Feminism

Question 1

What two movements can we split feminism into

Answer 1

Liberal feminism and radical feminism

Question 2

What is the difference between liberal and radical feminism

Answer 2

Liberals want reform while radical want revolution. While liberal feminists share similar views with one another, radical feminism has a number of varying and diverging forms

Question 3

Who wrote the first well known and rigorous work on women’s rights

Answer 3

Mary Wollstonecraft

Question 4

What did Wollstonecraft argue in A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792)

Answer 4

She did not go so far as to advocate equality for women, but did urge that they be offered a good level of education and that they assert their right to be useful members of society rather than mere ornaments. Thought being a good wife and mother was a worthy aspiration but at the same time women should become independent from their husbands and develop their minds to the fullest extent

Said to be a good mother a woman must have sense and that independence of mind that few women possess who are taught to depend entirely on their husbands. Meek wives are in general foolish mothers, wanting their children to love them best and take their part against the father, who is held up as a scarecrow

Question 5

When did feminism emerge as a serious social and political movement

Answer 5

The mid to late 18th century

Question 6

Give some examples of the legal and social position of women becoming an issue in the mid to late 18th century

Answer 6

JS Mill and his wife Harriet Taylor campaigned for the passage of the Married Woman’s Property Act (1882) which allowed women to keep their own property after they married

Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote extensively about the lack of opportunities for women and arguing that their subordinate position in the home was a reflection of their subordinate position in wider society

The issue of the franchise attracted the most attention

Question 7

What feminist group was founded in 1890

Answer 7

The National American Women Suffrage Association

Question 8

When was the 19th amendment passed

Answer 8

1920

Question 9

What did the 19th amendment do

Answer 9

Guaranteed equal voting rights for women

Question 10

What was formed in 1903

Answer 10

WSPU

Question 11

Who led the WSPU

Answer 11

The Pankhursts, Emmeline in particular

Question 12

What did the suffrage movement become known as

Answer 12

First wave feminism

Question 13

What did first wave feminist think would happen after suffrage had been granted

Answer 13

They thought women would quickly seek election to office

In pursuit of women’s votes, the govt would pass legislation to improve conditions for women and establish socio economic equality

Question 14

Why were the first wave feminists disappointed after achieving their aim

Answer 14

Because women did not win office and not alot of favourable legislation was passed, save for some improvements in female education and the opening of some professions for women

Question 15

When did second wave feminism occur

Answer 15

1960s

Question 16

What wider movement did second wave feminism emerge from

Answer 16

A broader cultural movement at the time that sought to offer a general critique of post industrial society, especially identifying the alienation of various social groups from a society of growing mass communication and consumerism. These groups included the youth, ethnic minorities, gays, the poor and women

Question 17

What two concepts does the feminist view of human nature revolve around

Answer 17

Sex and gender

Question 18

Explain the idea of sex

Answer 18

Refers to the biological differences between men and women. The most important differences is the role women have in child bearing. Could refer to the lower level of physical strength women have. Most feminists think sex differences should be irrelevant to the way women are treated in society and relationships between men and women.

Sex differences are seen as natural, inevitable and unalterable

Question 19

Define essentialism

Answer 19

Contested idea within feminism. Refers to the fundamental nature of the biological differences between men and women. Some feminists say these differences are essential to an understanding of the status of women; others claim it should be irrelevant

Some feminists see sex differences as the explanation of the inferior status of women. Biological differences have determined gender roles in history and up to today. Other, mostly radical feminists agree that biology may have determined the inferior status of women in history but they argue that there is no reason for this to continue to this day

Question 20

Explain gender

Answer 20

Nothing directly to do with sex differences. Refers to the cultural and economic differences between men and women. There used to be a dominant attitude in society that sex and gender were linked - that the different roles played by women were biologically determined. For instance, women wouldn’t be able to undertake demanding jobs because of their regular need to give birth and care for young children. Another example could be women having a naturally caring and humane attitude because of their childbearing role and so would be less suited to the competitive world of business. Women being tied to the home and the requirements of motherhood means they would naturally become homemakers and men would naturally become breadwinners

Gender leads to feelings of superiority of men and the assignment of inferior societal roles to women. Feminists view gender differences as the creation of patriarchal society and see them as not natural . Sex and gender steroetypes reflect this

Question 21

Define patriarchy

Answer 21

Used by feminists to describe a society which is dominated by men and where women are seen and treated as inferior

Question 22

Describe how patriarchy assigns inferior positions to women

Answer 22

Often suggested women were inferior. Largely because the roles of motherhood and homemaking were seen as less important than those of earning outside the home. In this world, women were seen as less able to use their judgement and would have little need for more than basic education. Nor would they need highly developed skills or specialised knowledge. The lack of educational and occupational opportunities open to women reinforced the general cultural belief that men were superior

Question 23

Give a quote from Friedan that illustrates her belief that negative cultural attitudes towards women are so deep rooted that women often share them with men

Answer 23

Each wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries and ate peanutbutter sandwiches for her children she was afraid to even ask herself the question - is this all?

Question 24

How do liberal feminists respond to the issue of sex and gender

Answer 24

Liberals like Friedan accept the importance of sex differences but regard gender differences and the superiority of men as an artificial construct created by patriarchal society. There is no reason for sex differences to be converted into gender differences. The apparent inferiority of women is learned behaviour by both men and women. It has its roots in the history of civilisations and is reinforced by cultural institutions. Liberals tend to focus more on reform through legislating for equality and education to counter sexist attitudes. If male superiority and patriarchy are passed down from generation to generation, the cycle must be broken by fundamental changes to the culture

Question 25

How do radical feminists respond to the issues of sex and gender

Answer 25

Radical feminists like Juliet Mitchell and Kate Millett see gender differences as all pervading and more deep rooted than liberals realise. For Mitchell, male domination exists in all aspects of life including work, home and personal relationships and cultural life generally. It must therefore be destroyed in all these places. Mitchell stressed how gender differences have been perpetuated in the arts and literature and culture. There needs to be a cultural revolution to combat patriarchy. Perhaps the most radical feminist in this regard is Shulasmith Firestone, who stressed the importance of sex rather than gender in the oppression of women. She saw history as a dialectic struggle between men and women. She thought the oppressed women would ultimately triumph, and this would be done by removing the very sex differences that have led to the oppression of women. She said this can be achieved by removing all sexual functions of women and thus all sex differences between men and women. It would be replaced by androgyny - a state where men and women would co exist without sexual relations

Question 26

How do socialist feminists respond to the issues of sex and gender

Answer 26

See the oppression or inferior status of women as being bound up with capitalism. Patriarchal societies assign an inferior gender role to women so they can become a cheap source of labour. In the home they are a largely unpaid workforce, while in the world of paid employment they make up a large proportion of the low paid, often part time working population. Because of their inferior status they have been forced to work for low wages. They are dispensable which means they can be thrown out during a bust and then easily re-employed during boom periods. Women are therefore poorly paid and lacking job security. The solution is either the destruction of modification of capitalism. Women should be granted the same protection, working conditions, pay and opportunities as men. Capitalism must learn to end its assignment of the position of second class labour to women

Question 27

Define androgyny

Answer 27

Associated with radical feminism. We all have both male and female characteristics. People should be free to choose their sexual identity or have no sexual identity at all

Question 28

Who came up with the phrase the personal is the political

Answer 28

Probably first coined by Firestone, popularised by Carol Hanisch in a 1970 essay

Question 29

What is the private sphere

Answer 29

Refers to the aspects of life which are only the concern the woman and those close to her. For liberals, the private sphere should not be the concern of the state or the rest of society unless harm is being done, like domestic violence

Question 30

What is the public sphere

Answer 30

Refers to aspects of social, political or economic life that concern the whole community and so are not confined to the home and the private lives of women

Question 31

How does the idea of the personal is the political illustrate the difference between liberal and radical feminists

Answer 31

Liberals advocate the separation of the private sphere from the public sphere. The private sphere relates to how men and women interact and how women themselves choose to live.

In the public sphere our actions affect others and therefore become the concern of the state. For instance, how men treat women, how women are portrayed in the workplace, in politics, the media and society at large. Includes sexist cultural attitudes that demean women, low expectations of women at work, low wages, lack of opportunity and low conviction rates for things like sexual crimes and discrimination

However, radical feminists like Hanisch and Firestone do not recognise this distinction. For them, everything is political. By political they mean they are reflections of the power that men have over women and the nature of patriarchal society. Thus if a woman is kept at home in a childrearing role this is not a private matter because it reflects wider patriarchy. Think most women do not understand that the personal is the political; their consciousness has been distorted by the male dominated society they live in

Germaine Greer followed the idea of the personal is the political into the realm of intimate and sexual relationships between men and women. She said these relationships are managed by men, who through history have made women ashamed of their sexuality and their bodies - their sexuality has been manipulated to serve the interests of men, thus even such private matters are political, expressions of the power men exercise over women

Question 32

What do socialist feminists think about the state

Answer 32

See the state as an agent of capitalism, and since capitalism exploits women, the state is the ultimate architect of this exploitation

Question 33

How do feminists see the state and patriarchy as linked

Answer 33

The modern state is seen as a wider social phenomenon - the oppression and exploitation of women in a patriarchal society. States and govts are accomplices in this exploitation

Question 34

How do liberals view the relationship between state and patriarchy

Answer 34

Point towards the reluctance of the state to address the inferior position of women, saying that there is no motivation to do this because the state is dominated by men itself. However, liberals think that if the state is part of the problem it is also part of the solution

Question 35

Give some examples of feminists improving the position of women through legislation and changes in the nature of state education

Answer 35

Equality laws and constitutional principles - such developments are designed to impose the principle of greater gender equality in the public sphere. Most modern states have these principles enshrined - with the US a notable exemption

Virtually all states have outlawed discrimination against women with anti discrimination laws

Laws imposing equal pay regulations - this is enshrined in EU law

Laws dealing with physical and psychological abuse and rape in marriage

The imposition of awareness programmes in school curricula

In some cases female quotas have been introduced, notably in politics

Question 36

How do radicals see the relationship between the state and patriarchy

Answer 36

Radical feminists see legislative and educational reforms as welcome but superficial as they do not address the systematic nature of discrimination, exploitation and inequality. Patriarchy more pervasive than these reforms suggest. These problems are deeply rooted in patriarchal culture. This means that the state is powerless to combat them, especially as a patriarchal institution itself

Question 37

How do radical view patriarchy

Answer 37

See it as the key aspect of modern society and women are the exploited class. See the destruction of patriarchy as vital to female emancipation.

This is hard as patriarchy is part of every aspect of society such as politics, economy, culture, media, religion, education and sport. Therefore cannot be attacked by piecemeal reforms, has to be combatted in one of two ways. The first is a full scale attack on cultural values within society, possibly involving violent resistance to male dominance. The other is the creation of a female counter culture, separate altogether from patriarchal society. In particular, this involves women leading completely separate lives from men

Question 38

How do liberals view patriarchy

Answer 38

See the solution as reform rather than revolution. See patriarchy as a characteristic of society, but it is not necessarily fundamental. Therefore follows that society can be gradually made less patriarchal through peaceful political and cultural action

Question 39

Explain the difference between equality and difference feminism

Answer 39

Equality feminists have limited aspirations. Seek equality for women in all aspects. Mostly liberals.

Difference feminism is more complex. Men and women have fundamental differences and these should be recognised in society. Most don’t accept that one gender is superior, arguing that they are different and that those differences should be embraced but not fought against. For them, the search for equality is pointless. Some claim that the attributes peculiar to women such as caring nature and nurture of the young and non aggressiveness are superior to male characteristics. They think a world dominated by women would be a better world. The interests of children would be paramount and there would be less war and violence, more likely to embrace nature rather than exploit it

Question 40

Why do some equality feminists see difference feminism as defeatist

Answer 40

They say difference automatically leads to inequality and if there is inequality it is inevitable that men will benefit. There must be equality and male superiority must be destroyed

Question 41

How does SDB advocate for male superiority in the Second Sex (1949)

Answer 41

Society, being codified by a man, decrees that woman is inferior, she can do away with this only by destroying male superiority

Question 42

Who was the feminist existentialist

Answer 42

SDB

Question 43

What is existentialist feminism

Answer 43

Existentialism sets the freedom of the individual against the constrictions placed on them by the moral or religious world and advised them to struggle against these restrictions by imposing their own will on life. Failing to impose your own will on life is known as bad faith, but succeeding is known as authenticity. SDB thought women lived their life in bad faith, imposed upon them by men

Question 44

Explain SDB’s idea of women as the Other

Answer 44

This is the idea that men have characterised women as different, but different in a way of men’s choosing rather than being chosen by women themselves. She said that ‘women are made, not born’. The problem is that they are made by men

Question 45

What does SDB argue in the second sex

Answer 45

Rejects the idea that girls are born with any nurturing instinct, she said that they learn it from their parents and their schooling. Therefore in existentialist terms, their freedom to choose their own life is effectively removed at birth. The roles that women play have been determined for them by men. She says that even in personal relations women are inferior

Question 46

Give a quote from SDB that explains her view that feminitity is a social construct

Answer 46

One is not born but becomes a woman. No biological, psychological or economic fate determines the figure that females present in society; it is civilisation as a whole that produces this creature, intermediate between male and eunuch, which is described as feminine

Question 46

What was her solution to the plight of women

Answer 46

Women must be granted the opportunity to make as many choices as men, able to escape from the drudgery of housework and their role in marriage as a kind of sex slave. This will be achieved largely through education, economic freedom, state funded childcare, legalised abortion and widespread contraception. She said the women must liberate themselves. They must seek sexual liberation and freedom from the restrictions of the nuclear family

Question 47

On what grounds do post modern feminists criticise feminism from the past

Answer 47

On the grounds that it tends to be a white, middle class, one size fits all movement. Say that women from different cultural and social backgrounds face different issues. For instance, the oppression of black women and white women will be different. Also true for gay women, low income women or other ethnic groups

Question 47

How did Kimberly Crenshaw contribute to post modern feminism

Answer 47

Coined the term intersectionality in 1989. Pointed out that in modern society we all have multiple identities and gender is just one of them. Traditional gender suggests gender is everything, but this is a false perception of women

Question 48

Define intersectionality

Answer 48

Post modern idea that suggests that women have multiple identities as well as just sex and gender. The problems women face are therefore intersectional and include their other identities

Question 49

Which two forms of oppression did hooks think the fight against needed to go hand in hand

Answer 49

Racism and sexism

Question 50

What does hooks say in Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics (2000) to support the idea that the battle against sexism and racism need to go hand in hand

Answer 50

We knew there could be no sisterhood between black and white women if white women were not able to divest of white supremacy, if the feminist movement were not fundamentally anti racist

Question 51

What was bell hooks’ birth name

Answer 51

Gloria Watkins

Question 52

Why did hooks take on her name

Answer 52

Adopted the name of her great grandmother as she admired her. Used lower case letters for her pen name so as to not be confused for her great grandmother

Question 53

Is hooks a radical or liberal feminist

Answer 53

Radical

Question 54

Why does hooks think the fight for gender equality needs to be more broad based

Answer 54

In analysing gender inequality she starts from the point that society is plagued by inequality in general. Therefore follows that just seeking to create equality for women in general is no solution; equality must be fully established in society as a universal principle. hooks criticises feminists for not realising this reality. They have concentrated too much on white middle class women. Says as a black woman she faces forms of inequality white women don’t, therefore all women can only achieve equality if all forms of discrimination are combatted. Means men have a valid role to play because they can join in the fight against other forms of inequality

Question 55

What did hooks say patriarchy had taught women to do

Answer 55

Hate themselves and see themselves as inferior

Said women had been socialised by patriarchal thinking to see themselves as inferior, to see ourselves as in competition with one another for patriarchal approval and look at each other with jealously, hatred and fear. Caused women to judge each other harshly and without compassion. Feminist thinking has helped women un learn self hatred. Enabled women to break free of the grip patriarchal thinking has on their consciousness

Question 56

hooks thought that struggle against patriarchy should have two elements

Answer 56

1) The creation of a more equal society so the multiple disadvantages women face can be eliminated

2) Concerns direct relationships between men and women. Men must learn the patriarchy they are imposing and women must break free of the preconceptions they have about themselves due to male domination of the sexual culture. Speaks about the power of love to overcome current unhealthy relationships. Above all women need to unlearn self hatred and no longer see their bodies as the property of men

Question 57

Why is hooks classed as a post modern feminist

Answer 57

Because she is attempting to break the movement free of its traditional perspectives and accept modern realities

Question 58

Give some of the main examples of economic discrimination against women

Answer 58

Used as unpaid labour in the home

Used as a pool of low paid, often part time, dispensable labour employed during growth and discarded during busts. By working for low wages they help keep the level of incomes down by creating more competition

Pay gap - women tend to be paid less than men for similar work

Even in employment fields where women are welcome, the more senior positions tend to be reserved for men (glass ceiling), women are therefore denied equality of opportunity

Question 59

What does it mean when women are called a reserve army of labour

Answer 59

Idea developed by Engels, suggesting that in industrial capitalist system, women form this group to increase output in the short term and also to keep wages low, but can be dispensed when they are not required

Question 60

How do socialist feminists see the economic oppression of women

Answer 60

Inspired by Engels. Placed the oppression of women at the door of capitalism. Said women enjoyed a freer more prominent societal role in pre capitalist societies, but industrial capitalism had reduced them to inferior wage slaves. Also constituted a reserve army of labour

See the oppression of women and capitalism as being bound up. Women are still exploited in post industrial society q

Question 61

Which key thinker is a socialist feminist

Answer 61

Shelia Rowbotham

Question 62

What does Rowbotham say the solution to capitalist oppression of women should be

Answer 62

Capitalism should be overthrown and replaced with a new world where equality is paramount

Said it is only when women organise in large numbers that they can become a political force , and begin to move towards a more democratic society, such a democracy would be communism

Question 63

On what grounds did Rowbotham criticise her follow Marxists

Answer 63

For taking too narrow a view of female oppression by confining themselves to analysing the role of women in industrial capitalism rather than in domestic life and wider society

Marxists see the inferior position of women as economically determined. While she agrees with this view she also sees it as too narrow, as women are also oppressed at home and in the wider culture. This means a socialist revolution will not automatically liberate women; they must also be freed from domestic oppression, in personal relationships and the wider culture.

Question 64

What was Rowbotham’s most influential work

Answer 64

Women’s Consciousness, Men’s World (1973)

Question 65

What did Rowbotham mean when she wrote ‘men will often admit other women are oppressed, but not you’

Answer 65

That man cannot recognise the kind of oppression they impose on women. They can recognise it in theory but not in practise

Question 66

Why does Rowbotham think female liberation is only possible under socialism

Answer 66

Said the greatest advances for women have occured after socialist revolutions. While the 1980s neo liberal revolution appeared to offer increased opportunities for women, little progress was actually made. Women are still denied the same opportunities as women and remain a cheap source of labour. Only in a society with complete equality will women achieve equality with men

Question 67

What view does Rowbotham share with Hanisch and Firestone

Answer 67

That the personal is the political

Question 68

How does Rowbotham see the role of men in the fight against patriarchy

Answer 68

Because she sees the roots of oppression in the relationship between men and women, it is as much the task of men as women to end patriarchy. Women cannot do it on their own and men must relinquish their dominant position by seeing patriarchy for what it really is

Question 69

Why is it natural that first wave feminism was liberal

Answer 69

Because it was mainly confined to upper and middle class women, among whom liberalism flourished

Question 70

Give some examples of liberal content in early feminism

Answer 70

Liberty - women should be free to choose the nature of their lives

Equality of opportunity - Full access to education and employment opportunities

Civil rights - women should enjoy the same civil rights as men; the rule of law should extend fully to women and not discriminate against them

Women should enjoy equal private rights - especially property

Women should enjoy the same democratic rights as men - the right to vote and stand for office

The key figures in early feminism were nearly all liberals, such as Wollstonecraft, Mill and Gilman

Question 71

Why was second wave feminism come about

Answer 71

Because even after the liberal objectives of first wave feminism was achieved it became clear that this was not enough, women remained an inferior gender and continued to suffer discrimination and inequaity of opportunity. By the 1960s it was apparent that there was something else holding women back

Friedan supplied the answer, the existence of patriarchy. Her research led to her believe that the issue was cultural. She called it ‘the problem with no name’ implying it was largely undiscovered. Said that women themselves did not recognise the nature of their oppression. Patriarchy not only involved the dominance of men but the self assigned inferiority of women. Said men are the victims of patriarchy too because they have been socially conditioned to see themselves as superior

Question 72

How was Darwinism relevant to the work of Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Answer 72

She wrote at a time when it was highly popular and being adapted to suit many political philosophies. Attacked those who suggested Darwinism could be used to explain male superiority.

Survival of the fittest said it was inevitable that men would be dominant because they were suited to nature, not being tied down to the need to give birth to and rear children. Gilman argued this was no longer the case because the nature of economic activity had changed so much. No reason why women could not play an equal role in modern economies. Said women had equal intelligence and this justified equality in a modern society

Question 73

How did Gilman say women could be liberated

Answer 73

Through equality of opportunity and therefore a full place in the world of employment. Understood that girls were socialised at home and at school from a young age to take on the role of motherhood and housewife rather than a career. Confinement to the home is culturally rather than biologically determined

Question 74

What did Gilman say about the position of women in the economy in Women in Economics (1897)

Answer 74

The labour of women in the house enables men to produce more wealth than they otherwise could; in this way women are economic factors, but so are horses

Question 75

What did Gilman think about family reform

Answer 75

Concerned that child rearing and housework amounted to domestic slavery. Therefore campaigned for the destruction of the traditional nuclear family and its replacement by forms of communal living where child rearing and housework would be shared by men and women, thus freeing women for a wider societal role

Question 76

Both SDB and Friedan stressed the idea of otherness. What does this mean

Answer 76

Categorises women as somehow other or outside of society and inferior. In the world of men women are treated as an inferior minority. This is why SDB called women the second sex and men the first sex

Question 77

Define discrimination

Answer 77

Refers to the aspects of patriarchal society that limit women’s life choices, economic prospects and career opportunities, as well as resulting in poorer wages and job security

Question 78

Define gender equality

Answer 78

Aspiration of liberal, socialist and some radical feminists. Complete legal and cultural equality. All attitudes that suggest men are superior should be outlawed or opposed in places like education and the media

Question 79

Define political equality

Answer 79

The right to vote and stand for office

Question 80

Define legal equality

Answer 80

The law should treated the sexes equally; no distinction

Question 81

Why do liberal feminists refuse to insist that all women should seek to compete with men for positions of superiority

Answer 81

As liberals they think it is women’s choice whether they take up traditional domestic roles or whether they should go into historically male dominated areas.

Question 82

Liberal feminists proposed three main forms of action to oppose patriarchy

Answer 82

1) Opportunities for women to choose their own path have to be opened by ending discrimination and inequality. (gender equality)

2) Cultural attitudes which demeaned and reinforced women’s sense of inferiority must be combatted. This was to be achieved through education, propaganda and opposition to sexist attitudes and language

3) Women have to achieve formal equality in all fields. Largely involved legislation. There must be political and legal equality

Question 83

What other name is radical feminism sometimes given

Answer 83

The women’s liberation movement

Question 84

When did radical feminism appear

Answer 84

Late 1960s

Question 85

Make the case that liberal feminism fails to understand the true nature of patriarchy

Answer 85

Mainly white middle class movement so ignores intersectional struggles

Support capitalism so do not understand the way this system oppresses and discriminates against women

Underestimate the importance of the personal is the political. Do not understand that personal and sexual relationships between men and women are power relationships and are therefore political

Question 86

Make the case that liberal feminists do understand the nature of patriarchy

Answer 86

They understand that formal equality is not the only problem and claim that the cultural nature of patriarchy is key. Therefore made sexism a key target

By achieving legal and formal equality, then believe that patriarchy will decline because men will no longer hold the dominant positions in society

Question 87

Radical feminism is not really one movement but a series of different perspectives on the problems of patriarchy. They do have some characteristics in common…

Answer 87

Propose the destruction of patriarchal society and its transformation into a new form

While liberals are reformists, radicals are revolutionary, though not normally favouring violent revolution

Stress the importance of female consciousness in both their critique of patriarchy and their proposals for a new social order

Mostly difference feminists rather than equality feminists. Instead of attempting to ignore biological and cultural differences, as liberals do, they normally stress and celebrate the differences

Question 88

Define reformist

Answer 88

Often used to described moderate liberals who want to reform rather than transform society. Radicals use the term to dimiss liberals

Question 89

Define difference feminism

Answer 89

See women as different but equal or even superior. Difference should be accepted and even celebrated

Question 90

Define equality feminism

Answer 90

Want to eliminate cultural differences in the pursuit of equality

Question 91

What are the two points of difference within the radical movement

Answer 91

1) How they analyse patriarchal society

2) How they look to defeat it

Question 92

Describe Kate Millett’s perspective on patriarchy

Answer 92

Looked to family to aid her understanding of patriarchy. Said women are sexually and economically exploited in marriage. This became a common theme among radicals. Sexual Politics (1969) claimed that men oppress women in all fields: in the home, in the economy and in general life. Their domination is political because it involves the exercise of power. She had much to do with the popularisation of the idea of male chauvanism

Dual perception of patriarchy. Sees the dominance of men both in terms of sexism (entrenched belief in male superiority) and heterosexualism (the belief straight relationships are superior to gay ones). She is bisexual and this has helped her see sexism in a more complete way

Question 93

What is male chauvanism

Answer 93

The tendency for men to exercise and celebrate their power over women

Question 94

Explain Germaine Greer’s perspective on patriarchy

Answer 94

In The Female Eunach (1970) she said that men actually hate women and this is why they oppress them. Helped that she was a heterosexual as this could not be dismissed as a lesbian rant.

Said women have been taught to hate themselves so willingly subject themselves to an inferior position. She said women must understand and then throw of the stigma of inferiority imposed on them by men.

‘Until women themselves reject stigma and refuse to feel shame for the way others treat them, they have no hope of achieving full human stature

Question 95

What did Firestone publish in 1970

Answer 95

The Dialectic of Sex

Question 96

Explain Firestone’s perspective on patriarchy

Answer 96

Saw the history of civilisation as a dialectic struggle between men and women. Said the origins of this gender struggle lay in the biological differences between men and women and the traditional bondage women faced due to being stuck to life in the home. Thinks patriachy exists because it has always existed and it has always existed because women are constrained by childbirth and housework, destined to be forever enslaved by men

Question 97

Andrea Dworkin’s perspective on patriarchy…

Answer 97

Campaigned against the sexual oppression of women, and saw porn in particular as symptomatic of men’s view of women as being little more than sexual objects. Said the only way for this to be combatted was for women to form themselves into separate lesbian communities, as as long as they allow themselves to be sex objects for men they will never achieve liberation

Question 98

How did Millett think women could achieve liberation

Answer 98

Said it is necessary for women to achieve sexual liberation if they are to achieve liberation in general. Said all relationships are political in a patriarchal society because they involve men exercising control over women. Therefore follows that women who are able to accept or convert to lesbianism place themselves on the road to liberation.

Question 99

Why would it be wrong to categorise Millett as just a lesbian feminist

Answer 99

She also analysed women’s place in society and economy. Thought the word politics had acquired a new broader connotation. This was the idea that wherever one group oppresses another the result is political in nature and the result must be the liberation of the oppressed group (liberation politics)

Question 100

Millett is not normally classed a socialist feminists, but she does share some of their views…

Answer 100

The toil of working class women is more readily accepted as need , if not by the working class itself then at least by the middle class. Serves the purpose of making cheap labour in factory and low grade service and clerical positions. It wages and tasks are so unrenumerative that unlike the more prestigious employment for women, it fails to threaten patriarchy psychologically or financially

Ideas like this imply that she would have disagreed with parts of the feminist movement for being concerned with the plight of working class women

Question 101

What do feminists such as Millett, Greer and Firestone all think about the effect patriarchy has on women

Answer 101

All stress the importance of female consciousness of patriarchy. Women’s consciousness of their own inferiority stems partly from their biological role, which appears to be subordinate to men, and partly from the view of themselves imposed on them by men. Patriarchy constantly destroys any idea of liberation with women

Question 102

What does Zillah Eisenstein say in The Radical Future of Liberal Feminism (1981) about the impact patriarchy has on female consciousness

Answer 102

Patriarchy recognises the potential power of women and the actual power of men. Its purpose is to destroy female consciousness about their potential power, which derives from the necessity of society to reproduce itself

Question 103

List some radical responses to patriarchy

Answer 103

The abolition of the nuclear family and its replacement by communal forms of living and child rearing. This will naturally remove the male domination of the family. Millett was able to combine this vision with support for the ideals of socialism

Sexual liberation is crucial for radicals like Greer. By escaping from the limitations of traditional straight relationships, women can be free from male domination with Greer thinks will allow them to cease to hate themselves

The elimination of biological roles is perhaps the most radical solution of all. Firestone celebrates the potential of modern bio technology to free women from their biological enslavement. Recommended androgyny (the removal of sex differences between men and women) she envisaged a world where women will no longer need men to reproduce the species

Question 104

Define cultural feminism

Answer 104

Accepts that women are born with different cultural characteristics to men as well as biological differences. These characteristics are seen as useful to society and superior to male ones in some cases

Branch of the radical movement that started in the 19th century and continues today. Reject the view held by other radicals that gender roles are an illusion perpetrated on women by men. Difference should be embraced rather than opposed

Explores the essence of women and finds that it is more caring and nurturing than the essence of men, which tends to be more competitive and aggresive. Therefore follows that a world dominated by the female essence would be more peaceful and just and protect the environment better. Eco feminists have adopted this position. Cultural feminists accept women are more likely to take up domestic roles, but value them as highly, or even more highly, than roles traditionally played by men

Question 105

Why did Engels think the role of women in the economy was important

Answer 105

Said they had always been deprived of private property. Resulted in them being oppressed by property owners throughout history. As capitalism developed and needed more workers, women became a vital source of available low paid labour. Their lack of property increasingly forced them into paid employment

Question 106

On what grounds do some modern Marxist feminists actually disagree with Engels

Answer 106

For overstressing the importance of property. Say that in modern society many women have come to own property but their oppression has not ceased; they remain an exploited part of the workforce

Question 107

What do marxist feminist think need to be destroyed before female liberation can occur

Answer 107

Capitalism

Question 108

What is the difference between socialist feminists and liberal feminists

Answer 108

While liberals concentrate on things like equal opportunities and pay, socialists say that only the extreme modification of capitalism can save women from their inferior economic position. For instance, state ownership of the economy means women will not need to compete against men for employment

Question 109

Describe Rowbotham’s socialist feminism

Answer 109

Described as a socialist rather than a Marxist because she rejects the rigid economic determinism of Marx. Thinks female oppression has economic roots but also stems from the traditional nature of the nuclear family and the cultural dominance of male superiority

Question 110

When was the Chicago Women’s Liberation Movement founded

Answer 110

1969

Question 111

What does the Chicago Women’s Liberation Movement

Answer 111

Leads the socialist feminist movement in the US. Committed to a two pronged attack on patriarchy.

1) Power has to be distributed more equally in society so working class women could benefit

2) There has to be cultural change, notably in the education of women

Question 112

Make the case that female oppression under capitalism is inevitable

Answer 112

As long as men dominate positions of economic power, they will discriminate against women

The predominance of women in domestic roles means men are bound to dominate the economy

Women’s innate lack of aggressiveness and competitiveness means they are bound to struggle under capitalism

Question 113

Make the case that female oppression is not inevitable under capitalism

Answer 113

Women are making progress in achieving senior economic positions and once critical mass is achieved, male domination will end

No longer inevitable that women must focus on domestic roles

No such thing as the innate non aggresive nature of women - they are able to deal with the competitive world just as well as men. Also, even if women are more caring, this will just make for a more humane form of capitalism

Question 114

What does post modernism mean in general

Answer 114

Refers to the modern tendency to reject forms of thinking which have become limited by their confinement to traditional ways of viewing the world

Question 115

Explain post modern feminism

Answer 115

Rejects the fixed ideas of many feminist theorists, like radicals and socialists, see the position of women as a complex problem with lots of competing explanations and solutions. Stress the importance of language in carrying forward sexism and patriarchal attitudes.

Propose women must be free to make choices for themselves. For some this could involve choosing a traditional female role in the family, while for others it may mean competing with men on an equal basis. The same is true of sexuality; women should choose the nature of their relationships with men and women without resorting to traditional feminist attitudes. Each woman has her own unique experience in life and must liberate herself in her own way. The search for political, legal and social equality goes on as women cannot make free choices if patriarchy and male superiorty continue to dominate society.

Question 116

What wave of feminist is post modern feminism linked to

Answer 116

Third wave

Question 117

Summarise SDB on human nature

Answer 117

Gender differences are artificially created by men

Question 118

Summarise SDB on the state

Answer 118

The state reinforces a culture that prevents women from expressing their true freedom and identity

Question 119

Summarise SDB on society

Answer 119

Her existentialism dominated her feminism. Social constraints prevent individuals from attaining self realisation and true freedom

Question 120

Summarise SDB on the economy

Answer 120

Men’s domination of economic life restricts the options women have available

Question 121

Summarise hooks on human nature

Answer 121

Women have multiple identities and therefore face multiple types of oppression

Question 122

Summarise hooks on the state

Answer 122

Dominated by white males and therefore reflects and reinforces their dominant societal position

Question 123

Summarise hooks on society

Answer 123

Full of complex relationships between minorities. In order to resolve social conflicts, love must be established between different minority communities

Question 124

Summarise hooks on the economy

Answer 124

Women living in poverty have problems working class women do not face. The liberation of the poor is necessary for the liberation of women

Question 125

Summarise Rowbotham on human nature

Answer 125

Women’s consciousness of the world is created by men

Question 126

Summarise Rowbotham on the state

Answer 126

The servant of capitalism

Question 127

Summarise Rowbotham on society

Answer 127

Nature of society is economically determined. Society reflects the dominant positon of capitalists and men in general

Question 128

Summarise Rowbotham on the economy

Answer 128

Marxist. Women are a low paid reserve army of labour

Question 129

Summarise Gilman on human nature

Answer 129

Biological differences are irrelevant, women can compete equally with men

Question 130

Summarise Gilman on the state

Answer 130

No distinctive views

Question 131

Summarise Gilman on society

Answer 131

Society has always assigned women inferior roles. No longer justified in modern society

Question 132

Summarise Gilman on the economy

Answer 132

Domestic servitude of women has allowed men to dominate the economic world

Question 133

Summarise Millett on human nature

Answer 133

Women can free themselves from male oppression by engaging in lesbian relationships

Question 134

Summarise Millett on the state

Answer 134

Agent of patriarchy. Part of the problem but not the solution

Question 135

Summarise Millett on society

Answer 135

Modern society is completely characterised by patriarchy, which is all pervasive and impacts the public and private spheres

Question 136

Summarise Millett on the economy

Answer 136

Quasi socialist but this is not fundamental to her feminism

Question 137

List some of the key tensions within feminism

Answer 137

Radicals reject the liberal agenda because to does not truly understand patriarchy. Liberals see patriarchy in terms of the historical dominance of men in society. Liberals say this explains the oppression of women; it is a characteristic of society rather than a fundamental explanation of how society works for women. Radicals provide a number of explanations of patriarchy, all of which suggest that it lies deep in our consciousness, so deep that dramatic and revolutionary change is needed to change our patriarchal consciousness. Therefore legal, political and cultural reform will not make a difference

Liberals counter by saying the radicals are imposing their own views on the female consciousness which seek to restrict freedom of choice. As long as there is a framework of legal and political equality, women should be free to adopt their own aspirations. Liberals criticise radicals for not recognising there is a private sphere where women should be free to choose their own status and consciousness. Radicals are apparently imposing their own forms of consciousness on women by breaking down the barrier between the public and private spheres

Socialists say the radicals and liberals don’t recognise the importance of economic factors in the oppression of women. They say patriarchy has economic origins and has intensified under modern capitalism

Radicals take issue with socialists for exclusively stressing economic factors. Patriarchy may have economic elements but is more complex than just this. Patriarchy is cultural and psychological as well. Radicals say that by over stressing economics, socialists fail to recognise there is still a great deal of patriarchy in socialist societies

Tension between difference and equality feminists. Difference feminists say seeking equality is recognition that male characteristics are superior. Difference feminism rejects male superiority and looks to stress sex differences and often see female ones as superior

Question 138

How do liberals, radicals and socialists think differently about how to change society

Answer 138

Liberals - Reform

Radicals - Social and cultural revolution

Socialists - Promises an economic transformation of society towards socialism

Question 139

How do liberals, radicals and socialists think differently about patriarchy

Answer 139

Liberals - It is a modern phenomenon that can be combatted through legal and cultural reform

Radicals - Long and deep historical roots. Penetrated deep into the male and female consciouness

Socialists - Largely economically based. Men dominate women generally because they dominate them economically

Question 140

How do liberals, radicals and socialists think differently about the pre requisites for liberation

Answer 140

Liberals - If legal and economic equality can be achieved, women will achieve general liberation

Radicals - Male and female consciousness must be achieved

Socialists - Patterns of employment and the economic structure of the family have to be transformed so women can achieve economic liberation

Question 141

How do liberals, radicals and socialists think differently about freedom

Answer 141

Liberals - Women should be free to choose how they conduct their lives and their relationships

Radicals - Not sufficient to create freedom for women - men’s dominance must be ended and so too must their consciousness of superiority

Socialists - Women will not be free until they have achieved economic freedom