Introduction - Themes
- Difference v Equality Feminist
- Reforms v Revolution
- Female Consciousness
Introduction - Argument
Feminists agree that society is currently patriarchal, and something needs to be done to halt female oppression - however, there are fundamental disagreements about what they wish to create and how this can be done
Agree - Equality v Difference Feminists - Point
Most Feminists agree that one gender is not superior to another, therefore the patriarchy of men oppressing women should be abolished
Disagree - Equality v Difference Feminists - Point
- Difference Feminists argue that the genders are different and that those differences should be embraced and not fought against - for them, the search for equality is fruitless
- Equality Feminists, generally liberal, have limited aspirations - they seek equality for women in all spheres. For them, difference automatically leads to inequality, and it is inevitable that men will benefit
Disagree - Equality v Difference Feminists - Example
(Difference)
This is in line with bell hook’s theory on ‘intersectionality’ that women have multiple identities thus the complexity of oppression needs to be reorganised
Disagree - Equality v Difference Feminists - Example
(Equality)
In the Second Sex, Simone De Beauvoir expresses this idea succinctly: women ‘can do away with this inferiority only by destroying male superiority’
Agree - Reform v Revolution - Point
All branches of feminists agree that the patriarchy is deeply rooted within our current society and in order to create their ideal society something must be done
Disagree - Reform v Revolution - Point
- Liberal Feminists see the solution in terms of reform - it can be made less patriarchal gradually
- Radical Feminists have a more extreme approach to emancipating women - they advocate for revolution, although not necessarily through violent means
Disagree - Reform v Revolution - Example
(Liberals)
They believe that to abolish the patriarchy women would have to achieve formal equality in all fields - they see this largely involving legislation. Supported acts such as the Equality Act 2010
Disagree - Reform v Revolution - Example
(Radical)
There are varying ways of ‘revolution’ within radical feminism - Kate Millet and Charlotte Perkins Gilman asserts that there needed to be destruction of the traditional nuclear family
Agree - Female Consciousness - Point
There is agreement between feminists that women do not realise that they are being oppressed by the patriarchal society
Agree - Female Consciousness - Examples
- Liberal Feminist, Betty Friedan, dubbed the patriarchy as ‘the problem with no name’ implying that women themselves did not recognise the nature of their oppression
- Radical Feminist, Germaine Greer, argued in her book ‘The Female Eunuch’ that ‘until women themselves reject stigma … they have no hope of achieving full human structure’
Disagree - Female Consciousness - Point
- Liberal Feminists insist that all women should seek to compete with men for superior roles in society - they accept the freedom to choose whether they take up the domestic role
- Radical Feminists argue there should be a full-scale cultural revolution
Disagree - Female Consciousness - Example
(Radical)
Sheila Rowbotham pointed out that the greatest advancements for women have taken place after socialist revolutions
