Keywords

• sex - biological differences between men and women

  • different roles men and women are ascribed by society
  • gender stereotypes uphold patriarchy and restrict women
• gender - constructed from early age to undermine, stereotypes result in women defined by outward appearance than achievements

  " The ideal women assigned social role, locked up in the home, but also expected to like it" - Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• public sphere - men dominate the public sphere so women find it difficult to raise issues that impact them

  • issues rarely gain same degree of seriousness
• private sphere - women are regulated into private sphere

  • political process is biased towards public + ignores the private sphere
  • men maintained dominance of political process by marginalising private sphere
• essentialism - element of feminist ideology based on the argument that women are fundamentally different to men

  • should celebrate feminine values
• gender stereotypes - serve to uphold patriarchy and place balance on women's lives

  • from early age, gender is constructed to deliberately undermine status of women
  • place them at disadvantage
• discrimination - an individual (or group) treated differently from other members of society

  • on the basis of ethnicity, sexuality, religion, age or gender
  • can be positive or negative
• equality of opportunity - policies and schemes designed to improve life chances of everyone regardless of social background

  • feminists highly supportive of equal opportunities to combat problem of sexist attitudes
• political equality - parity of treatment amongst all adult citizens regardless of background

  • e.g. same level of voting rights and both being able to stand for elected office - linked to the first wave