Society

Question 1

Introduction - Themes

Answer 1

• Difference v Equality Feminist
• Reforms v Revolution
• Female Consciousness

Question 2

Introduction - Argument

Answer 2

Feminists agree that society is currently patriarchal, and something needs to be done to halt female oppression - however, there are fundamental disagreements about what they wish to create and how this can be done

Question 3

Agree - Equality v Difference Feminists - Point

Answer 3

Most Feminists agree that one gender is not superior to another, therefore the patriarchy of men oppressing women should be abolished

Question 4

Disagree - Equality v Difference Feminists - Point

Answer 4

• Difference Feminists argue that the genders are different and that those differences should be embraced and not fought against - for them, the search for equality is fruitless
• Equality Feminists, generally liberal, have limited aspirations - they seek equality for women in all spheres. For them, difference automatically leads to inequality, and it is inevitable that men will benefit

Question 5

Disagree - Equality v Difference Feminists - Example
(Difference)

Answer 5

This is in line with bell hook’s theory on ‘intersectionality’ that women have multiple identities thus the complexity of oppression needs to be reorganised

Question 6

Disagree - Equality v Difference Feminists - Example
(Equality)

Answer 6

In the Second Sex, Simone De Beauvoir expresses this idea succinctly: women ‘can do away with this inferiority only by destroying male superiority’

Question 7

Agree - Reform v Revolution - Point

Answer 7

All branches of feminists agree that the patriarchy is deeply rooted within our current society and in order to create their ideal society something must be done

Question 8

Disagree - Reform v Revolution - Point

Answer 8

• Liberal Feminists see the solution in terms of reform - it can be made less patriarchal gradually
• Radical Feminists have a more extreme approach to emancipating women - they advocate for revolution, although not necessarily through violent means

Question 9

Disagree - Reform v Revolution - Example
(Liberals)

Answer 9

They believe that to abolish the patriarchy women would have to achieve formal equality in all fields - they see this largely involving legislation. Supported acts such as the Equality Act 2010

Question 10

Disagree - Reform v Revolution - Example
(Radical)

Answer 10

There are varying ways of ‘revolution’ within radical feminism - Kate Millet and Charlotte Perkins Gilman asserts that there needed to be destruction of the traditional nuclear family

Question 11

Agree - Female Consciousness - Point

Answer 11

There is agreement between feminists that women do not realise that they are being oppressed by the patriarchal society

Question 12

Agree - Female Consciousness - Examples

Answer 12

• Liberal Feminist, Betty Friedan, dubbed the patriarchy as ‘the problem with no name’ implying that women themselves did not recognise the nature of their oppression
• Radical Feminist, Germaine Greer, argued in her book ‘The Female Eunuch’ that ‘until women themselves reject stigma … they have no hope of achieving full human structure’

Question 13

Disagree - Female Consciousness - Point

Answer 13

• Liberal Feminists insist that all women should seek to compete with men for superior roles in society - they accept the freedom to choose whether they take up the domestic role
• Radical Feminists argue there should be a full-scale cultural revolution

Question 14

Disagree - Female Consciousness - Example
(Radical)

Answer 14

Sheila Rowbotham pointed out that the greatest advancements for women have taken place after socialist revolutions