Feminism strands 2

Question 1

What do feminists believe about the state?

Answer 1

Don’t have such a distinctive theory. Although they believe state are accomplices to the exploitation of women in a patriarchal society.

Question 2

Which particular feminists dislike the state and why?

Answer 2

Socialist feminists see the state as an agent of capitalism and, since this naturally exploits women, the state is the ultimate architect of exploitation

Question 3

What would liberal feminists argue about the state?

Answer 3

Why should they get involved, when they themselves are dominated by men. Although for liberals, if men are part of the problem, they are also part of the solution

Question 4

What improvements have been made for women through legislation?

Answer 4

-equality laws and constitutional principles, designed to impose gender equality in the public sphere
-anti discrimination legislation
-laws dealing with domestic violence
-imposition of education programmes in school curriculum
-female quotas introduced

Question 5

What do radical feminists think about the state?

Answer 5

Such developments in legislation are welcome but superficial. They don’t address the systematic nature of discrimination, exploitation and inequality. Patriarchy is more persuasive than these reforms suggest and issues are deep rooted in patriarchal culture. This means the state is powerless, especially as it is a patriarchal institution itself

Question 6

What are the three issues feminists address concerning society?

Answer 6

Patriarchy
Equality and difference feminism
Intersectionality

Question 7

What do radical feminists compare a patriarchy to?

Answer 7

Like a capitalist economy in which workers are exploited, patriarchy leads to the exploitation of women. Therefore the removal of the patriarchy is vital to the emancipation of women

Question 8

How can the patriarchy be destroyed in the eyes of radicals?

Answer 8

Not easy as it exists in every aspect of society. It therefore must be dealt with in one of two ways:
1. a full scale attack on the cultural values of society, possibly involving violet resistance to male domination
2. Through the creation of a female counter-culture, separate from a patriarchal society. This involves women living completely separate lives to men

Question 9

How do liberal feminists think the patriarchy should be destroyed?

Answer 9

the solution is reform rather than revolution
For liberals, patriarchy is a characteristic of society rather than a fundamental and so society can be made less patriarchal through peaceful political and cultural action

Question 10

What do equality feminists want?

Answer 10

They seek equality for women in all spheres- most describe themselves as liberals

Question 11

What do difference feminists want?

Answer 11

They realize men and women have fundamental differences and they think these should be recognised in society. Most don’t accept one gender is superior, arguing simply that they are different and that those differences should be embraced

Question 12

What do more radical difference feminists believe?

Answer 12

They claim the attributes of women, like their caring nature are superior to male characteristics and so a world dominated by women would therefore be better.
Children would be looked after more, there would be less violence and wars and maybe even women are able to look after the environment better

Question 13

Why do equality feminists think difference feminists are wrong?

Answer 13

Difference automatically leads to inequality and if there is any inequality then it’s inevitable that men will benefit

Question 14

What is Simone De Beauvoir’s famous work?

Answer 14

The second sex

Question 15

What is a quote from Simone de Beauvoir about male superiority?

Answer 15

‘society, being codified by a man, decrees that women is inferior; she can do away with this inferiority only by destroying the male’s superiority’

Question 16

What kind of thinker is Beauvoir?

Answer 16

Existential
For too long, women had lived their lives in bad faith, imposed upon them by men

Question 17

What is existentialism?

Answer 17

It set the freedom of people against the constrictions placed on one by the moral and religious world and encouraged them to combat such restrictions by imposing their own will upon life. Failing to do so is called ‘bad faith’ but exceeding is known as ‘authenticity’.

Question 18

What is Beauvoir’s idea of women as Other?

Answer 18

The idea that otherness was that men have characterized women as different, but different in a way of men’s choosing, not the choosing of women themselves

Question 19

What is Beauvoir’s quote about women’s development and what is the problem with this? This helps sun up the whole of early second wave feminism.

Answer 19

‘Women are made, not born’ The problem is they are made by men

Question 20

What does de Beauvoir argue in her book about girls human nature and freedom?

Answer 20

She rejects the notion girls are born with a caring nature, rather, they learn it from their parents and school. In existential terms, their freedom to choose their own way is removed almost from birth and the role they play (even in personal relationships) are determined by men

Question 21

What was de Beauvoir’s solution to women feeling oppressed and othered?

Answer 21

First, women must be given the same opportunities as men, so they can escape the drudgery of housework and a role as a sex slave. This will be largely achieved by education, economic freedom, state funded childcare, abortion and widespread contraception
However, as well, women must liberate themselves and must seek sexual liberation from the structure of the nuclear family

Question 22

What is intersectionality? It’s a contemporary post modern idea.

Answer 22

The oppression faced by black women is different from the experience of a white women, because women have complex identities aside from their sex and gender. Problems of oppression can also be intertwined with ethnicity, sexual orientation, social class and religion.

Question 23

How is traditional feminism different to modern thinking in terms of race?

Answer 23

Traditional feminism suggests that gender is everything, but this is a false perspective on women

Question 24

Who is bell hooks?

Answer 24

Radical black American feminist, known for her work on intersectionality. She can be considered as a post modern feminist

Question 25

What is the solution for society according to bell hooks?

Answer 25

Equality must be established as a universal principle and not just equality for men and women

Question 26

Why does hooks criticise feminists?

Answer 26

They don’t recognise the reality and have concentrated too much on white, middle class women

Question 27

Why does bell hooks argue men need to be involved in fighting the struggle?

Answer 27

They can now enter the struggle against inequality between all groups

Question 28

What is hooks’ most radical idea?
How can we resolve this issue?

Answer 28

The patriarchy has taught women to hate themselves, to see themselves as inferior. We see ourselves as in competition with one another for patriarchal approval and judge each other without compassion and punish harshly.
Feminist thinking helps us unlearn self hatred and break free of patriarchal thought

Question 29

What are the two elements of the patriarchal struggle for bell hooks?

Answer 29

The first is the creation of a more equal society and then the second concerns the relationship between men and women. Women must unlearn self hatred and break free of preconceptions about themselves

Question 30

What do all feminists agree on about the economy?

Answer 30

All agree women are discriminated against in the economic world

Question 31

What are examples of discrimination in the economic world?

Answer 31

-women are used as a form of unpaid labour in the home
-women are used as a pool of low paid, often part time dispensable labour, employed during economic growth, but discarded in economic slumps
-by working for low wages, women help to keep the general level of incomes down by creating more competition for scarce jobs
-pay gap
-more senior jobs in an organisation are reserved for men- the glass ceiling. Women are denied equality of opportunity

Question 32

What do socialist feminists say about the economy?

Answer 32

They go further and blame oppression on capitalism. Women are reduced to inferior wage-slaves and constitute a reserve army of labour. When wages rise, capitalist profits are reduced, and so women are discarded to keep wages low. Women are exploited now just in the ways men were in the early days of capitalism

Question 33

Which key thinker is a socialist feminist?

Answer 33

Sheila Rowbotham
She also has a background of Marxism

Question 34

What does Shelia Rowbotham say about the solution?

Answer 34

A revolutionary kind of solution to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a new world where equality is paramount. Only a society where complete equality is imposed will women be equal and this means socialism. She points out the greatest advancements for women have taken place after social revolution

Question 35

Why does Rowbotham criticise Marxist feminists?

Answer 35

They take a too narrow view of oppression towards women by analysis just the role of industrial capitalism rather than in domestic life and wider society. A socialist revolution wont automatically liberate women; they must also be freed from oppression in home life, in personal relationships and in a wider culture.

Question 36

What was Rothbotham’s work?

Answer 36

Women’s consciousness, Men’s world

Question 37

What quote of Rowbotham suggests men cannot really understand the nature of the oppression they are opposing on women?

Answer 37

‘Men will often admit other women are oppressed, but not you.’

Question 38

What idea of Hanisch and Firestone did Rowbotham echo?

Answer 38

The personal is political as the roots of oppression lie in personal relationships.

Question 39

Who does Rowbotham think is responsible for ending the patriarchy?

Answer 39

It’s just as much the responsibility of men as women because the roots lie in personal relationships. Men must be willing to relinquish their dominant position by seeing the patriarchy for what it really is