Feminist Theories

Question 1

What is the source of women’s suppression according to radical fems?

Answer 1

Men. They are the enemy and oppress women on purpose

Question 2

What are the two key institutions in a patriarchal society? (Rf)
Why?

Answer 2

The family and marriage
The family establishes gender roles- man goes to work, woman stays at home.
Marriage makes it harder for women to be independent.

Question 3

What is separatism?

Answer 3

Women living independently from men

Question 4

How do radical feminists think that patriarch will be abolished?

Answer 4

By abolishing the family

Question 5

What is political lesbianism?

Answer 5

Choosing to be homosexual in order to live independently from men

Question 6

What is Greer’s alternative to heterosexual households?

Answer 6

Matrilocal households- all female

Question 7

What is a Matrifocal household?

Answer 7

When the woman of the house is the breadwinner

Question 8

What is Somerville’s criticism of radical feminism?

Answer 8

RF’s don’t recognise the progress made by women in society- more women in work and more educational opportunities.

Question 9

Name 5 ways in which women’s position in the family has improved?

Answer 9

1. More women in work meaning more control over finance
2. Spousal rape laws
3. Family planning due to the pill and abortion
4. Domestic abuse laws
5. Easier to divorce

Question 10

How could you criticise separatism?

Answer 10

People don’t choose their sexual orientation and heterosexual attraction renders the abolition of the nuclear family unlikely

Question 11

What are one of the liberal feminists main ideas of how women are oppressed?

Answer 11

Socialisation into traditional gender roles

Question 12

How are people socialised into traditional gender roles?(2)

Answer 12

1. Colour coding babies clothes and bedroom walls - boys blue, girls pink
2. Children’s toys- boys play with cars and tools, girls play with babies and ovens and barbies (establishing beauty from an early age)

Question 13

Give 3 examples of masculine characteristics and how they lead to male domination and women suppression?

Answer 13

1. Physically and emotionally strong
2. Authoritative and protective
3. DIY- leads to doing these sorts of domestic chores, women doing less rewarding jobs

Question 14

Give 3 examples of feminine characteristics:

Answer 14

1. Sensitive, emotionally and physically weak
2. Nurturing and maternal
3. Pretty and appealing

Question 15

What’s the dual burden?

Answer 15

Liberal feminists believe that women have the burden of both paid work and domestic work.

Question 16

What is the triple shift?

Answer 16

Radical feminists believe women carry out paid work, domestic work and emotional work.

Question 17

What is cultural lag?

Answer 17

Views have changed however actions have not yet caught up. People generally believe there should be equality yet don’t act this way

Question 18

How does the family exploit women according to radical feminists? (4)

Answer 18

1. Women don’t have access to finance
2. Not used in the workplace therefore cannot be fulfilled by a career
3. No warm bath atmosphere for women
4. Leave work when they have children therefore can’t ascend up the job ladder

Question 19

What do difference feminists believe?

Answer 19

We cannot generalise about all women’s experiences in the family as not all women live in a nuclear family. Exploitation can also be due to class, ethnicity and sexuality.