5.1 Feminism: Core ideas and principles Flashcards
(50 cards)
1
Q
sex
what does sex refer to?
A
- biological differences between men and women
2
Q
sex
what are the 2 main debates within feminism?
A
- difference vs equality feminism
- transfeminism vs transfeminist sceptics.
3
Q
difference feminism vs equality feminism
difference feminist meaning
A
- women are biologically and culturally different from men
- these differences should be recognised and celebrated, and women should valie their distinct gender characteristics
4
Q
difference feminism vs equality feminism
equality feminism meaning
A
- an elimination of cultural differences in the pursuit of abosolute equality
- different groups have different visions on how this will be achieved in practice.
5
Q
difference feminism vs equality feminism
what do difference feminists believe in?
A
- essentialism
6
Q
difference feminism vs equality feminism
what did Carol Gilligan argue?
A
- these differences affect the way men and women think, there are characteristics in each sex which mean each sex has a specific ‘nature
7
Q
difference feminism vs equality feminism
what do equality feminists actually argue?
A
- a woman’s ‘nature’ is a social construct
8
Q
transfeminism vs sceptics
what does transfeminism argue?
A
- sex is socially constructed.
9
Q
transfeminism vs sceptics
Germaine Greer on trans women?
A
women are ‘not women’
10
Q
Save Women’s Sports Act
2022 Save Womens Sports Act (south carolina)
A
- South Carolina’s governor Henry McMaster signed the Save Women’s Sports Act banning transgender students from girls sports in South Carolina’s schools
11
Q
Save Women’s Sports Act
supporters vs opponents of the act different arguments?
A
- supporters: transgender females have an unfair biological advantage by being biologically male
- opponents: it is an example of how trans people are demonised, and singles out transgender studetns who are not elite athletes and just want to enjoy competition.
12
Q
Save Women’s Sports Act
first state to pass legislation requiring trans students to compete with the gender listed on their birth certificate
A
- Idaho 2020
13
Q
gender
what does Simone De Beauvoir argue about gender? How has it been used?
A
- gender is a social construct
- differences between men and women have been sued by a male dominated state to justify predetermined gender roles.
- women have been ‘othered’ by men as a result.
14
Q
gender
how did De Beauvoir make this distinction clear?
A
- male domination meant women were the ‘second sex’
- ‘one is not born, but rather becomes a woman’
15
Q
gender
what do equality feminists argue about gender?
A
- human nature is androgynous and feminism should aspite to genderless personhood .
16
Q
gender - first-wave feminism
2 key texts
A
- Mary Wollestonecraft’s Vindication of the rights of woman 1792
- Harriet Taylor Mill’s Enfranchisement of Women 1851
17
Q
gender - first-wave feminism
What did Wollestonecraft and taylor Mill argue?
A
- Wollestonecraft: placed her emphasis on education as women are just as rational as men
- Taylor Mill: women should have the same voting rights as men and have a role in the making of law.
18
Q
gender - first-wave feminism
Charlotte Perkins Gilman argued women should…
A
- have equal opportunities in the workplace
- she also introduced the idea of economic independence
19
Q
gender - second-wave feminism
key texts for second wave?
A
- Betty Friedan the feminine mystique 1963
- Kate Millet’s sexual politics 1970
- Germaine Greer’s the female enuch 1970
- Sheila Rowbotham’s Woman’s consciousness, Man’s world 1973
20
Q
gender - second-wave feminism
what did Liberal feminists think is the solution to the patriarchy?
A
- influenced by Friedan, argued for the state to reform society and the edconomy, allowing women public equality.
21
Q
gender - second-wave feminism
What did Radical feminists think the solution to the patriarchy was?
A
- influenced by Millett and Greer, saw the stae as part of the problem and wanted radical changes to both public and private spheres
22
Q
gender - second-wave feminism
what did socialist feminists think the solution was to the patriarchy>
A
- influenced by Marx/Engels, and Rowbotham, think only under a socialist feminist revolution could the inequalities of capitalism and female opression be solved.
23
Q
patriarchy
how does feminism define the patriarchy?
A
- social system supporting male domination and female subordinaition
24
Q
patriarchy
What do Liberal feminists argue can be reformed by the state? examples?
A
- discrimination within society can be reformed
- In western society, there are numerous examples including female emancipation, access to education, workplace equality, legalised abortion, etc.
25
# patriarchy
what do radical feminists believe is the solution to the patriarchy? how deep does it run?
- believe the patriarchy infiltrates both public and private spheres and cannot be reformed
- there must be a revolutionary change, but there are different takes on waht this change might be
26
# patriarchy
What do socialist feminists believe about resolving the patriarchy>
- **Sheila Rowbotham** concluded women have laways been oppressed
- a revolution was needed to destroy both capitalism and the patriarch
27
# private vs public sphere
what is the private sphree?
- patriarchal family
- the father/husband dominates the wife and children
- this is the socialisation process ofr men/boys and women/girls that socially constructs gender roles
28
# private vs public sphere
what is the public sphere?
- male dominance over women is reinforced in all aspects of society: education, literature, culture, politics, workplace, and public life.
29
# third wave feminism
what are Sylvia Walby's 6 overlapping patriarchal structures
- the state
- the household
- violence
- paid work
- sexuality
- culture
30
# Walby's overlapping patriarchal structures
the state?
- under represents women in power
31
# Walby's overlapping patriarchal structures
the household?
- conditions women to believe their natural role is in the home
32
# Walby's overlapping patriarchal structures
violence?
1/4 of women in the UK will suffer domestic violence from men
33
# Walby's overlapping patriarchal structures
paid work
- women are often underpaid when they are in the same roles as men
- women centric careers tend to be linked to stereotypes of nurturing.
34
# Walby's overlapping patriarchal structures
sexuality
- women are made to feel that their sexual feelings are abnormal, wrong, or deviant
35
# Walby's overlapping patriarchal structures
culture
-society reinforces roles of women, from women being the primary care giver to objectifying how women look
36
# to what extent do feminists agree over the concept of the patriarchy?
where do they agree?
| DIPS, (E) PNS, (E) POP
- women are **discriminated** against in the **public** sphere
- **equality** feminists agree the **patriarchy** is **not** a **static** concept
- **equality** feminists agree the **patriarchy** must be **opposed** in the **public** sphere
37
# to what extent do feminists agree over the concept of the patriarchy?
disagree
| spheres, reform, intersectionality.
- liberal and radical feminists disagree on whether the private sphere should be focused on
- liberal and radical feminists disagree on whether a revolution is necessary to end patriarchal discrimination
- postmodern feminists argue the patriarchy is more complicated than other socialists imagined
38
# the personal is political
disagreements between liberal and radical over the private sphere?
- liberal feminists focus on the **public** sphere, arguing the private life is out of political analysis, but radical feminists argue the personal is politcal, and the patriarchy is prevelant in the private sphere/
39
# the personal is political
what did **Charlotte Perkins Gilman** argue about the private sphere?
- societal pressure forced young girls to conform to motherhood, with gendered toys and clothes
- this shows patriarchy reached the private sphere.
40
# the personal is political
what were the differing opinions on marriage and family? (**Rowbotham, De Beauvoir, Millett**)
- **Rowbotham**: argued marriage was like feudalism, with women akin to serfs paying feudal dues to their husband
- **De Beauvoir**: championed contraception as it gave women control
- **Milett** argued family was unnatural.
41
# Millett and the Family unit
what were Millett's 4 main points about the family unit?
| patriachy, family socialised the young, marriage, radicals.
- patriarchy granted men **ownership** of the wife and children, **entrenching sexism**
- family socialised the young into **recognising** masculine **authority** and female **marginalisation**
- **marriage** saw women lose thier **identity** by taking their husband's surname
- radical feminists opened private life into public scrutiny
42
# equality feminism
what is equality feminism? what is **De Beauvoirs** opinions on difference feminism?
- most are equality feminists, who believe biological differences are irrelevant and gender differences are socially constructed
- there are no feminine traits
- **De Beauvoir** dismissed the idea of innate female characteristics
- **De Beauvoir** argued contraception, abortion, rejection of the family and monogamy would allow women to compete with men in society
43
# difference feminism
only key thinker who is a difference feminist?
- **Gilman**
44
# difference feminism
when did difference feminism emerge? who was the main speaker originally?
- **1980s** as a rebuttal to equality feminism
- Carol Gilligan stated sex was one of the most important determinants of behaviour
- she argued women are naturally more nurturing than men
- men and women experience the world differently
45
# cultural feminism
what do cultural feminists believe?
| minority of cultural feminists belief about the patriarchy?
a distinct 'female essence' which is caring and nurturing opposed to aggression and competitivity found in masculinity
- *some* cultural feminists have advocated replacing the patriarchy with matriarchy on the grounds that society would run better
46
# cultural feminismW
eco feminists? VS
- Vandana Shiva argued women have a greater connection to nature than men do
- critics argue this is inverted sexism and neither the patriarchy nor the matriarchy can be defended
47
# intersectionality
what did bell hooks argue about feminism? who did she criticise?
- criticised second-wave feminists for only including a white middle class and educated perspective
- demonstrated the unexamined complexity of patriarchy facing black women
48
# intersectionality
theory of Intersectionality?
- by Kimerle Crenshaw (inspired by hooks)
- challenged the idea that gender was the most important factor
49
# intersectionality
what is the sisterhood to intersectioanlists?
- 'solidarity' rather than 'sisterhood'
50
# intersectionality
*DeGraffenreid v. General Motors* **1976** case: how does it demonstrate intersectionality?
- 5 black employees sued General Motors for wrongful dismissal
- district court dismissed the case and general motors continued to employ black men and white women
- didn't recognise black women being discriminated against
