Feminist Society (Patriarchy, Public/Private)

Question 1

What is the main agreement/disagreement among feminists regarding society?

Answer 1

• Opposed to the traditional patriarchal society. However, not agreed upon the form of society that should replace this.

Question 2

What do Radical Feminists believe about Patriarchy?

Answer 2

• Gender is the most important social division, patriarchy pervades history, language and culture, (all revolves around men) God is male. According to Greer, men have been portrayed as ‘the norm’, whilst women have been depicted as ‘different’.
• Women failing to adhere to stereotypes of femininity created by men – attractive, caring, passive - have been ridiculed, marginalised and persecuted.
• Male power is rooted in the patriarchal family. Patriarchy is then repeated in the public sphere. Only by changing the family can women’s oppression be ended - through ‘symmetrical family’? Kate Millett identified patriarchy as the key source of female oppression.

Question 3

What do Liberal Feminists believe about Patriarchy?

Answer 3

– Injustice results from unequal distribution of rights. Women did not gain the rights, liberties and justice that early Liberalism had obtained for men. Equal political and legal rights should be extended to women. More women would then be in senior positions in politics, business, culture, science, arts etc. Patriarchy is less important concept for Liberals than for Radicals, since they concentrate on political and legal rights.

Question 4

What do Socialist Feminists believe about Patriarchy?

Answer 4

• Patriarchy/capitalism work together. Gender inequality results from the capitalist class system. Men and women are divided – to suit capitalist interests - and women workers are doubly oppressed – in society and in work. If capitalism is ended, then patriarchy can be as well.

Question 5

What do Post-modernists believe about Patriarchy?

Answer 5

• Patriarchy manifested in different ways according to the type of woman. Black, white, middle-class, working-class, able-bodied, disabled, heterosexual and LGBT women all experience different forms of patriarchal oppression. This needs to be recognised and all forms of patriarchy opposed.

Question 6

What do Difference Feminists believe about Patriarchy?

Answer 6

• Most believe Androgyny would be the key feature of a post-patriarchal society. Difference Feminists disagree, and believe separatism is how women escape the inherent violence of aggressive and domineering men, and be able to live in a state of peace and tranquility. Separatist feminists live in women-only communes and become political lesbians in order to try and achieve this break with male patriarchy.

Question 7

What do Liberal Feminists believe about the Public/Private divide?

Answer 7

• Stresses the importance of separation between the public sphere and the private sphere. Decisions within the private sphere should be left for individuals to make, according to their own private and personal ideas and interests. Liberal Feminists tend to support this position
• Women should have greater access to the public sphere – business, law, media, politics - but the private sphere should be a place of personal choice and individual freedom. It is possible that the state and society could become more involved in activities such as child-rearing and so the extent of the public sphere can be extended. However, the private sphere should remain to protect individual liberty, for both women and men.

Question 8

What are three general agreements between Feminists regarding the Public Private Divide?

Answer 8

• All believe women have been traditionally disadvantaged in the public sphere
• Most believe that changes need to be made to the public Sphere in favor of women
• Socialists and radicals believe that patriarchy exists on a private level ( socialists due to the economy’s influence on family life and radicals due to patriarchal influence)

Question 9

What do Radical Feminists believe about the Public/Private divide?

Answer 9

• Radical Feminists, politics exists in all areas of society (patriarchal family) Enforced sexual division of labour:
• Men encouraged in public sphere and are breadwinner. Whereas women kept in the private sphere - less power/wealth - stayed at home to rear children/perform unpaid and undervalued domestic work.
• Not through individual choice, forced upon men/women by patriarchy. Female oppression begins in the family. Housework, child-rearing + sexual conduct been forced on women and are political issues. ‘the personal is political’ – Firestone. Abortion, contraception, domestic violence, all political
• They believe that the public/private divide needs to be broken down. A more androgynous society.

Question 10

What do Post-modernists believe about the Public/Private divide?

Answer 10

• Post-Modernist agree with radicals. Oppression on many levels:
• Government/citizens, Middle/working class, Men/women, Black/white, Heterosexual/LGBT
  All these different power structures need to be taken into consideration and addressed politically
• Prefer a society that caters to the needs and interests of all sectors of society. Be done by all the different sections working together, the ending of oppressive power structures and probably involve a diminished role for the state.

Question 11

What do Socialists Feminists Believe regarding the Public/Private divide?

Answer 11

• Private sphere is determined by economic sphere. Capitalism, control of the workplace, dictates how people live private lives – family, leisure hours, etc Private sphere will automatically be altered if capitalism is, much more egalitarian society will be created