liberal feminism , distinction between sex and gender Flashcards
liberal feminism rejected the idea that gender inequality was biologically determined and instead
argued that women can prosper in the workplace and in society if they are given the same opportunities as men
Wollstonecraft challenged the prevailing societal beliefs of her time , which depicted
women as inherently inferior than men in intellect and agency
Wollstonecraft argued that woman are inherently rational beings meaning they are
fully capable of reason and deserving of the same educational opportunities as men
Wollstonecraft asserted that any perceived inferiority of women was not the result of natural differences but
of inadequate and unequal education which stifled their intellectual development and confined them to subordinate roles in society
Wollstonecraft advocated for a change in the way society views and educates women empathising that
with proper education , women could make decisions independently and contribute equally to society
Friedan explained how women were restrained not only by a lack of formal equality but also by
pervasive societal attitudes that undermined their rationality and autonomy
Friedan argued that these societal attitudes that the primary role of women was that of the wife and mother confined them to the domestic sphere rathe than
being able to pursue their goals and careers
she called this the “feminine mystique” which suggested that women could find complete fulfilment and identity exclusively through domestic life
Friedan highlighted how these prejudices were perpetuated through cultural norms and practices effectively denied
women the true freedom and potential for self realisation that liberalism believed that was innate to all humans
Friedian wrote
“we need to see men and women as equal partners but its hard to think of movies that threat women as full human beings “
