Topic 7 - Feminist Theories

Question 1

What are the main principles of Feminist theories?

Answer 1

That the inequality between men and women is the most significant conflict in society.

Question 2

What do Liberal Feminists believe?

Answer 2

1. The creation of equal opportunity is the main aim , which will occur through law and policy e.g. Equal Pay and Equality Act 2010.
2. They see gender as a social construct, that is reinforced by socialization.
3. They believe that discrimination prevents women from having equal opportunity.
4. They do not seek revolution, and see change as possible within current structures.

Question 3

What do Radical Feminists believe about society?

Answer 3

1. They suggest that society is patriarchal - men are the ruling class and women are the subject class.
2. Firestone (1974) - that patriarchy is the main driver with inequality in society. (Men are the enemy)
3. They believe in separatism, with women being in their own community with female only households.
4. Rich (1981) - Sexuality is not a biological urge and that it is a patriarchal construct.

Question 4

Evaluate liberal feminists perspective?

Answer 4

1. Had the most effective impact on women’s lifes.
2. Walby (1997) suggest that there are deep seated structures in society that liberal feminist can’t explain.
3. Some suggest that they are too optimistic.
4. Have helped to start eradicate sexism from children books and the media

Question 5

Evaluate radical feminists perspective?

Answer 5

1. Marxist’s would argue that class inequality and capatlism means not all men benefit from oppression.
2. Western perspective and fail to give insight in other cultures.
3. Somerville (2000) suggested that heterosexual attraction and the nuclear family will not completely disappear and single sex household will not be dominant.

Question 6

What do Marxist Feminists believe about society?

Answer 6

1. Capitalism rather than patriarchy is the source of women’s oppression.
2. Women’s subordination benefits capitalism and they reproduce the labor force for free.
3. Women absorb the anger of men and keep husband going (Ansley)
4. Suggest that overthrowing capitalism would lead to inequalities disappearing.

Question 7

Evaluate marxist feminists perspective?

Answer 7

1. Western perspective and does not take into consideration other cultures.
2. Mitchell (1975) argues that patriarchal ideology may remain even after revolution.
3. Fail to explain their theory in non capitalist societies.

Question 8

What do Difference and Postmodernist Feminists believe about society?

Answer 8

1. Do not see women as a single homogeneous group
2. Butler - Enlightment project, previous feminist ideas were constructed by white middle class women (western culture).
3. Segal (1999) - Feminists should look at the major inequalities in society e.g. wealth and income.

Question 9

Evaluate PM feminists perspective?

Answer 9

1. Walby - notes that there are similarities in women experiences, with different levels of patriarchy.