Femnism

• Feminism is a conflict theory that suggests that power in society is divided on the basis of gender
• Feminists suggest that patriarchal oppression of women exists in all sections of society in employment, at home, education and media
• Early feminism focused on the study of female issues and the representations of women in society
• Feminism has evolved over time to deal with contemporary issues surrounding gender differences and has a particular focus in contemporary society on the intersectionality of women's experiences
• First wave feminism


  Concerned with the political equality of women and their rights for representation in society
• Second wave feminism


  Focused upon the social and economic equality of women in society, championing equal rights and equal pay for women in the workplace and addressing issues of female emancipation from social norms
• Third wave feminism


  Examining the different experiences that women face globally, with a focus on giving women reproductive rights and tackling issues such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage
• Fourth wave feminism


  Focusing on the empowerment of women using digital technologies and social media to encourage and support female achievements, with the most notable movement being the #MeToo campaign tackling historical sexual abuse of women
• Liberal feminism


  • Looks to address gender inequality by utilizing the existing systems and structures in place and pressing for legal changes to address inequality in society
• Marxist feminism


  • Examines the dual exploitation that women face in society both from males and from capitalism, particularly in relation to the domestic division of labor and women's position in the workforce
• Radical feminism


  • Suggests that the patriarchy is present in all aspects of society and is so ingrained into the consciousness of society that the only solution is to restructure in a bid to gain equality
• Feminists have often rejected the cold and objective nature of mainstream sociology, suggesting it shows a lack of empathy for those it studies
• Feminist interviewing encourages those who are interviewed to move the conversation forward and to engage in the issues present, which some sociologists criticize for its subjective nature and potential for interviewer bias
• While progress has been made in the West, the position of women in the developing world remains precarious with patriarchal oppression, lack of control over reproductive rights, and inability to choose a partner or display sexual preferences
• Feminism can be seen as a quite fragmented approach, with examples of disagreements within the feminist movement that detract from the progress that has been made
• Feminism has made a huge contribution to the field of sociology, introducing a greater understanding of gender differences and new perspectives that have challenged the male-stream of sociology
• Feminism has changed the lives of many women both in the UK and globally through legal changes, access to education, greater employment opportunities, and allowing women to have control over their reproductive rights