sociology theory and methods - feminism.

AQA

A short intro to feminism.

Feminist sociology grew from the feminist movement often seen as occurring in waves.

First wave feminism - traces back to 1792 “a vindication of the rights of women” by Mary Wollstonecraft. Which advocated for womens education to allow them to get the same rights as men did.

Early 20th century - womens suffragette movement ot get the right to vote. Women aged over 30 got the right to vote in 1918, in 1928 got to vote at the age of 21 (same as men at the time).

Second wave feminism - started in the 1960’s as a part of the wider civil rights movements in the US. Equal pay and reproductive rights around this time.

Third wave - round the 1990’s in response to claims that feminism was no longer necessary, focused on diversity and intersectionality and sex positivity.

How did feminism and sociology become more linked?

Feminist theories put women and gender at the centre of research.

Pre 1970’s women had largely been ignored in sociological research inc matters that were important to them e.g domestic labour, violence, women’s health, female criminality etc.

What are three core beliefs of feminist sociology?

Although there are many types of feminism many share some core beliefs.

1. Feminism is a conflict theory - the most defining conflict in society is gender inequality.

2. Society is patriarchal and male dominated. Branches of feminism disagree about the extent and impact but all believe it is true.

3. All try to explain inequalities between men and women and try to suggest solutions.

What are the core beliefs of radical feminism?

• Women are exploited by and subservient to men in a patriarchal society.

• Patriarchy is the most important defining feature of society yet it is so deeply embedded in every part of society it is difficult to get rid of.

• The personal is political - patriarchy is so deeply embedded that personal relationships are political.

  • Men are the enemy - Brownmiller says that men use physical and sexual abuse to dominate women.

What do radical feminists believe about current improvements to the position of women?

• The current improvements are superficial and haven’t gone far enough, they see the solution as a radical restructuring of society, e.g some radical feminists are female supremacists and believe women should be incharge of society.

  • Others believe in political lesbianism and separatism. the idea women should live separate to men because male domination is impossible to avoid in heterosexual relationships.

What does Shulamith Firestone believe is the source of oppression?

Radical Feminism.

• Biology

• Women are at a disadvantage because they go through pregnancy and childbirth, which makes them more vulnerable to men. Some women are also tied down by menstruation and breastfeeding meaning they don’t have the same freedoms as men.

• Men have taken advantage of this and have made women dependant on them in the family giving them more power.

What does Shulamith Firestone believe the solution to womens oppression is?

• Developing artificial wombs to free women from the biological constraints of pregnancy.

What does Kate Millet believe the source of womens oppression is?

Radical Feminism.

• Many factors other than biology.

• Economic factors - the glass ceiling, difficult for women to raise into senior positions in workplaces.

• Women are expected to be the primary carers for family which restrains their work opportunities.

• Myths and religion are used to justify male dominance e.g many religions ban women from positions of authority and have teachings which imply their inferiority.

  • Men also use physical and sexual violence.

What is some evaluation of radical feminism?

• Extreme to suggest all men are the same.

• Unrealistic solutions - separatism is likely too dificult and undesirable to many women.

• Liberal feminists believe womens position has been gradually changing due to social reforms and changed attitudes. March of progress.

• Ignores violence towards men by women and ignores that abuse occurs in lesbian relationships.

What are the core beliefs of liberal feminists.

• Seek reform not revolution, and argue there has been a march of progress towards equality between genders.

• Friedan - source of gender inequality is gender role soicalisation. Gender is socially constructed, not biological and fixed.

• Society creates and defines what masculine and feminine roles are, these control women in their daily life.

  • Therefore to achieve gender equality we must change gender socialisation, and stereotypes.

What reforms advocated for by liberal feminists have been implemented?

• March of progress to women having same opportunities as men. e.g The equal pay act 1970, and the Sex discrimination act 1975.

What does Natash Walter believe women still suffer from and what is rising again?

Liberal Feminism.

• Believes women still suffer from low pay, lack of affordable childcare, dual burden / triple shift, domestic and sexual violence.

• Argues sexism is becoming normalised again which is creating new problems for women

What is some evaluation of liberal feminism?

• Redfern and Aune - while there has been a march of progress in western societies that is not true globally e.g 500,000 women die yearly in pregnancy and childbirth in the global south.

• Violence towards women continues despite the march of progress, e.g home office stats suggest 1 in 20 women will be raped in their life.

What are the core beliefs of marxist feminism?

• Capitalism is the root cause of womens oppression.

• Women are a source of unpaid labour (triple shift)

• Women absorb mens anger at their exploitation. “takers of shit” (Ansley)

• Reserve army of labour, employed on low wages and thrown out when capitalism no longer needs so many workers.

• Baby makers to reproduce capitalist work force.

  • Solution is a revolution.

What is some evaluation of marxist feminism?

• Strong supporting evidence (gender pay gap and unequal division of labour)

• Unrealistic solution - revolution.

• Ignores other inequalities like race.

  • There are still gender inequalities in communist countries so not the full cause.

What are some core beliefs of difference feminists?

• Do not see women as one homogenous group.

• Argue other feminists put women together as one group, “essentialism” and argue this is a problem, because it focuses on western feminism and not other countries where problems like access to water are more pressing.

• Women will all have different experiences of the patriarchy based on their race, class, sexuality.

  • Criticise other branches of feminism for trying to claim a false universe, other feminists claim to be for all women but they argue it has largely focused on white MC women.

What is black feminism?

• Black feminism tends to focus on race & ethnicity.

• Regard other types of feminism as ethnocentric.

• Argue white feminism can not claim to speak fro all women, black women can provide essential contribution to understanding oppression due to the legacy of slavery and the persisting inequalities they face.

• e.g medical inequalities, black women are 3,7 times more likely to die during childbirth.

What is some evaluation of difference feminism?

• Sylvia Walby, there are differences among women but there are also important similarities to unite behind. All women faced with patriarchy are at risk of lower pay, domestic violence and sexual assault.

• This may divide women into smaller subgroups, weakening the overall influence of feminism as a united movement for change.

How might it be argued feminism is no longer needed in the 21st century?

• Some believe we have entered an era of post-feminism that means feminism has achieved everything it set out to achieve (gender equality)

• For example, the march of progress in the social and economic position of women through equal pay and a rise in access to employment.

• Many women refuse to associate themselves with feminism.

• Argued feminism is at risk of taking it too far, some feminists trying to hard to search for “trivial definitions of victimhood” such as doors being opened for them.

What are three reasons feminism is still needed today?

1. Susan Faludi - there has been a backlash of feminism, womens rights have been blamed for so many problems in societies e.g increase in lone parent families, and confusion with gender roles. This backlash displays an attempt by men to reassert their dominance. .

2. Natasha Walter - women still face structural and legal inequalities such as earning less then men and glass ceiling due to maternity leave.

3. Katherine Winer - many of the older issues women faced are still relevant today, many aspects of womens lives remain political. Women are still judged more harshly for having sexual partners or committing crimes that go against their gender roles.