Liberal Feminism

Question 1

Human Nature

Answer 1

• Accepts the significance of sex differences but regards gender differences as an artificial construct - separating the public and private sphere.
• Argues stereotypes are rooted in education and cultural institutions like the media, emphasising reforms for equality and education to combat sexist attitudes.
• Equality feminists = sees all humans are being of equal moral value and so entitled to formal equality.

Question 2

Gilman on HN

Answer 2

• Rejected Darwinist theory of survival of the fittest - biased as it suggested that it was biologically inevitable that men should be the dominant sex due to being stronger and not tied down by child rearing.
• Biological differences are now irrelevant - women can compete equally with men because the nature of economic activity has changed and both have equal brain power.

Question 3

State

Answer 3

The protector of rights and equality via legislation. Proposes three main forms of action to combat patriarchy:

• Widen the opportunities for women to make their own choices by ending discrimination and inequality (p is p).
• Combat cultural attitudes which demean and reinforce a women’s inferiority - through education, propaganda and opposition to sexist language - to achieve formal equality in all fields

Question 4

Gilman on State

Answer 4

No distinctive theory about the State

Question 5

Economy

Answer 5

• Reforms can create economic equality such as eliminating the pay gap and creating equality of opportunity.
• Women should be able to decide whether they wish to work in the public or private sphere.

Question 6

Gilman on Economy

Answer 6

• Female contributions was halted due to an androcentric culture, as women’s domestic servitude allowed men to dominate in the outside economic world - liberation is achievable by equality of opportunity and employment.
• Women don’t have to compete with men for higher roles, as they should be free to make her own decisions.

Question 7

Society

Answer 7

• Patriarchy prevented the liberation of women, implying women didn’t recognise their self-assigned inferiority but men are also victims, being socially conditioned to see themselves as superior.
• Less attention on the private life as women have a personal choice - disagrees that all women should seek to compete with men for superior roles in society (free to take up domestic roles or enter the historically male-dominated world).
• Keen to achieve equality and a gender-blind society

Question 8

Gilman on Society

Answer 8

• Women’s inferiority in a modern society is no longer justified - liberation should occur through equality of opportunity to secure employment.
• Socialisation of girls happens from an early age, at home and education, to take on the role of a mother and homemaking, rather than in the public/economic sphere = women being confined to the home is culturally, not biologically determined.
• To prevent social conditioning, she believed there should be no difference in clothes or toys for children - an early form of ‘politics of sameness’ (equality feminist).