feminism - society Flashcards
(4 cards)
paragraph 1 - society defined by gender inequality and that must be changed
agree gender inequality is present across society and should be tackled.
they are united in their commitment to dismantling the systemic barriers that perpetuate discrimination, oppression and unequal opportunity based on gender.
– this overarching objective seeks to create a society where individuals have equal rights, opportunities, and freedoms, regardless of their gender, and where gender no longer dictates one’s social, economic or political status.
they all see socialisation and gender stereotypes as playing a key role in promoting gender inequality in society. girls are socialised from a young age into traditional gender roles and expectations. These gender roles constrain women’s opps and ensure their subordination and male domination in society.
– SIMONE DE BEAUVIOR was important in setting out the argument that biological differences between men and women were undeniable, but that the roles and behaviours of men and women in society weren’t biologically determined, instead they were socially constructed.
- CPG, socialist fem, argued that this socialisation subtly coerces women to specific societal expectations from a young age, preparing them for traditional roles as mothers and homemakers, this societal conditioning is reinforced through various means, including the toys girls play with and clothes they are encouraged to wear.
- belief women constrained by socially constructed GRs seen across the strands -
- Liberal feminists argue that restrictive social attitudes limit women’s freedom and equality by undermining their rationality and autonomy. They advocate equal opportunities to overcome these constraints.
Wollstonecraft rejected the notion that women’s inferiority was biological, blaming instead unequal education, which stifled their intellectual growth and confined them to subordinate roles.
Friedan, in the 20th century, echoed this, arguing that women were trapped by social expectations to be wives and mothers, limiting their ability to pursue careers or personal goals. She called this the “feminine mystique”—the idea that women should find complete fulfillment through domestic life.
Socialist feminists also reject biological determinism. They argue that under capitalism, women are forced into domestic roles to survive.
Gilman claimed that women’s dependence on marriage was a result of capitalism, which turned marriage into a socio-economic contract where women exchanged domestic labour, sexual and reproductive roles for financial security.
Radical feminists focus on how culture and societal attitudes reinforce female subordination and justify abuse.
Millett analysed literature as a tool of “sexual politics,” showing how it perpetuated patriarchy by portraying women as inferior and glorifying male dominance and female subjugation.
Radicals believe traditional gender roles are patriarchal constructs—not natural—and must be dismantled.
Paragraph Two - Disagreement Over Whether Society Is Patriarchal
Radical Feminists argue society is fundamentally patriarchal—a pervasive system where men dominate public and private life. Sylvia Walby identified six structures through which patriarchy operates: the household, paid work, the state, violence, sexuality, and cultural institutions.
Kate Millett called the traditional family “patriarchy’s chief institution,” viewing it as a political system that enforces male dominance by assigning men authority and relegating women to submissive roles. Radical feminists believe “the personal is political,” meaning private issues like domestic labor and sexual violence are political and sustain patriarchy.
They highlighted domestic violence, rape, and harassment as systemic problems, not private matters, reinforced by media that objectifies women through pornography and prostitution, which they see as tools of male control and exploitation.
Liberal Feminists, in contrast, do not see society as fundamentally patriarchal. They focus on legal and political equality in the public sphere, aiming for reforms rather than systemic overhaul. While they recognize issues like violence against women, their approach is less radical and centered on public rights, reflecting their liberal emphasis on freedom and equality.
Post-modern Feminists critique the concept of patriarchy as too simplistic and universalizing, arguing it generalizes the experiences of white, middle-class women. They stress patriarchy is fragmented and varies across cultures, classes, races, and sexualities.
They emphasize intersectionality, understanding gender oppression as interconnected with race, class, and capitalism. bell hooks argued feminism must be broader and address poverty, racism, and exploitation—issues disproportionately affecting women of color—rather than focusing solely on gender equality in middle-class spaces.
Paragraph Three - Disagreement Over How To Achieve Gender Equality And How Radically It Needs To Be Transformed
Liberal Feminists are reformists who seek gradual change, focusing on legal and political equality in the public sphere—such as voting, education, equal pay, reproductive rights, and political representation.
Wollstonecraft argued women should be treated as rational individuals with equal rights and education, writing in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman:
“Women ought to have representatives, instead of being arbitrarily governed without any direct share allowed them in the deliberations of government.”
Friedan pushed for laws prohibiting gender discrimination and affirmative action, successfully campaigning for the Equal Pay Act (1963). Liberal feminists see removing legal discrimination as the path to gender equality.
Radical Feminists believe true equality demands a fundamental restructuring of society because patriarchy is deeply embedded in all institutions, public and private.
They call for revolutionary change, including dismantling the traditional family, creating women-only spaces for safety and empowerment, and redefining family and gender roles.
Kate Millett called the family “patriarchy’s chief institution” and advocated for its “complete destruction” to achieve feminist goals.
Andrea Dworkin argued for strong legal action against pornography and prostitution as tools of patriarchal control.
Socialist Feminists agree that radical transformation is necessary but focus on the link between capitalism and women’s oppression.
They argue women’s unpaid domestic labor supports capitalism and that women form a “reserve army of labour” in low-paid, insecure jobs.
Rowbotham highlighted women’s dual oppression in paid and unpaid labor and called for a “revolution within a revolution” to end both class and gender oppression.
Socialist feminists advocate collectivizing domestic labor, abolishing private property, and radically transforming family and social relations, with social services like childcare and community kitchens to relieve women’s domestic burdens.
