Theoretical views on gender inequality (Feminists)

Liberal Feminists (1)

Focus of obtaining equal opportunities and rights for both males and females. 

Liberal feminists do not see men as oppressors and They seen both men and women as being harmed by gender inequalities.

• Equality through political/legal (Focus on women’s suffrage and increased representation in leadership)

• Prioritise needs of the individual and equal rights for all. 

Liberal Feminists (2)

Oakley (1974): 

-Gender role socialisation in the family is where gender inequality takes root at youth. 

-Occurs through manipulation, Canalisation, verbal appellation, and different activities. This teaches children norms and values for their gender. 

-reinforces accepted gender behaviour

-children learn gender identity through internalizing behavior experienced in the family.

CHILDREN ARE PASSIVE RECIPIENTS

Marxist Feminists (1)

• Social class affects the life chances of women.

• Capitalism is an economic system that oppresses women.

• Women are most affected by redundancies, low pay and job insecurity.

Gender inequalities maintained because women are encouraged to accept dominant ideology of a nuclear family

+ differences between men/women are fair and legitimate because capitalism is presented as meritocratic.  

Marxist Feminists (2)

Ansley 1976: Women, soothe and ease stresses of proletarian men after a hard day of work . 

• Women act as a safety valve and as the takers of shit, Husband’s return home after being exploited at work and take their frustrations out on their Wives. (women’s domestic work is unpaid)

• Mom wives absorbed their husbands, anger and frustration at their powerlessness and opression.

*women maintain capitalism. 

Marxist Feminists (3)

Feeley 1972: families teach children to submit to patriarchal parental authority.

• Children emerge from family life preconditioned to accept their place in a capitalist hierarchy of power and control.

• Family is ‘designed to teach passivity not rebellion.’

• Children are socialised onto traditional gender roles. 

Family ideology supports patriarchy. Suggests that men/women should have different roles in the family and society. Women are subordinated.

Radical Feminists (1)

Patriarchy = main source of oppression.

• Society run by men, for men. 

• Violence against women = keystone of oppression. 

Eg. Prostitution, pornography 

Men use patriarchal ideology to enforce compulsory heterosexuality to maintain control. 

Johnson 2015: 25.4% of European women experience physical/sexual abuse from a partner.  

Radical Feminists (2)

Finn Mackay – patriarchy is the main source of oppression for women. Society is run by men, for men. 

Millett (1970): gender inequalities might have rooted in biological differences but technology means this is no longer the case. 

Contraceptives and machinery legitimize male power/dominance.

Adams: women should NOT be ‘sleeping with the enemy.’ Political lesbianism.

Black feminists (1)

• Black women face discrimination both as women and as Black people. 

• Racism shapes women’s opportunities in education, employment, and family life

• Gender inequality is intensified when combined with racial inequalities. 

Black feminists (2)

Rose Brewer: gender, race, and class work together. 

Black women experience a unique form of oppression because they are simultaneously affected by racism, sexism.

Mizra 1997: black and minority ethnic women. 

• Black women are often marginalized by racism/sexism. Mainstream feminism has overlooked their experiences.

• Black women encounter racial and gender stereotypes.

• Schools and institutions reporudice racial and gender inequalities. 

Understanding inequality = examining relationship between racism and sexism.