Radical Feminism

Question 1

What are the origins of patriarchy?

Answer 1

Firestone- origins of patriarchy lie in women’s ability to bear children because performing this role makes women dependent on men

Question 2

What is the fundamental form of inequality? Who oppresses women?

Answer 2

Patriarchy

Every man oppresses every woman

Question 3

What spheres are patriarchal oppression present in?

Answer 3

Public spheres of work and politics as well as the private sphere of the family

Question 4

What does Brownsmiller argue?

Answer 4

Fear of rape is a powerful deterrent against women going out alone at night

Question 5

How does Greer argue that change can be achieved?

Answer 5

Separatism via the creation of matrilocal households as an alternative to the nuclear family

Question 6

Alternative to straight relationships

Answer 6

Political lesbianism because lesbianism is the only non oppressive form of sexuality

Question 7

Positive of radical feminism

Answer 7

Draws attention to political dimension of areas like DV and rape

Question 8

Somerville’s criticism

Answer 8

Separation is unachieveable because of hetrosexual attraction

Question 9

Criticism linked to violence

Answer 9

By drawing attention to male DV, they ignore female DV and violence within lesbian relationships