Ideology Part 2 & Feminism

Flashcards on Conservatism and Feminism, covering key concepts, figures, and principles.

Conservatism

A reaction to liberalism and the Enlightenment, promoting pre-Enlightenment values based on tradition, hierarchy, and, in some cases, religious authority.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

An important conservative thinker who criticized the French Revolution for trying to create a society based on abstract values and ridding French society of traditions and institutions developed over centuries.

Anti-rationalism

the fundamental characteristic of conservatism, society is seen as an organic whole, like a complex ecosystem that cannot fully be understood.

Resistance to change

A key aspect of conservatism, based on the assumption that what exists has value and works for society, and change should be implemented carefully and in a limited manner.

Advocacy of hierarchy and elitism

A principle of conservatism emphasizing that some individuals are born with more abilities or into superior social positions, leading to greater responsibility; links to the belief in charity and the idea that 'to whom much is given, much is expected'.

Gender

Refers to socially constructed differences between men and women, concerning masculinity and femininity.

Sex

Refers to the biological characteristics that societies use to assign people into categories of male or female.

Sexual Orientation

Refers to who people are romantically or sexually attracted to.

Private Sphere

The feminized realm of family life and reproduction symbolically dominated by a patriarchal (male) figurehead.

Public Sphere

The sphere involving social interactions through which common societal problems are addressed, including politics and formal economic activities, associated with masculinity.

Waves (of Feminism)

Different political eras structured by specific socio-political-economic dynamics that brought forth distinct political priorities and theoretical concerns, related to feminism.

First Wave Feminism

Emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century in North America and Europe to advocate for formal political and economic equality in the public sphere, focusing on issues like the right to vote and own property.

Second Wave Feminism

Sought to challenge cultural and economic barriers preventing women's access to the public sphere, politicizing personal issues such as sexual freedom, reproductive rights, and gender expectations.

Third Wave Feminism

Emerged as a correction to second wave feminism, emphasizing the specific struggles of women of color, from the developing world, lower social classes, and homosexual women, challenging the idea of universal womanhood.