basics and principles Flashcards
(31 cards)
what are the key principles
Patriarchy
Sex and gender
The personal is political
Equality or difference
Intersectionality
what is the main thing feminists campaign against
The patriarchy
what is the patriarchy
the idea that society is dominated by men and organised in the interest of men
why are feminists against the patriarchy
they argue that the patriarchy disadvantages women and systematically oppresses women
what are the ways in which society advantages and protects the interests of men
within the state - women have been denied representation and access to positions of power.
within households - a traditional division of responsibilities with women as housewives and mothers
domestic violence - as an instrument to control women
Inequalities in employment - a gender pay gap, restrictions on promotion, focus on supportive and caring roles
Cultural ideas of women’s role, promoted in the media and advertising
what do feminists say about the focus on beauty
Feminists argue that the focus on (unattainable) beauty is itself a form of oppression, making women feel inadequate.
what do feminists say about the different forms or structures of patriarchy
They argue that it overlaps and works together to ensure oppression of women in society
what is sex and gender
Distinction between biological and cultural differences between men and women
what is sex
Biological differences between men and women
what is gender
Cultural ideas about the role and behaviour of men and women; about femininity and masculinity
what do feminists say about the distinction between biological and cultural differences
they argue that there is often not enough distinction made. They criticise, for example, how it is often assumed ‘natural’ that women are caring and want to look after children, and men are competitive and career-focused. They argue that most distinctions are not natural but cultural differences
how are the gender differences between men and women shaped
in our early years, when boys and girls are treated differently, stimulated differently, and see different role models.
what do feminists conclude about socialisation
As a result of socialisation, ‘typical’ male skills such as being good at maths, or sport, and female skills such as being good at language and childcare are not natural, but cultural.
Similarly, feminists argue that ‘typical’ female characteristics such as being sensitive, caring, and emotional and male characteristics such as being competitive, confident, and logical are not natural, but created by society.
what does socialisation have an impact on
It has an impact on the expectations of what is appropriate for men and women, and what our ambitions should be. Claiming that such cultural differences are ‘natural’ is therefore part of the oppression of women and patriarchy.
what is the personal is political
Politics and personal experiences are connected and should not be seen separate from each other.
what the case for the personal is political before the 1970s
there was a distinction between formal politics (elections, government, laws, parties) and private matters (family, personal beliefs and experiences). There was the idea that politics should stay separate from private matters
what had feminism mostly focused on prior to the 2nd wave
It mostly focused on issues to do with women in the public sphere like the right to vote, Representation of women in Parliament and government, Access of women to paid work, Access of women to university
what did the second wave feminists start to do - tpip
2nd wave feminism argued that to fight inequality properly, the oppression of women not just in public life, but in private had to be tackled too.
They argued that politics and the public sphere was connected with the private sphere and cannot be separated.
how is the family a key area of female oppression
Unequal division of labour (housewife vs. breadwinner)
Unequal financial independence
Power inequality (‘head of the household’)
Teaching boys and girls about gender roles
what is equality or difference
Should feminism aim for equality between men and women, or should it celebrate female distinctiveness?
what strand of feminism disagrees between equality or difference
equality feminism and difference feminism
what do equality feminists argue
There should be equality between men and women – feminism should end the oppression of women and get rid of all ways in which women are disadvantaged.
Biological differences between men and women should not make a difference for women’s position in society.
what do difference feminists argue
Men and women are fundamentally different from each other. Feminism should not aim for women to be like men. Instead feminism should celebrate women’s unique qualities – create a more female oriented society
why do difference feminists take that view
They believe that women have certain qualities that make them better at certain tasks that are currently mostly carried out by men, e.g. politics, business. They believe that women are more compassionate, better communicators, better at multi-tasking, more emotionally intelligent.
