Feminism Core principles

feminism

an idea based around one key idea: that patriarchy- male domination of women by men - exists, is wrong, must be overcome and replaced

patriarchy

feminists AGREE	feminists DISagree
patriarchy is bad and needs to be removed and replaced entirely they agree on the definition	what to do about it - methods Liberal and Socialist feminists start with society and then personal Radical feminists start with personal patriarchy Postmodern feminists focus on all women

the domination of women by men

sex and gender

feminists AGREE

feminists DISagree

Women should not be treated less than men Argue that ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ traits are a key part of the way society keeps women subordinate

Liberal feminist seek to break down gender roles by legal and social reform and remove barriers to let individuals choose roles Socialist feminist view gender shaped by capitalism's needs such as unpaid labour - link gender to division of labour Revolutionary feminists view agenda as a part of a system of control over women's bodies - argue that agenda is used to enforce male dominance from birth Post modern feminist challenge gender as performative as there is no fixed “gender”

personal is political

feminists AGREE	feminists DISagree
Private life is deeply political Structures exist not only in politics and work, but also in families, relationships, sex, and childbearing	Liberal feminists focus more on public reform but they accept personal life as relevant such as child care access that can reflect inequality Socialist feminists stress how domestic labour is a political issue as home life sustains capitalism Revolutionary feminists argue family and sexuality are key to patriarchal power.They opularised this idea arguing domestic roles and sexuality are sites of oppression Postmodern feminists examine how personal oppression varies in shapes experiences

equality versus difference

feminists AGREE

feminists DISagree

women are unfairly treated and deserve greater rights women’s roles and traits are undervalued by patriarchial culture feminism must decide how to frame women’s liberation- either through equal treatment or recognising difference

Liberal feminist champion equality feminism with equal legal and political rights Socialist feminist may argue economic restructuring is needed for genuine equality. True equality requires ending capitalism and redefining work and value Revolutionary feminist embrace different feminism evaluating feminine traits like empathy or cooperation and its restructural society around them Postmodern feminists reject binary categories, what does “equal to men” mean is gender is a social construct?

intersectionality

feminists AGREE

feminists DISagree

not all women experience oppression in the same way feminism must recognise differences in experience and identity

Liberal feminists focused on white, middle-class women; now more inclusive Socialist feminism adds class, an early form of intersectionality, especially for working-class women Revolutionary feminists tend to prioritise ‘share female experience’ (e.g. through the female body, sexual violence, patriarchy) and so often downplay differences Postmodern feminists believe intersectionality is central because oppression is shaped by race, class, sexuality, disability etc.