Lesson 4 - Feminism Flashcards
Feminist view on YsubC
• Heidensohn(1995) argue research into YsubC is malestream
Absence of females in YsubC
• Most studies only briefly mention females in background or as ‘pillion passengers’
-McRobbie and Garber(1976) use term ‘invisible girl’ when describing females role in YC
• McRobbie use Control theory explain females controlled stricter by parents, can’t join ‘ visible subC’
- Girls form Bedroom culture
- based on romance, fashion, private domestic space
-concluded girls had own subC but not visible
Control theory
-McRobbie
• Girls restricted by parents expectations
-prevented from going out/having freedom
- argues Bedroom Culture is a response
- staying in room, gossiping about boys, reading/discussing teenage magazines
-form of resistance as girls’ anxieties about teenage sexual interaction led to more private tight friend groups
Control Theory Evaluation
• (-) More parents control -> worse consequences when girls Do have freedom
- must be balance between protection and freedom
- girls won’t know how to respond to freedom
• (+) Thornton(1995) RE supports idea females marginalised + ‘absent’ in subC
- studied dance music scene of 90s
- discovered females more likely to go ‘clubbing’
- females still less status because associated with mainstream pop music tastes
-females within YsubC are given less status than males
Presence of females in YsubC
• Women only entered workplace in 70s
-therefore no studies conducted on presence of females in subC
-Reddington(2003) suggests girls in subC ignored
- contradictory evidence suggest they always played active role
- photos through history show clear presence of teddy girls girl mods, girl hippies
• Blackman studied ‘New Wave Girls’ in comprehensive school
- male sociologist
- gained access through group of Mod boys
- stayed with girls during school day, went to their house after school, talked to parents
- girls were WC, popular, academically able
- shared experience of family break up, explains violating gender N&V
- regulate own N&V
- enjoyed new wave music, dressed in black trousers, Docs, oversized jumpers
- didn’t conform to trad expectations of femininity, resisted attempts at control
Blackman Evaluation
• (-) Blackman was male
- therefore maybe biased
- affects validity since studying females and subC (male perspective)
• (-) New wave girls could’ve changed behaviour since overt observation
- researcher effect
- demand characteristics
- affect validity
• (-) Marxists criticise Blackman and Feminist perspective since bias
- research doesn’t look at social class of girls
- only examining gender
- ignores social inequality of class differences
Ragga Girls
-McRobbie(1994)
• Originated in Jamaica in 80s
- wear anything short, tight, and expensive
- a community in South london
- idolise Lisa Maffia from So Solid Crew
- take up public space and assert control over sexuality as they experience more economic and social opportunities
Ragga Girls Evaluation
• (-) Dancing sexually may be attention seeking
-wrong kind of attention
- power is not gained but rather they’re objectified
- respect lost, goes against purpose of being valued
• (-) Focusing on appearance and dance ability means focus on education is lost
-hinders future success
-Focus attention on brain power not sexual power
• (+) Post-Modernists support research on Ragga Girls
-terms of free will & ability to support selves through music success
(Riot Grrrls)
• Originated early 90s in underground feminism punk movement
- combo of feminist consciousness, punk style, politics
- address rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism, female empowerment issues
- includes DIY ethic, Zines, art, political action, activism
- seek to end ageism, homophobia, racism, sexism, physical+emotional violence against females
(Riot Grrrls Evaluation)
• (+) SubC which pushes ‘girl power’ movement
- tries to lesson inequality between men/women
- push for issue concerning women to be improved
- movement supported by Feminists
• (+) & (-) Female only movement
-compared to movements of the time in the UK were gender neutral & inclusive
- seen as sexist against men
- therefore still gender inequality
- favours women/discriminates against men
