A-Level Politics Edexcel Paper 2 Feminism

How has Feminism developed as an Ideology?

It developed as a response to debates about freedom and equality that emerged from Liberal/Socialist thought. The early movement or First Wave focused on the vote and legal rights. Second Wave feminism came about in the 1960s fighting for changes in society and attitudes.

What are gender stereotypes?

Gender stereotypes are expectation that society holds about how men and women should act. One example is that women are more caring so are better suited for professions such as Teachers, Nurses etc.

What is the difference between Sex and Gender?

- To feminists, Sex is the biological differences between Men and Women (seen as generally fixed).

- Gender is seen as what society aspects an individual to behave as (can change).

- The question here is if Sex has an impact on are charecteristics as men and women or not?

What is the 'Public' and 'Private' sphere?

- The public sphere is the world of work, politics, economics, which has been male-dominated.

- The private sphere is where family and private life take place in the home.

Why do Radical Feminist use the term 'the Personal is political'?

- they are redefining politics as something that takes place wherever in power relationships aren't found, not just in government.

- Therefore, inequality isn't natural - it is political and can be changed.

What is androgyny?

displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics

What do difference feminists mean by 'essentialism'?

There are charecteristics we don't share that are separate.

'equal but different'

What are arguments for Equality Feminism?

- Biology is not destiny - we are all products of our social expectations.

- Women need equal oppotunities in the public sphere through the law.

- Meritocracy.

What are arguments for Difference Feminism?

- Men and Women are fundementally different.

- aiming for total equality will make Women more like Men.

- Women are naturally more caring, empathetic, creative.

What is intersectionality?

There are complex levels of oppression of women more than gender. e.g. race, class, LGBTQ

Why do Liberals have concerns over the slogan 'the Personal is political'?

That it would lead to the state interfering in the private life of women without reason/consent. They are focused solely on freedom and equality in the public sphere.

What are the different interpretations of the Patriarchy?

Liberal: the dominance of men in the public sphere

Socialist: works hand-in-hand with capatalism to oppress the women

Radical: rooted in the home (private sphere)

What is Patriarchy's implication for the role of the state?

Liberal: need for reform to destroy the 'glass ceiling'

Socialist: as long as Capatalism exists reform wont work. Therefore revolution is necessary.

Radical: The state needs to interfere in the Private sphere e.g. Cheap childcare. However the state is inheritically Patriarchal -> Reform or Revolution?

Difference in views of human nature?

Liberal: Human nature is not based on sex/biology. We have a shared human nature.

Difference: Biology is a key charecteristic that divides us as male and female. Men and Women have different human natures.

How is intersectionality used to criticise the mainstream liberal feminist movement?

Liberal feminists tend to assume all women are oppressed in the same way. This leads it being dominated by White middle class women.

What does Simone de Beauvoir mean by the term 'otherness'?

Men are seen as the norm whilst women are seen as the 'other' or abnormal. e.g. 2nd Class citizen.

What does de Beauvoir mean by 'one is not born, but rather becomes, a women'?

- that society tells us what a woman is and tells us to conform to that.

- e.g. 'an adult female human being' - Dictionary

According to Gilman why were women unequal in the 19th century?

- They were trapped in the private life of family and house chores etc.

- because of this they couldn't get jobs and experiences like men could.

How does Rowbotham link Capatalism to the oppression of women in the home and Public sphere?

- Capatalism relies on low-paid labour, and therefore benefits from women's inferior positions in the public sphere.

- In the home women provide free childcare and housework .

'reserved army of labour'

Explain Millet's view of the traditional nuclear family.

the Patriarchy is rooted in this and affirms gender stereotypes on to children. e.g. Barbie or Superheros

Outline disagreements between the 5 thinkers.

1) early Feminists focused on education and rights (Wollstonecraft in Liberalism topic) .

- Radicals such as Millet focused on interpersonal relationships

2) Rothbotham sees Class + Gender linked aswell as Capatalism + Patriarchy.

3) Hook's sees the need to involve all women that the other strands often disregard.

Outline agreements between the 5 thinkers.

1) there are no natural differences between Men and Women.

2) the Patriarchy exists and is used to supress Women.

in Feminism what is meant by discrimination?

- Women not being given equal treatment to men.

- e.g. the pay gap and occupational segregation by gender.

What do Liberal Feminists mean by Political and Legal equality?

The right to vote on the same basis of men and equal treatment in the eyes of the law.

What does Engels (from Socialism) mean by a 'reserved army of labour'?

Women can be used as cheap labour, for example in wartime, but then sent home when there no longer needed.

What do Radical Feminists see as the final solution to the Patriarchy?

1) The abolition of the nuclear family.

2) The use of artificial fertilisation - to allow women to have babies without male involvement and heterosexual relationships

3) Women-only communes

Why do Intersectional Feminists disagree with the use of the term 'women'

It has no clear definition e.g. some women can't have babies such as trans people.