Post-Modern Feminism

Question 1

Human Nature

Answer 1

• Sees the position of women as a complex problem.
• Agrees with the public sphere, but also rejects the traditional discourse used by radicals - each woman chooses her lifestyle to find her own liberation herself.

Question 2

hooks on human nature

Answer 2

• Gender differences are created by men.
• Patriarchy has taught women to hate themselves and see themselves as inferior.
• Intersectionality = like men, women have multiple identities (e.g race) and therefore experience different forms of oppression.

Question 3

State

Answer 3

State is commanded by white males - reinforcing the patriarchal state.

Question 4

hooks on state

Answer 4

Dominated by white males and therefore reflects and reinforces their dominant position in society.

Question 5

economy

Answer 5

No distinct theory

Question 6

hooks on economy

Answer 6

Women living in poverty have problems that middle-class and upper class women do not face.

Question 7

society

Answer 7

• Women must liberate herself in her own way, having their own unique experience of life.
• Intersectionality = women’s problems are seen in terms of multiple identities , suggesting that society’s traditional structure has broken down and cannot be used to explain.
• Stresses how language carries forward patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes, despite the rise of criticisms of ‘political correctness’.

Question 8

hooks on society

Answer 8

• Gender roles are socialised from a very young age - girls are taught to be compliant, while boys are to deny they even have emotions.
• Full of complex relationships between different minorities.

The struggle against patriarchy should have two elements:

• Creation of a more equal society to reduce women’s disadvantages and then eliminate them.
• Men must understand the patriarchy they are imposing, while women must break free from man-created, negative preconceptions about themselves.