feminism theory Flashcards
Outline the overall liberal feminism argument
- Concerned with the human and civil rights freedoms of individuals → believe all = rights for all
→ reject the idea of biological differences make women less able - Reformism - progress towards equal rights without need for revolution
What are the two ways liberal feminists think change will come about?
- Laws and policies - believe equality can be achieved this way.
- Cultural change - believe prejudices and stereotypes are a barrier to equality so need to be shifted
Changes in socialisation is gradual - will slowly lead to rational attitudes towards parity
How do liberal feminists define sex?
refers to the biological differences between males and females such as reproductive roles etc
How do liberal feminists define gender?
refers to the socially constructed differences between feminine and masculine roles which are transmitted through socialisation (vary overtime)
How do liberal feminists view conflict?
Sees conflicts between genders as not inevitable but a product of outdated attitudes - so is closest to consensus
Evaluation of liberal feminism
- Work has demonstrated evidence of the inequality and discrimination → demonstrate gender is not innate
- Criticised for overoptimism - see obstacles to emancipation as simply due to prejudice and irrational laws → ignore the idea of seated structures causing oppression such as patriarchy and capitalism
- Walby - criticises they offer no explanation for the gender inequality → fail to acknowledge the underlying causes of the subordination and are naive to believe changes in legislation will be enough
Outline the overal argument for radical feminism?
emerged in early 70s → oppression due to patriarchy :
Patriarchy is universal - male dominance occurs in all societies
What does Firestone argue about the origins of patriarchy?
argues origins of patriarchy lies in women’s biological role of bearing children as it makes them dependent on men.
what is the scale of patriarchy they argue?
All men oppress all women - all men benefit from patriarchy - women’s domestic labour / sexual service
Do they argue patriarchy is the main form of conflict?
Patriarchy is the primary form of conflict - key division in society
How do radical feminists argue that patriarchy operates?
patriarchal power occurs through personal relationships
* Argue patriarchy occurs in private sphere of family life as well as wider society
* Personal relationships political as men dominate over women → sexual politics
What do radical feminists argue about sexuality?
argue patriarchy constructs sexuality to satisfy men’s desires
What does Rich argue about radical feminism and sexuality?
men continue to force women into a narrow ‘compulsory heterosexuality’
What does Brownmiller argue about impact of personal relationships
The impact of these personal relationships affect all women not just who receives it :
BROWNMILLER - fear of rape is a powerful deterrent for women to go out at night
What are the three solutions of change proposed by radical feminists?
- Separatism - living apart from males to avoid the domestic inmate relationships
Greer - argues for creation of matrilocal households - Consciousness -raising - sharing experiences in women only groups see all women face same issues
- Political lesbianism - to avoid ‘sleeping with the enemy’
What does Greer argue about sepratism?
Greer - argues for creation of matrilocal households
radical feminism evaluation
- Draw attention to power inequalities within relationships
- Women are breaking through the glass ceiling with more reported to be in employment
- Marxists criticise it is capitalism not patriarchy that is the cause of women oppression
- Offers no explanation of why it takes place / deterministic in all women same experiences
- Has inadequate theory of how patriarchy will be abolished → separatism is unlikely to occur → somerville argues that heterosexual attraction makes it unlikely political lesbianism will occur
Outline marxist feminists general views
Dismiss the liberal view that subordination is merely product of outdated attitudes
Argue that the subordination within society is due to primary role as unpaid homemaker - places women in dependent economic position
What do Marxist feminists argue the functions women perorm for capitalism?
- Source of cheap labour - can be paid less
- Reproduce the labour force - through nurturing and socialising the next gen of workers
- Absorb anger - Ansley ‘takers of shit’
What does Barrett mean by familism?
this ideology presents the nuclear family and its sexual division as natural and norma - family being the only place women can gain fulfilment through motherhood thus → maintains oppression
What does Barrett acknowledge about revolution of marxist feminism
She acknowledges the need of a revolution to obtain liberation but argues it is not sufficient :
Need to overthrow the ideology of familism that underpins the conventional nuclear family freeing roles from the fixed stereotypes.
What does Mitchell argue about social change in marxist feminism?
Mitchell - uses freud’s theory to argue that femininity is so deeply implanted in womens unconscious minds they are difficult to dislodge as is a deeply rooted ideology.
Evaluation of marxist feminism
- Fails to explain women’s subordination in a non-capitalist society
- Unpaid domestic labour may benefit capitalism but doesn’t explain why it is women and not men who perform this → criticised for being sex blind
Define what is meant by dual system feminism?
Some feminists have sought to combine the key features of Marxist and radical feminism in a single theory :
* An economic system - capitalism
* A sex-gender system - patriarchy
