Feminism Key Terms Flashcards
A version of difference feminism that challenges the domination of male culture and promotes female values as more important
Cultural feminism
Existential feminism thinker who argued that society defined female characteristics as their roles
Simone De Beauvoir
Women and men are biologically and culturally different and this should be celebrated
Difference feminism
Argues for the elimination of cultural differences in the pursuit of absolute equality
Equality feminism
Everyone having the same life chances in society
Equality of opportunity
The belief that biological differences between men and women lead to distinctive differences in their fundamental nature
Essentialism
Focussed the feminist movement on the legal and political rights
First-wave feminism
The defining of certain roles/qualities and personality based on a person’s sex
Gender
Men and women should be treated the same and have full cultural equality within society
Gender equality
Women’s roles are pre-determined by society so they are socialized to behave a certain way
Gender stereotypes
Early feminist thinker who argued for equality of opportunity and felt that life as a housewife amounted to slavery
Charlotte Gilman
PMF who came up with the idea of intersectionality
bell hooks
The idea that discrimination against women varies due to race, class and country
Intersectionality
Treating everyone the same in the eyes of the law
Legal equality
See individualism as the basis of gender equality. Look to reform current systems and believes this will lead to required cultural and social change
Liberal feminism
RF who believed that sexual relationships ( and sexuality) as well as society forced the patriarchy
Kate Millet
A dislike for and contempt of women
Misogyny
Women are treated as an inferior minority who are subservient to men
Otherness
A system of power or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it
Patriarchy
Women having the same rights to vote and hold political office
Political equality
Argues that patriarchy manifests in a different way depending on their race, class etc.
PMF
The area of society where relationships are seen as private - centred of domestic life
Private sphere
The visible aspects of life - such as the workplace and civil life
Public sphere
Believes that the biggest problem facing society is gender inequality and this can only be changed by a revolutionary change
Radical feminism
