Feminism Essay Plans Flashcards
To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
Introduction
- 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
To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
P1 - Liberal Feminism
- 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
To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
P2 - Socialist Feminism
- 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’
To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
P3 - Radical Feminism
- 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
To what extent do feminsts agree on the concept of sex and gender? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
Conclusiuon
- 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
To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
Introduction
Define x3
- 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
To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
P1 - Liberal feminists
- Liberal feminists advocate for the seperation of public and private spheres
- They advocate for public legal eqaulity, so they can compete on equal terms
*
To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
Radical Feminists
- 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
To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
Socialist Feminists
- 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
To what extent do feminists believe that the personal is political? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
Conclusion
To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
Introduction
- 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
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
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
To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
P3 - Radical
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’
To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
Socialist Feminism on Sex and Gender only
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
To what extent do feminists agree on human nature? [24]
With respect to key thinkers.
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