FEMINISM - sex + gender Flashcards
What is the difference between sex and gender and which sociologist came up with said difference?
Ann Oakley
sex differences refer to the biological differences between men and women.
gender differences refer to the social and cultural distinction between men and women.
What common ground do liberal, socialist, and most radical feminists share?
link between sex + gender, adrogynous, personhood
most feminists deny that there is a link between sex and gender and rather emphasise that gender differences are socially and politically constructed.
most feminists believe that human nature is adrogynous - all humans possess genetic inheritance from mothers and fathers and so they embody a blend of female and male traits.
most feminists believe in personhood - the idea that women and men should not be judged by sex, but as individual, genderless, persons.
What do liberal feminists think of sex + gender?
Betty Friedan
legislation
accepted significance of sex differences but regarded gender differences and superiority of men in society as ARTIFICIAL CONSTRUCTS of male-dominated societies.
they want to change this through reform, legislation for equality, and education.
What do socialist feminists think of sex + gender?
Charlotte P Gilman
primary socialisation
believe the oppression/inferiority of women is bound up with the operation of capitalism.
they are the shit-takers (Ansley), and they are unpaid workers in the home.
Charlotte believed that young girls were prepared for motherhood via playing with certain toys and wearing certain clothes which led to their role in the home.
What do radical feminists think of sex + gender?
Kate Millett
consciousness-raising + conditioning
accept the differences between sex and gender to inform their analysis of the patriarchy.
Sexual Politics 1970 - Kate Millet described the patriarchy as a ‘social constant’ running through all structures and institutions
the process of conditioning has led these gender conformities to come about - this takes place within the family.
she proposed that consciousness-raising would challenge the patriarchy.
What do postmodern feminists think of sex + gender?
bell hooks
biological womanhood and intersectionality
they question whether sex is as clear cut of a distinction is as assumed.
biological womanhood does not apply to many who are classified as women.
trans-movement? non-binary human nature?
hooks emphasised that sex and gender is only one of many divisions in society - race, ethnicity, disability, poverty = ALL contribute to disadvantage.
