intro - feminism

Question 1

What type of theory is feminism?

Answer 1

a conflict theory - sees inequalities in society as being based on gender

Question 2

What is meant by first wave feminism?

Answer 2

• fought for the right for women to have legal equality with men
• e.g. women gained universal suffrage in 1928

Question 3

What is meant by second wave feminism?

Answer 3

• fought for legal, economic and social equality from the 1950s onwards
• Women’s Liberation Movement = secured control over reproductive rights for women

Question 4

What is meant by third wave feminism?

Answer 4

• developed as a criticism of those women excluded from second wave feminism
• developed from 1980s onwards = addressing inequalities between women based on social class, sexuality, ethnicity and geographical location

Question 5

What is liberal feminism?

Answer 5

• concerned with the human and civil rights and freedoms of the individual, emphasises the rights of women as individuals
• social change should be gradual not revolutionary
• legislation can secure equal opportunities for women
• key areas to change include: gendered socialisation and education

Question 6

Who are some key liberal feminist theorists?

Answer 6

Ann Oakley = the sex role theory, there are distinct gender roles in society: male dominance and female subservience
Sue Sharpe = inequality is coming to an end as women are focussing more on education and careers

Question 7

What influences has liberal feminism had on society?

Answer 7

• Fight for equal pay
• Sex Discrimination Act
• Paternity pay
• Bechdel test = campaigning for equal rights in the entertainment industry

Question 8

Strengths of liberal feminism:

Answer 8

• a lot of support from the public
• helped bring forward legislation which helps to protect more women
• extends its principles into the private sphere so as to protect more women from the forms of oppression specific to this sphere e.g. domestic abuse

Question 9

criticisms of liberal feminism:

Answer 9

• overlooks differences of race, class = fails to recognise that everyone is different

Question 10

What is radical feminism?

Answer 10

• blames the patriarchy for the oppression of women, all men oppress women because they gain from patriarchy
• there needs to be a revolution of women to dismantle the systems that are rooted in patriarchy
• the subcategory TERFs exclude trans-women
• believe in separatism = men and women living apart and political lesbianism is the only non-oppressive sexuality

Question 11

Who are some key radical feminist theorists?

Answer 11

Greer = women are forced into submission under men
Millet = wants a sexual revolution
Firestone = the root of women’s oppression lie in the biological ability to have children which make women dependent on men

Question 12

What influence has radical feminism had on society?

Answer 12

• protested for equal rights, pay and abortion
• but are not as popular as liberal because of their radical protests

Question 13

strengths of radical feminism:

Answer 13

• very analytical, micro approach
• the want action - actually have solutions and they know what they want

Question 14

criticisms of radical feminism:

Answer 14

• lack of intersectionality
• solely blame men for oppression

Question 15

What is marxist feminism?

Answer 15

• women are doubly exploited, once by the patriarchy and then again by capitalism
• women are a source of cheap, exploitative labour
• women’s interests lie in the overthrow of capitalism

Question 16

Who are some key marxist feminist theorists?

Answer 16

• Angela Davis
• Ainsley
• Benson

Question 17

What influence has marxist feminism had on society?

Answer 17

• changed the perception of women’s housework, argue that women should be paid for housework
• challenged the value of women in society
• the protection of women’s rights

Question 18

strengths of marxist feminism:

Answer 18

• shows the oppression of women in a capitalist society
• the awareness of imbalance

Question 19

criticisms of marxist feminism:

Answer 19

• it is common now for women to be breadwinners
• doesn’t always incorporate race, class and disability
• women’s oppression was prevalent before capitalism

Question 20

What is intersectional feminism?

Answer 20

• focuses on how systems of oppression impact people differently based on their race, class, etc
• criticises mainstream/liberal feminism for focusing on white middle-class Western women

Question 21

Who are some key intersectional feminist theorists?

Answer 21

Kimberly Crenshaw = coined the term intersectionality
Bell Hooks = white feminism didn’t accurately present feminism as a whole
Angels Davis = capitalism impacts race and class and gender, she wanted to break the glass ceiling

Question 22

What influence has intersectional feminism had on society?

Answer 22

• The Free Angela movement when Angela Davis got arrested
• Civil Rights Act(1964) - included that black women could work
• tend to be involved in smaller campaigns

Question 23

strengths of intersectional feminism:

Answer 23

• takes into account differences
• uses a micro approach
• views others as more than a singular object

Question 24

criticisms of intersectional feminism:

Answer 24

• differences makes it difficult for women to relate to each other, e.g. it would be difficult for a black trans woman to relate to a white cis woman.
• the differences weakens the voice of the actual feminist movement