Review Flashcards on Feminist Theories and Movements

Flashcards to review key vocabulary from lecture notes on development theory, globalization, and feminist movements.

Development Theory

Frameworks explaining how nations progress economically, socially, and politically; often critiqued by feminists for marginalizing women and ignoring local needs.

UN Development Goals

Refers to Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that target global poverty reduction, gender equality, and health.

Path to Development

A model promoting industrialization and Western-style modernization; often critiqued for imposing neoliberal agendas and excluding women’s traditional knowledge.

Green Revolution

Agricultural reform using technology and chemical inputs; criticized for harming small-scale farmers, especially women, and reducing biodiversity.

Monsanto

Agrochemical and biotech company associated with GMOs and aggressive seed patenting; often viewed as a symbol of corporate overreach in agriculture.

Monoculture

Farming practice of growing a single crop over vast areas; linked in the text to environmental degradation and the displacement of women's traditional farming roles.

Subsistence Farming

Small-scale farming for family consumption, often practiced by women; notes how development often undermines this livelihood.

Spinning Wheel (Free India Movement)

A symbol of self-reliance promoted by Mahatma Gandhi; used to represent resistance to colonial economic systems.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

International body regulating global trade; criticized for advancing corporate interests over labor and environmental protections.

Battle in Seattle

Mass protests against the WTO in 1999, highlighting how global trade policies negatively impact women and marginalized groups.

The Commons

Shared natural resources managed collectively; highlights women's historical role in stewarding commons.

Tragedy of the Commons

Theories that common resources are depleted when individuals act in self-interest; feminists argue this overlooks communal care practices, especially by women.

Wangari Maathai

Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel laureate who founded the Greenbelt Movement; exemplifies ecofeminist resistance.

The Greenbelt Movement

A grassroots environmental organization led by women in Kenya to combat deforestation and empower women.

Economic Globalization

The increasing global interdependence of markets; often disempowers women in the Global South through exploitation.

Cultural Globalization

The spread of global culture, often US-centered; discusses its impact on gender norms and resistance movements.

Cynthia Enloe's "The Globetrotting Sneaker"

A metaphor used to trace global supply chains and the exploitation of women's labor.

Rana Plaza Disaster

Collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh (2013) highlighting the deadly conditions in the global supply chain dominated by women workers.

Global Supply Chain (GSC)

The worldwide production and distribution network; critiques its gendered labor structure.

Clean Clothes Campaign

Activist movement promoting labor rights in the garment industry; supported by feminist NGOs.

Subcontracting

The practice of outsourcing work to smaller, often informal firms; a mechanism for exploiting female labor.

Neoliberalism

Economic ideology favoring free markets, privatization, and deregulation; argues it often exacerbates gender inequalities.

Free Trade/Laissez Faire Capitalism

Economic system with minimal government intervention; linked to job insecurity and exploitation of women workers.

Privatization

Transfer of public services/resources to private control; criticized for reducing women's access to essential services.

Deregulation

Reduction of government oversight in business; often undermines labor protections for women.

Neocolonialism

The persistence of colonial-style exploitation through economic means; feminists highlight its gendered impacts.

Multinational Corporations

Large companies operating globally; often accused of exploiting women’s labor in poor countries.

Economic Nationalism/Protectionism

Policies prioritizing domestic industries can both support and harm women depending on the context.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Historical labor tragedy that mobilized labor reforms; often referenced in feminist labor studies.

Frances Perkins

First female US cabinet member; labor advocate post-Triangle fire.

National Consumers League/Florence Kelley

Early advocate for labor protections and ethical consumption.

Maquiladores

Factories in Mexico's border zones employ mostly women; often exploitative with poor labor conditions.

Export Processing Zones (EPZ)/Free Trade Zones (FTZ)

Designated areas with lax labor laws to attract foreign investment; heavily gendered labor force.

Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP)

Economic reforms imposed by IMF/World Bank; often cut social services women rely on.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Lender of last resort promoting neoliberal reforms; criticized for exacerbating gender inequality.

Social "Safety Net"

Government services protecting citizens from poverty; often eroded under SAP, disproportionately impacting women.

International Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA, GATT, CAFTA)

Promote global commerce; notes they often worsen conditions for women workers.

Economic Migrants

Individuals who relocate for work; many are women facing gendered labor exploitation.

Debt Bondage

A form of modern slavery where workers are trapped in debt; women and girls are particularly vulnerable.

Mail Order/Internet Brides

Channels used to form transnational marriages; notes the gendered power dynamics, often involving Western men and women from poorer countries.

Literalism

Strict adherence to religious texts; often reinforces patriarchal interpretations and limits women's roles.

Benevolent Sexism

A form of sexism that idealizes women in traditional roles, masking inequality with seemingly positive attitudes.

"She Who Is"

Feminist theological concept reclaiming feminine imagery of the divine, challenging patriarchal religious traditions.

Hermeneutics

The study of interpretation, especially of religious texts.

Feminist Hermeneutics

Feminist approaches to interpreting sacred texts, emphasizing women's perspectives and experiences.

Canon

A body of accepted religious texts; feminist scholars often critique canons for excluding women's voices.

Syncretism

The blending of religious traditions; can be a site of feminist reinterpretation and resistance.

Higher Criticism

Scholarly analysis of biblical texts' origins and contexts; useful for feminist reinterpretation of scripture.

Theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders often restricts women’s rights.

Feminist Spirituality Movement

Movement emphasizing female divinity, connection to nature, and women's spiritual authority.

Formal Politics (Power from Above)

Engagement in official political institutions like parliaments and elections.

Informal Politics (Power from Below)

Grassroots activism and social movements outside formal systems.

Intergovernmental Organization (IGO)

Bodies like the UN.

Single Member Districts (SMD)

Electoral system where one representative is elected per district; often underrepresents women.

Party List/Proportional Representation (PL/PR)

Electoral system that often results in greater representation for women.

Zipper (Zebra) System

Gender quota system where male and female candidates alternate on party lists.

"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu"

Feminist slogan emphasizing the need for women's political participation.

Gender Quotas

Policies mandating a minimum number of women in political office.

EMILY's List

US political action committee that supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates.

Women’s Political Literacy

Knowledge and skills needed for political engagement; stresses its importance in empowerment.

Political Climber

A woman who rises within political hierarchies, often facing gendered scrutiny.

Margaret Thatcher, Corazon Aquino, Golda Meir, Benazir Bhutto

Examples of women heads of state, often examined for whether they promoted feminist agendas.

Critical Political Mass

The idea that a certain threshold of women in politics is needed to influence policy.

"Informed Citizenry"

A politically aware public; feminist movements often work to increase this among women.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

US politician cited for her advocacy of women's rights globally.

Malala Yousafzai

Pakistani activist for girls' education; example of youth feminist leadership.

Islamist Movement

Political movements aiming to implement Islamic law; impact on women's rights varies by context.

Women's Movement and Feminist Movements

Organized efforts to advance gender equality.

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

Longstanding feminist peace organization.

Transnational Feminist Movements (TFM)

Networks connecting feminists across borders; address global issues like trafficking and labor rights.

Grassroots Organizations (GRO)

Community-based groups often led by women to address local needs.

State Feminism

Governmental promotion of gender equality, like through women's ministries or laws.

Femocrat

A feminist working inside government institutions to promote women's interests.

Self-Efficacy

A person's belief in their ability to succeed.

Practical Gender Interests

Immediate needs related to gender roles.

Strategic Gender Interests

Long-term goals for structural gender equality.

Global/Transnational Feminist Movements

Feminist coalitions that work across borders to promote women's rights.

United Nations/UN Women

Intergovernmental institutions that set global standards for gender equality.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

Foundational human rights document.

UN Decade for Women (1975-1985)

Marked a period of intensified global focus on women's issues culminating in world conferences.

Beijing Platform for Action (1995)

Landmark international agreement for advancing women's rights.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Often called the international women's bill of rights.

UN Convention vs. Treaty

A convention is a formal agreement adopted by the UN, while a treaty is binding once ratified by individual countries.

Cultural Relativism

The idea that values and practices must be understood in cultural context; often debated in feminist human rights discourse.

Iranian Revolution of 1979

Led to the establishment of a theocracy, rolling back many women's rights.

Iranian Women's Uprising of 2022-23/Mahsa Amini/Morality Police

Recent feminist resistance sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, targeting oppressive dress code enforcement.

School Strike for Climate

Youth-led movement addressing climate change; often includes young women activists, showing links between feminism and environmentalism.