Feminist theories

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  • Created by: Max_
  • Created on: 05-12-16 09:00
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  • Feminist theories.
    • Liberal and reformist feminism
      • The general idea of this feminist ideology is that they can achieve equality through gradual progression and policy reform.
        • They believe they can be influential by affecting government policy, they argue policies against discrimination in employment will secure equality.
        • However they also believe in cultural change, and that people still hold a lot of traditional prejudices which needs to stop.
      • Sex and Gender - Ann Oakley(1972) distinguishes between the terms.
        • Sex - refers to the biological differences between males and females such as reproductive role.
        • Gender - Refers to culturally constructed differences between the masculine and feminine roles in society.
      • Liberal feminism is an optimistic theory, very much in the Enlightenment project
        • They believe that changes in socialisation and culture are leading to more rational attitudes to gender and overcoming prejudice.
        • They also believe Political action to introduce anti-discriminatory laws and policies.
        • Liberal feminism challenges the instrumental and expressive theory put forward by Talcott Parsons.
          • They say that men and women are both equally capable carrying out both roles,
      • Evaluation
        • Over-optimism
        • Ignore deep-seated structures causing women's oppression.
        • Fail to recognise underlying causes.
    • Radical feminism
      • Radical feminism came about in the early 1970s and believe in a few core ideas.
        • Patriarchy is universal, male domination of women occurs in all societies - Firestone (1974)
        • Patriarchy is the primary and most fundamental form of inequality and conflict.
        • All men oppress women, all men benefit from women, their unpaid labour etc.
      • In terms of relationships radical feminists believe in sexual politics.
        • Leading on from this. Brownmiller has said the fear of **** has been great enough to stop women from going out at night.
        • Furthermore they believe that women are portrayed to satisfy mens desires, such as in ***********.
      • Evaluation
        • Marxists assert the class divide is more important than the gender divide.
        • It assumes all women are in the same position and does not take into account ethnic differences or class.
        • Patriarchy is maintaining itself - Pollart.
      • Change
        • Separatism
        • Consciouss-raising
        • Political lesbianism
    • Marxist feminism
      • They see women's suboridnation to be rooted into capitalism.
      • Women's subordination fills out some valuable functions for capitalism.
        • Women are a source of cheap, exploitable labour.
        • Women are a reserve army for labour.
        • Women reproduce the labour force.
        • Women absorb anger - Ansley.
      • Barrett - Familism
        • The nuclear family is where familism comes about, people can question why women stay in the family even though this is what oppresses them.
        • Familism carrys out some fufillment for women, sexual satisfaction, through motherhood and intimacy.
        • Untitled
      • Evaluation
        • Subordination in non-capitalist societies.
        • Sex-blind marxism - Hartmann 1981
        • Women labour isn't the only form of labour, over-emphasis.

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