feminism key terms

public sphere

Life outside the home (work, society, politics).

private sphere

Domestic and family life.

essentialism

Belief that biological sex differences shape behaviour.

gender stereotypes

Social expectations of men and women’s roles.

discrimination

Unequal treatment of groups.

equality of opportunity

Equal chances for all, regardless of sex.

political equality

Equal political rights (e.g. voting, protest).

legal equality

Law applies equally to all.

reserve army of labour

Women as a flexible, secondary workforce.

gender equality

Equal treatment across society regardless of gender.

cultural feminism

Promotes women’s values over male-dominated culture.

reformist feminism

Seeks gradual, peaceful change.

waves of feminism

Shifts in focus over time (e.g. suffrage, rights, cultural, intersectional).

otherness

Women viewed as ‘different’ from the male norm.

equality vs difference feminism

Debate over whether men and women are fundamentally the same or inherently different.

intersectionality

Women’s experiences shaped not only by gender, but also by race, class, and other identities.