Liberal feminism

• Liberal feminists

  Liberal feminists - There has been an improvement in the position of women. The solution is to reform and campaign for equality. E.g. Introduce legislation (The Equal Pay Act). March of progress.
• March of progress


  Liberal feminists point out the 'march of progress'

  • Parents socialise their sons and daughters equally
  • Shared parental leave
  • Access to contraception and abortion
  • Women are able to initiate divorce
  • More women in positions of authority (head teachers)
  • National curriculum in schools mean all genders have equal access to all subjects
• Sommerville


  Many women are no sympathetic to the idea of feminism but at the same time feel a sense of grievance. Feminists have ailed to acknowledge progress, such as freedom to take paid work, which led to greater equality within marriage.
• Sommerville


  Men don't take on their full share of responsibilities (dual burden - paid work and domestic work), but women's improved social position mean they can show men 'the door'.
• Evaluation of liberal feminism

  Liberal feminists are criticised by Marxist and radical feminists for lacking drive for change. They don't challenge the causes of oppression, which are rooted in society's social structures. Liberal feminists ignore the revolutionary spirit needed for far reaching change.