feminism waves Flashcards
5 components of first wave (liberal feminism)
classic liberalism
rationality
education
gender justice
reformism
first wave rationalism
wallstonecrafts argument that began with the premise that women are human. all humans have the same capacity for rationalityf
first wave education
Wollstonecrafts demanded real education for women on the basis of their capacity for reason
first wave benefits for education
rational and independent women would bring benefits to the wider society
it would allow rational and independent women to be autonomous making their own decisions in life which for Wollstonecraft was the basis for being fully human
first wave - gender justice
discrimination is found in the lack of equal rights and opportunities
there should be inequality where
-the intellectual sphere
-civic life e.g right to vote e.g civil rights act 1964
-economic life (crucial to Perkins Gilman)
first wave on reformism
crucial to receiving gender justice was winning the right to vote
contemporary directions in liberal feminism
liberal feminists have argued more needs to be done (than anti discrimination laws e.t.c) e.g. affirmative action
two examples of positive discrimination
all women shortlists by political parties such as Labour
Affirmative Action in the USA introduced by Kennedy and later included women by president Johnson
first wave reform darwinism
the concept that humans are not helpless in the face f evolution. through actions they can shape to control it
second wave marxist feminism
capitalism is the root of the problem
engels link to marxist feminism
class oppression is the most universal form and the cause of all other oppression
marxist feminism view of marriage
marriage was an institution built on exploitation with the man as the propperyu owning bourgeois and w Oman as the property less proletarian
the property less woman was degraded and reduced to servitude in the home as a salve to male lust and an instrument to produce children
marxist feminism on reproductive labour
unpaid labour performed by women in the home
ensures the future and current workers are fit and able to work
should be recognised as productive and fairly paid or be socialised (take place in wider society) so women can take their place in the workforce
solution to marxist feminist views
abolition of private property, capitalism and the family as an economic unit
radical femisnim
believe the patriarchy is the root cause of the problem
Kate millets sexual politics
integral to the radical feminist approach with its focus on patriarch and how the family and wider culture ate used to support masculine authority in all atlas of life and outside the home and permit the female no authority at all
patriarchy (radical)
yhr most universal and most damaging form oppression this means tackling discrimination or overthrowing capitalism cannot eradicate oppression for women
three key elements of radical feminism
personal is political
sex and gender
patriarchy
personal is political
patriarchy is a pervasive relationship that dominates both the public and private sphere
the personal = experiences of women related to the female body and in the home and workplace (periods, pregnancy, violence)
bringing these issues out into the light, the understanding of oppression is depended
sex and gender - radical feminism
there is a theoretical distinction
what is meant by sex by radical feminists
biologicalw
what is meant by gender by radical feminists
a socially defined distinction known as masculinity and femininity (Simone de Beauvoir when she stated one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman)
androgyny
combining the characteristics of male and female revealing that the differences are so slight that they should have no impact on their political, social or economic role
felinity and gender as a social construct
biology is not oppressive but the way men have constructed gender to control women as child bearers is
felinity sets out expectations, rules and restrictions
masculine traits like competitiveness, assertiveness and courage are seen as superior to feminine traits like passivity, submissiveness and emotional
such traits are social by childhood
de Beauvoir four strategies
women must go out to work
must become intellectuals
must exercise their sexuality as they see fit
must seek economic justice and independence
patriarchy
the system of control over women - it cannot be reformed, only rooted out by revolution
six different structures that form the partiarchy
the state - legal procedures that prevent female control
household - housework as a woman’s most fulfilling role
equality feminists
equality feminism sees the patriarchy s a male imposed construction and the imposition of differnece
patriarchy must be removed for sexual equality
sexual equality is equality in family
biological nature and differences is of little importance
difference feminists
there are clear biological and psychological differences between men and women and these differences matter
seeking liberation through equality means women are seeking to be like men
idea of androgyny is misplaced and ignores biological diffenreces
equality feminists solutions
women should be released from domestic responsibility
women should be free to explore sexuality as they wish
every individual should be given the freedom to be androgynous
they argue that separatist feminism replaces sexual freedom with sex as a political statement
difference feminist solutions
should create a women centred culture
the feminine self will be based on the values of women which are different from men
some argue sex differences are natural and patriarchy is a direct expression of male human nature
the solution to this is female separatism as all female-male relations are oppressive
post modernfeminims
gender is not the only influence on identity - it is also class and race
they are also equality femnists different experiences of women show how all are oppressed by patriarchy
patriarchy - post modern
bell hooks saw it s the most important of the wider systems that teach women to be feminine based on myths made by men which make women subordinate in the home and workplace
patriarchy socialises men to be dominators
