feminism

• What is a patriarchy?

  Male dominated society
• Feminist agreements: Human Nature


  - accept significance of sex differences

  - reject the idea of male superiority which they argue is artificial and is manmade

  - biological differences should not result into gender differences

  - idea of inferiority of women is learned behavior which is taught through education and media, conforming gender roles

  - male superiority and patriarchy are passed down
• Liberal feminists and human nature


  Argue for reform through legislation for equality through education to combat sexist attitudes.

  Patriarchy is a characteristic of society but isn't fundamental or all pervading
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman and human nature

  LIBERAL FEMINIST

  The biological differences between men and women are irrelevant. Women can compete equally with men.
• Simone de Beauvior and human nature

  LIBERAL FEMINIST

  Reform through education, economic freedom, state-funded childcare, legalised abortion and contraception.

  Girls are taught to be nurturers and must liberate themselves
• bell hooks and human nature

  POSTMODERN FEMINIST

  Solving all inequality will make women equal and the patriarchy has taught women to hate themselves -must unlearn this to be free
• Radical feminists and human nature


  Male influence in all aspects of life: public and private spheres

  Destruction of gender roles in the form of a cultural revolution

  Androgyny: people should be free to choose sexual identity
• Kate Millet and human nature


  RADICAL FEMINIST

  Argued heterosexual relationships involve men exercising power over women. Women who are able to accept or convert to lesbianism will find freedom
• Sheila Rowbotham and human nature


  SOCIALIST FEMINIST

  Men fail to realise how they oppress women, and women can only be freed by a socialist revolution as capitalism is the problem
• Feminist agreement on society


  Believe society is deeply patriarchal: seeps into every aspect of society such as the media, education, sport and religion
• Simone de Beauvoir and society


  LIBERAL FEMINIST

  Gradual reform through legislation, education. Women must be given the same choices as men and they must liberate themselves
• Radical feminists and society


  Argue for a full-scale attack on patriarchal culture, possible involving violent resistance to male dominance

  Argue for the creation of a female counter culture (political lesbianism)
• Radical feminists and the personal is political


  Radical feminists state the personal is not private, and that male influence and the patriarchy is also prominent in the private sphere also
• Kate Millet and society


  Every aspect of modern society is characterised by patriarchy. Women who are able to accept or convert to lesbianism will find freedom
• bell hooks and society


  POSTMODERN FEMINIST

  To solve inequality in society love between all minority cultures must be established
• Sheila Rowbotham and society


  SOCIALIST FEMINIST

  Society reflects the dominance of both capitalists and men in general
• Feminist agreements on the state


  - The state oppresses and exploits women in a male-dominated society.

  - Governments are accomplices in this exploitation

  - Male dominated govts consequently have little interest in improving the situation
• Liberal feminists and the state


  See government as agents of change who use legislation ton reform society
• Simone de Beauvior


  LIBERAL FEMINIST

  Gradual reform through education and legislation. Women must be given the same choices as men and the state can play a role here
• Radical feminists and the state


  See government reforms as welcome but superficial. Radical feminists argue patriarchal culture is deep rooted and required revolution rather than reform from within
• Kate Millett and the state


  RADICAL FEMINIST

  The state is merely the agent of patriarchy. It is part of the problem but not the solution.
• Sheila Rowbotham and state


  SOCIALIST FEMINIST

  The state is part of a wider capitalist problem and until capitalism changes, the state remains a problem
• Feminist agreements on the economy


  - All agree that women are discriminated against in the economic world

  - Patriarchal society has assigned an inferior gender role to women so that they become a cheap source of labour

  - women exploited in the home and in employment (gender pay gap)

  - women struggle to get senior jobs: glass ceiling
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the economy

  The domestic servitude of women allowed men to dominate the outside economic world.
• Radical feminists and the economy


  See the oppression of women as being bound up with capitalism

  Extreme end calls for the end of capitalism
• Socialist feminists and the economy


  Call for reform of capitalism through reputation of working conditions and equality
• bell hooks and the economy


  POSTMODERN FEMINIST

  Women living in poverty have problems that middle-class women do not face. The liberation of the poor is a priority
• Sheila Rowbotham and the economy


  SOCIALIST FEMINIST

  Capitalism must be removed - the root of all problems