feminism

G i l m a n

she wrote women and economics, what is it?

Women and Economics by Charlotte perkins Gilman argues that the economic dependence of women on men is the foundation of their opression. She introduces the concept of the sexuo-ecomic relationship, describing how women have been historically forced to rely on meny for surviving by trading domestic and sexual services for financial suppport. Gilman contends that this relatioship is not natural but socially constructed to preserve male dominance. To achieve real equality, she argues. women must gain economic independence through education and paid employment. She challenges the traditional family model and advocates for the socialisation of domestic labour, such as communal kitchens and childcare, to relive women of housework and allow them full participation in public and economic life. By linking gender roles to broader economic systems, Gilman’s work laid the foundation for modern feminist critiques of capitalism and patriarchy.

The Yellow Wallpaper.

Written in the form of a journal, the story follows a woman suffering from postpartum depression who is subjected to the rest cure, a real treatment at the time that confined women to inactivity and isolation. Gilman uses the narrators descent into madness to symbolise the pyschological damage caused by the enforced passivity and lack of autonomy imposed on women. The yellow wallpaper in the room becomes a metaphor for the domestic sphere that traps women, and the narrators obsession with it reflects her struggle t escape societal expectations. The story argues that denying women freedom, self expression and control over their lives is not just unjust but deeply harmful. Through this semi-biographical narrative, Gilman exposes the dangers of patriarchal medicine and calls for greater recognition of women’s mental emotional and creative needs

what is her view of economic equality?

In general, Gilman argued that economic equality could only be achieved if women both married and unmarried gained access to education, meaningful paid work, and independence from the economic dependence created by traditional gender roles. She believed that marriage should not trap wmen in domestic servitude or force them to rely on men for survival. Fr true equality, Gilman insisted that women must be able to support themselves regardless of marital status. This required a fundamental restructuring of society, including the socialisation of domestic labour, so that responsibilities like childcare and housework did not prevent women fully participating in ecnomic and public life.

Simone de Beauvoir

what does she argue in the second sex?

In the Second sex, she presented a profound and influential critique of patriarchial culture, aruging that society has historically constructed the masculine as the positive, central norm, while the feminine has been casted as the other - a secondary, subordinate identity defined only in relation to men. This concept of otherness is central to de Beauvoir’s feminist philosophy. She argued that men as seen as autonomous, self-defining individuals, whereas women are denied the same status and are instead view through their relationships to men - whether as wives, mothers, or objects of male desire. This structure fundamentally limits women’s freedom, stripping them of full subjectivity and denying them the ability to shape their own identity independent of male influence.

She rejected biological differences?

De Beauvoir rejected the notion that women’s roles or characteristics could be explained by biological determinism or essentialism ideas like the eternal feminine. Instead she argued that femininity is socially constructed - a product of cultural, traditions, and institutions that reinforce male dominance and female subordination. Women she claimed are not born but rather made through social conditioning that discourages independence and reinforces dependency/ This entrenched cultural mindset sustains the unequal power dynamics between men and women.

they needed to liberate themselves how?

De Beauvoir argued that women needed to liberate themselves by working together to challenge the patriarchal structures that opressed them. She believed that individual freedom alone was not enough, collective action and solidarity among women were essential to dismantle the social, cultural and economic systems that reinforced their status as the other

sheila revolutionist rowbotham

She believed inequality could only be achieved how?

She called for a revolutionary change that would radically restructure both economic and social relationships. This would involve challenging not just gender inequality but also the class system and capitalist exploitation, which she saw as key sources of women’s subordination. Only by transforming the very foundations of society coudl full liberation of all women - regardless of class - be acheived.

Bell Hooks

What spurred her to write Aint I a woman?

Bell Hooks was spurred on to write her first book, Aint I a woman? 1981 by a sense of disappointment at the liberal feminist. First and second wave feminists were largely white, middle class, university educated women, with a narrow focus on achieving equality with the men they lived and worked alongside. The black women had completely different experiences of discrimination and thus different needs was barely considered. White women, bell hooks, explained only faced prejudice based on their gender whereas black women were also discriminated at because of their race. The concrete impact of this double whammy was economic, Black women not only earned less than ther white counterparts but also less than black men

She goes onto conclude discrimination could operate at…

more than one level was at the heart of bell hooks’ classification of the problem black women face: the imperialist-white supremacist- capitalist - patriarchy. bell hooks herself admits that this is a rather unwieldly term because it highlights the multifaceted nature of the discrimination black women needed to overcome. In recognising that discrimination operates at many levels, hooks was giving first voice to an idea that would latr be described by Kimberle Crenshaw as intersectional feminism and which emphasised the diversity of the female experience.

She hoped to embed what?

a ‘feminist masculinity’ within modern society. This would involve feminists speaking directly to boys and men and helping them to forge identities free from the taint of sexism. Feminist masculinity would stress that men have value because of who they are not what they do. It would also make it clear to men that their strength comes from their ability take responsibility for both themselves and others, not from their dominance within society. Engaging in a dialogue with men has value too as a way of reinforcing hoks contention that feminism has the ability to improve the lives of people across all societies.

Kate Millet

Only if…

the patriarchal power structure in society was overthrown could women be truly free. The revolution to eliminate patriarchy needed to happen in people’s minds as much as in their homes, workplaces, and civic institutions Changing the thinking of men and women about their roles in society would be hard. The oppression of women was, Millet wrote, more entrenched and complete than any other form of division in society. Furthermore, each generation started to be inducted into their traditional rles before they were old enough to understand what was happening. These roles were arbitrary because they were based on the inaccurate assumption that some personality characteristics, such as cleverness and brutality, were masculine, whereas others including docility ad kindliness were feminine.

• It was also problematic for those who sought radical change within society that the extent of male power was rarely acknowledged. Holding this power up to scrutiny was seen as subversive, rather than being as a valid subject for debate. The armed forces, manufacturing, political, economic and academic institutions were all just accepted as male domains. Without open discussion about the extent of male control, it was hard to win public sympathy and support for an alternative to patriarchal power

she also talks about the gender/sex divide

In order to transform the public and private lives of women millet wanted people to realise that sex was distinct frm gender. This insight would allow for the total rejection of repression, persecution, and subjugation because these behaviours did not belong t anyone. Instead of placing themselves in false categories, men and women could strive to create a community in which respect, honor and esteem were extended to all citizens.