Feminist Theory Flashcards
Introduction – The Basics
Inequality between men and women is universal and the most significant form of inequality
Gender norms are socially constructed not determined by biology and can thus be changed.
Patriarchy is the main cause of gender inequality – women are subordinate because men have
more power.
Feminism is a political movement; it exists to rectify sexual inequalities, although strategies for
social change vary enormously.
There are four types of Feminism – Radical, Marxist, Liberal, and Difference
Radical Feminism
Blames the exploitation of women on men. It is primarily men who have benefitted from the subordination of women. Women are ‘an oppressed group.
Society is patriarchal – it is dominated and ruled by men – men are the ruling class, and women the subject class.
Rape, violence and pornography are methods through which men have secured and maintained their power over women. Andrea Dworkin (1981)
Radical feminists have often been actively involved in setting up and running refuges for women who are the victims of male violence.
Marxist Feminism
Capitalism rather than patriarchy is the principal source of women’s oppression, and capitalists as the main beneficiaries.
Women’s subordination plays a number of important functions for capitalism:
Women reproduce the labour force for free (socialisation is done for free)
Women absorb anger – women keep the husbands going.
Because the husband has to support his wife and children, he is more dependent on his job
and less likely to demand wage increases.
Liberal Feminism
Nobody benefits from existing inequalities: both men and women are harmed
The explanation for gender inequality lies not so much in structures and institutions of society
but in its culture and values.
Socialisation into gender roles has the consequence of producing rigid, inflexible expectations
of men and women
Discrimination prevents women from having equal opportunities
Liberal Feminists do not seek revolutionary changes: they want changes to take place within
the existing structure.
The creation of equal opportunities is the main aim of liberal feminists – e.g. the Sex
Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act.
Difference Feminism/ Postmodern Feminism
Do not see women as a single homogenous group. MC/WC ,
Criticised preceding feminist theory for claiming a ‘false universality’ (white, western
heterosexual, middle class)
Criticised preceding Feminists theory of being essentialist
Criticisms of Feminist Theories Marxist
- Radical Feminists - ignores other sources of inequality such as sexual violence. 2. Patriarchal systems existed before capitalism, in tribal societies for example.
- The experience of women has not been particularly happy under communism
Criticisms of Feminist Theories Liberal
- Based upon male assumptions and norms such as individualism and competition, and encourages women to be more like men and therefor deny the ‘value of qualities traditionally associated with women such as empathy.
- Liberalism is accused of emphasising public life at the expense of private life.
- Radical and Marxist Feminists - it fails to take account of deeper structural inequalities
- Difference Feminists argue it is an ethnocentric perspective – based mostly on the ex-
periences of middle class, educated women.
Criticisms of Feminist Theories Radical
- The concept of patriarchy has been criticised for ignoring variations in the experience of oppression.
- Some critics argue that it focuses too much on the negative experiences of women, failing to recognise that some women can have happy marriages for example.
- It tends to portray women as universally good and men as universally bad, It has been accused of man hating, not trusting all men.
Criticisms of Feminist Theories Differences
- Walby, women are still oppressed by objective social structures – namely Patriarchy 2. Dividing women sub-groups weakens the movement for change.
