Waves of Feminism

Question 1

What were the Key principles/ideas of First Wave Feminism?

Answer 1

• 19th Century: Feminism was mostly Liberal - concerned with equal, political/legal rights. Female suffrage confined to social elites in second half of 19th century. Once women gained vote, other sexism would end as politicians sought women’s votes by addressing concerns specific to women.
  -1867: female suffrage bill by J.S. Mill defeated in UK.
• 1893, New Zealand introduced suffrage. 1918 in the UK. Gained wider access to education and legal barriers removed preventing women from entering certain professions.

Question 2

What were the Key Principles/Ideas of Second Wave Feminism?

Answer 2

• 1950s (The Second Sex ,1949, by Simone de Beauvoir). Women are defined by relationships to men
• Economic/social rights. Believed little progress was made in this area despite gaining the vote etc.
• Kate Millet, Sexual Politics (1970). Adopted a more radical/revolutionary approach (National Organization of Women NOW in the USA). Centred on educational/career opportunities, - gender consciousness (abortion, divorce, contraception). Ideas became mainstream/were influential
• 1980s/1990s Contradictory developments:
  Less Radical – conservative New Right (traditional family values) Accommodated to new political realities. Opposition from:
• ‘men’s movement’ (small and uninfluential)
• dislike for single mothers/working women. Opposed abortion, lesbianism etc
• Fragmentation within the movement. Disagreements e.g revolution or reform, racism, separatism, lesbianism, motherhood etc
• Post-Feminism – feminism was ‘mainstream’ women had effectively achieved equality, explained the decline in militancy.

Question 3

What were the key ideas of third wave feminists?

Answer 3

Greer, ‘The Whole Woman’ rejected post feminism. Women had accepted assimilation:
- pay 80% of men’s
- dominated low paid, part-time employment sector.
- housework/child rearing done by women.
- looks are more important than status.
- subject to domestic violence
- Rape is still commonplace rarely convicted.
- working class women and women in the developing world

Some suggested young women put off feminist movements by:
- Theoretical obscurity of much feminist thinking.
- Continually portrayed as victims by feminists.
- Feminism expects women to think and behave in a certain way

• ‘third wave’ of feminism addresses concerns. Advocates say adopting a more pluralistic theoretical approach. More individualistic and post-modernist than second-wave feminism.

Question 4

How does feminism relate to other ideologies?

Answer 4

Socialism/Liberalism influenced Socialist/Liberal tendencies. Radical Feminism is closest to Anarchism, (some major differences). Ecologism shares many Feminist concerns, influenced by a number of its ideas. Feminist ideals been shared by left-wing ideologies.
- Fascism/Conservatism antagonistic towards Feminism. Conservatives support traditional patriarchal family as seen as part of organic society and a source of (male) authority. Fascism is chauvinistic, women should play a subordinate role to men