Feminist Theories of Society Flashcards
What are the 4 different feminist perspectives on society?
- liberal feminists
- marxist feminists
- radical feminists
- difference feminists
What do liberal feminists believe about society?
See society as patriarchal but acknowledge things are getting better.
–feminisation of the economy
–genderquake
Argue that gender role socialisation within families is changing in favour of girls.
What does Oakley believe about inequality between men and women (liberal)?
Notes that people use gender and sex interchangeably, people persume that people born female should pursue female jobs. For example, many people still see women as the expressive leader within the family.
Evaluation of liberal feminism
Exagerate the extent to which women are equal today; Men still dominate high paying jobs
What do Marxist-feminsts believe about modern societies?
Argue that patriarchy is used to divide up and rule the working class men and women. Patriarchal ideology puts women into an inferior role to men where they are subject to exploitation by both men and capitalism
What 3 ways does Benston think women are crucial to capitalism? (marxist feminism)
- capitalism requires a future workforce
- capitalism requires the maintenance of the workforce
- women act as a reserve army of labour
What does Ansley think about capitalism and patriarchy? (marxist feminism)
Adds that women are often subject to abuse from their partner who has been exploited by the capitalist system.
This can take the form of sexual, physical or emotional abuse. Women are the ‘takers of shit’ for their overloaded husbands.
Women therefore act as a safety valve for capitalism as men tolerate being exploited as they can vent at home
What does Barret seek to explain about why women accept such abuse? (marxist feminism)
Women tolerate this level of exploitation because of the familial ideology. This pressures women into desiring marriage and children and are led to believe this is their only source of happiness. Women who defy tradition are made to feel adnormal
This keeps women in a place which is secondary to men in a capitalist system
Evaluation of marxist feminism?
Fails to explain the nature of the oppression of women in non capitalist societies such as China
What do Radical Feminists believe about the nature of society?
They see patriarchy as the main source of inequality.
What does Delphy argue about gender classes? (radical feminists)
Delphy sees gender classes as the fundamental source of inequality. They see all of societies institutions as patriarchy in action
According to radical feminists, what is the role of institutions?
To reinforce the notion of male dominance to keep women in an inferior position to men
What else to radical feminists see as the main source of oppression?
The family
-gender role socialisation teaches women to be submissive to men from a young age. Boys are encouraged to be tough and demand respect
How do men use the patriarchal ideology according to radical feminists?
Men exploit and control women’s behaviour through the use of patriarchal ideology. For example, ideas such as women’s only place being in the home and having children puts females in a secondary position to men.
How are men playing a game of sexual politics according to radical feminists?
Where men use their gender to justify controlling women. This can be on a small scale e.g. individual families or on a larger scale in areas such as business. RF regard society as malestream in which positions of great importance are often filled by men
