed on men and women
  • Gender is prepetuated by the patriarchy
  • Radical feminists believe gender inequality cannot be adressed through reform, but rather through sexual revolution
  • Kate Millet goes on to further emphasise this by saying that women can only free themselves from male oppression by engaging in lesbian relationships
  • However, this view point may be because Kate Millet is bi-sexual, (but predominantly a lesbian) - This can be seen as an advantage as she has a more complete view on feminism
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5
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Conclusiuon

A
  • Not all branches agree about sex
  • All branches agree that gender is a more prominent cause of oppression than sex, stating it is an artifical construct, designed to sustain the patriarchy and ensure men control the capitalist society we are in - Reinforced by modern institutions like the media
  • However, in some instances, views deviate within the branch, (Liberal feminism; Freidan and Gilman) - This shows that sex and gender is a complex issue - And that individual experiences will shape people’s views more than the branch of feminism they identify with
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6
Q

To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Introduction

Define x3

A
  • Define: ‘Personal is political’ states that the patriarchy stems beyond the public sphere and has led to women’s lives being dominated by men.
  • Define: The private sphere refers to aspects of one’s life that are only a concern of the individual, close friends and family
  • Deinfe: The public sphere refers to aspects of an individuals social, political and economic life
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7
Q

To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

P1 - Liberal feminists

A
  • Liberal feminists advocate for the seperation of public and private spheres
  • They advocate for public legal eqaulity, so they can compete on equal terms
    *
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8
Q

To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Radical Feminists

A
  • Radical feminists like Hanisch and Firestone, do not recognise the distinction between public and private spheres
  • For them, everything is political
  • By political, they mean that there is a reflection of the power that men have over women and the nature of the patriarchy in both the public and private sphere
  • Ex: If a woman is kept at home, child rearing, then this is not a private matter, as it is a result of the patriarchy
  • Kate Millett also views, the nucleur family as being a key area of women’s opression as it prepetuates gender stereotypes which prepetuate the patriarchy
  • Concerned with equality in family life, in terms of expectations and domestic responsibilities
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9
Q

To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Socialist Feminists

A
  • Sheila Rowbotham: Roots of opression lying in personal relationships between men and women
  • Main way for the issue to be solved is for the dismantilation of the patriarchy - However, women cannot do it alone - Men must recognise the problem and be willing to relinquish their dominance
  • Socialist femnists argue that equal legal rights to men is meaningless, unless they achieve an equal social status, which includes, how much their wages are - Based on eqaul economic power
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10
Q

To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Conclusion

A
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11
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Introduction

A
  • The main themes that comprise human nature are sex and gender and the personal is political
  • Define: Sex refers to inevitable, unalterable and biological differences between men and women - Gender is societally learned
  • Define: ‘Personal is political’ states that the patriarchy stems beyond the public sphere and has led to women’s lives being dominated by men. Private and public spheres
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12
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Liberal Feminists attitudes on Sex and Gender and the Personal is Political

A

Sex and Gender
Charlotte Perkins Gilman argued against ‘Dawrinism’
* Perkins Gilman argued that biological differences were irrelevant and said there is no reason why men can’t play an equal role in modern economies
* Women have equal brain power to men
* On the other hand, Liberal feminists, such as Betty Friedan accept the significance of sex differences, but regard gender as an artificial construct designed to prepetuate the patriarchy

Personal is Political
* Focuses on public sphere and advocates for seperation of spheres
* They also believe in limiting feminist agitation to the public sphere and solving the problem through legal reforms
* These reforms would takcle problems such as workplace inequality

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13
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

P3 - Radical

A

Sex and Gender
* Kate Millet believe that the patriarchy is an artificial system of gender roles, which have been imposed on men and women
* Gender is prepetuated by the patriarchy
* Radical feminists believe gender inequality cannot be adressed through reform, but rather through sexual revolution
* Kate Millet goes on to further emphasise this by saying that women can only free themselves from male oppression by engaging in lesbian relationships

Personal is Political
* Radical feminists like Hanish and Firestone don’t recognise distinction between spheres
* For them everything is political
* By political, they mean that there is a refelction of the power men have over women and the patriarchy in both the public and private sphere
* Kate Millett also views the nucleur family as a key area of women’s oppression, as it promotes stereotypes like women being used for free labour and being natural ‘housewives’

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14
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Socialist Feminism on Sex and Gender only

A

Sex and Gender
* Simone de Beauvoir - Society’s gender norms are socialised and unnatural, but manufactured in a way which seems natural
* ‘One is not born, but rather becomes a women’ - The Second Sex - Simone de Beauvouir - Sex and biological factors aren’t what make women appear to be inferior in soceity, but rather the influences of society and civilisation on gender
* Sheila Rowbotham says that the cohesion of the patriarchy, capitalism and gender roles subordinate women and make them feel inferior

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15
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

A

Sex and Gender
* Not all branches agree about sex
* All branches agree that gender is a more prominent cause of oppression than sex, stating it is an artifical construct, designed to sustain the patriarchy and ensure men control the capitalist society we are in - Reinforced by modern institutions like the media
* However, in some instances, views deviate within the branch, (Liberal feminism; Freidan and Gilman) - This shows that sex and gender is a complex issue - And that individual experiences will shape people’s views more than the branch of feminism they identify with

Personal is Political
* Liberals believe in a distinction between the spheres and that feminist agitation should be limited to public sphere
* Radical feminists believe that everything is political and that both spheres represent the power that men have over women

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16
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on the role of the state? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Introduction - Definition + Explanation of Radical, Social and Liberal views on Personal is Political

A
  • Define: political entity that keeps social cohesion
  • Is seen to perpetuate inequalities between men and women, especially when considering the beliefs of thinkers like Millett and Rowbotham
  • However, liberal feminists believe that some state intervention/gentlre reforms is necessary to keep social cohesion
17
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on the role of the state? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

P1 - Liberal Feminists

A
  • Role of state is to protect women’s interests, outlaw discrimination and ban practises, that are seen to be harmful to women
  • Perkins Gilman was a firm believer of this idea - Writing that in the late 19th century, women weren’t able to reach their full potential - State should oversee changes to ensure fairness
  • Liberal feminists also argue in favour of gentle reform of the state to ensure legal equality, stating that social attitudes would change as a result
  • Liberal feminists also agree that in it’s natural form, the state prepetuate’s the patriarchy
  • Perkins Gilman also argued that women’s potential being limited by gender roles shows that the state does not work in the interest of gender equality
18
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on the role of the state? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

P2 - Radical Feminists

A
  • Radical feminists believe the state and the patriarchy go hand in hand
  • Kate Millett wrote that the patriarchy is persuasive and institutionalised across society
  • The fact that the patriarchy is ingrained across society and goes hand in hand with the state, acts as an argument for the state being unable to have a role in promoting gender equality
  • As it is associated with the patriarchy; which is an artificial construct designed to prepetuate gender stereotypes
19
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on the role of the state? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

P3 - Socialist Feminists

A
  • Socialist feminists look at the state’s role in the economy, as a way to promote capitalism
  • Capitalism in turn reinforces the patriarchy and allows men to continue to dominate/rule over economic systems
  • Socialist feminists agree that gentle reform is not enough to brind necessary change
  • Rowbotham believes the state should be overthrown in order to protect equality and women’s interests, as she believes men and women have the same economic abilities
20
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on the role of the state? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.

Conclusion

A
  • Main disagreement is that liberal feminists believe that reform is a better solution than revolution
  • However, liberal and socialist feminists agree that revolution is a better alternative, (with key thinkers like Kate Millett believing in sexual revolution)
  • However, the main agreement stems from the fact that the state works in favour of the patriarchy and that the state should help to create an equal society
21
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on society? [24] With respect to key thinkers.

A
22
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on society? [24] With respect to key thinkers.

A
23
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on society? [24] With respect to key thinkers.

A
24
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on society? [24] With respect to key thinkers.

A
25
Q

To what extent do feminists agree on society? [24] With respect to key thinkers.

A
26
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the economy? [24] With respect to key thinkers

Introduction

A
  • Define: Equality of opportunity refers to the fact that men and women should be equal in the fields relating to education and employment
27
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the economy? [24] With respect to key thinkers

P1 - Agreement

A
  • Women are used as a cheap, part-time and dispensible source of labour - Who are often employed in economic slumps - Were also seen as a ‘reserve army of labour’
  • Women are used as a unpaid labour in the home, (making them a forced part of the informal economy)
  • Women tend to be paid lower wages for completing the same job, (‘pay gap’)
  • More senior jobs at firms tend to be reserved for men, meaning there is a ‘glass ceiling,’ which means women are denied equality of opportunity
  • The patriarchy is an artificial construct designed to subordinate women and
28
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the economy? [24] With respect to key thinkers

P2 - Liberal Feminists

A
  • Perkins Gillman believes that biological differences should not stop women from playing a role in modern economies
  • Gilman believes this is because women have equal brain power to men
  • Gilman also famously quoted that ‘Women are factors in an economy. But so are horses.’
  • This shows that women understand they are factors in an economy, however, they feel like the prepetuation of stereotypes through the patriarchy has made them less valuable than they have the potential to be
29
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the economy? [24] With respect to key thinkers

P3 - Socialist Feminism

A
  • Rowbotham says that the cohesion of capitalism and the patriarchy subordinate’s women and makes them less valuable to modern economies
  • She states that because of this, women have become a source of cheap labour, who are often used in wars, to replace jobs previously held by men
  • Rowbotham and other socialist feminists believe the only solution is the dismantilation of capitalism, or at least a significant reform - As this is the only way that women will not be viewed as ‘second class labour’
  • Beavouir also believes that women’s life choices have been restricted by male domination in the economy - Due to prepetuation of patriarchy
30
Q

To what extent do feminsts agree on the economy? [24] With respect to key thinkers

A
  • Feminists agree that women have been unfairly treated in the economy, in terms of equal opportunity
  • Specifically relating to being a source of unpaid or low-paid labour, designed to be a ‘reserve army of labour’
  • They believe in equality of opportunity
  • Liberal and socialist feminists believe that women should be playing roles in modern economies
  • However, veiws within liberal feminism do vary, as Friedan does acknowledge biological differences, whereas Gilaman doesn’t