Feminism

Sociology Theories and Methods: Feminism Created:15/3/23

What is the main focus of Feminism?

Patriarchy- it is a male-dominated society that focuses on the concerns of males

How many waves of feminism is there?

4

What did the first wave of Feminism focus on?

Political equality of women and the right to vote

Who were the key people in the first wave of Feminism?

Mary Wollstonecraft, Harriet Martineau, and the Suffragettes

When did the first wave of feminism start?

1928

What did the second wave of feminism focus on?

Social and economic equality for women

Who were the key people in the second wave of feminism?

Anne Oakley and Simone de Beauvoir

When was the second wave of feminism?

WWII period

What did the second wave of feminism achieve?

Equal rights and equal pay for women in the workplace

What did the Women’s liberation movement in the late 1950s bring about?

Attitudes of social change in post-war Europe and USA

What did the second wave of feminism address?

Female emancipation from social norms of women being the housewife/mother

Why is the women’s liberation movement criticised?

The social change it brought about didn’t do well enough to address the differences of all women and ignored those of lower social classes, LGBTQ women and those from ethnic minority backgrounds

What did the third wave of feminism focus on?

The different experiences that women face globally

What were the changes focused on in Europe under the third wave of feminism?

Change in social perceptions of women

What were the changes focused on in developing countries under the third wave of feminism?

Reproductive rights, female genital mutation and forced marriage

What did the fourth wave of Feminism focus on?

Empowerment of women using digital technologies and social media to encourage and support female campaigns

What did the #METOO campaign tackle?

Sexual abuse of women

What are the 3 types of Feminism?

Radical Feminism, Marxist Feminism and Liberal Feminism

What does Liberal Feminism address?

Gender inequality by using the existing systems in place to press for legal changes for inequality in society

Name 4 acts/ laws changed they achieved?

1. Equal pay act


2. Sexual discrimination act
3. Legalisation of abortion
4. Availability of contraception over the counter

What newer form of exploitation does liberal feminism tackle?

Media representations of women

How does Liberal Feminists tackle educational underachievement in girls?

They influence girls to aim for careers once seen as reserved for men and break down barriers for girls in male-dominated domains.

What does Marxist Feminism examine?

Dual exploitation that women experience from men and capitalism

What does Benston describe?

Women being kept out of the job market to be used as a reserve army of labour- they are taken on in times of economic growth and dropped in times of recession

What does Ansley describe?

The way women absorb the frustrations of their working husbands

What do Delphy and Leonard suggest?

The unpaid work women do at home benefits capitalism and their husbands

What does Marxist Feminism challenge?

The notion that women should stay at home and look after the family

What would critics say has changed in womens employment?

The workplace and service sector has become feminised and there has been a decline in traditional manufacturing

Where is society is there an under-representation of women?

Positions of power

What do Radical feminists suggest?

Patriarchy is present in all aspects of society and the only solution is to restructure society to gain equality

What do radical feminists think about the recent developments for women in employment and home life?

They are just ‘Token gestures’

What do Female supremacy & Female Sepratism advocate for?

Advocate for a lack of contact with males and political lesbianism to put women at the forefront of society

What is political lesbianism?

Not sleeping with the ‘Enemy’

Why are radical feminists criticised?

Critics suggest they reject the progress made and ignore the intersectional nature of women’s experiences

What does Millet suggest?

Males will use physical, psychological, and ideological force to keep women in a position of subservience

what is a conflict theory under feminist views?

Power in society divided on the basis of gender

Where does patriarchal oppression exist according to feminists?

All areas of society- employment, home, education, media

Give 4 criticisms of feminism

1. Different branches of feminism in conflict with each other
2. Inequalities between women’s experiences on a global scale remain
3. The needs of Western middle-class women come first in the media over those in developing countries
4. Seen as fragmented- ideological differences (e.g. differences over trans women)

Give 3 contributions of Feminism

1. Meets the challenges of contemporary society
2. Changed the lives of many women through legal changes
3. Introduced new perspectives that have challenged male stream society

What does Feminist interviewing encourage?

Encourages those who are being interviewed to move the conversation forward and engage in issues present (could be criticised for interviewer bias)