FEMINISM

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What is the core view of human nature?

• sex and gender

• the personal is political

Sex and gender

Sex is biological

Gender is nature and societal norms that were responsible for constructing a persons gender identity - social construct

What is liberal feminism view of sex and gender?

• Simone de Beauvoir: did not explicitly talked about it - did not indicate any deeper distinction between the sexes

• Betty Friedman: merely biological classifications, should aim for androgyny - life unbound by gender

• private matter it is not a decision that wider society should seek to influence

What is radical feminist view of sex and gender

gender stereotypes are at the root pf the repression of women in all aspects of their lives and advocate a sexual revolution to overthrow the institution responsible for this repression, the patriarchy.

Women will need to reject inferior, submissive roles in both their private and their public lives. Men take equal responsibility for housework and child rearing sp women can have the same opportunities.

What is socialists feminist view of sex and gender

The divide has made life worse for women in both home and in the workplace.

• larger systems of discrimination caused by patriarchal capitalism

• Employer hire women more cheaply to do low status jobs

• Childcare and housekeeping made it free up male workers from all obligations - long hours

• Worse treatment than men at work, and exploited at home.

What is cultural feminists view of sex and gender

• both men and woman have different inclinations and seek to honour their contrasting masculine and feminine characteristics. (Essentialism)

• Roles performed for society by women have been treated as of lesser importance.

• Value of motherhood, highlighting feminine qualities that they think give women an advantage over men.

What do feminist mean by the public sphere?

Domains of political, economic and legal activity within a state.

What doe feminists mean by the private sphere

Consists of the home and the family

The personal is political - liberal feminist view

Aim is to enjoy equality with men in the public sphere, through political and legal reform. Enjoying the same pay etc

They do not concern themselves with what happens in the private sphere, women should be able to make their own decisions about how to conduct their lives behind closed doors.

The personal is political - radical feminists view

‘Personal is political’ - Carol Hanisch

The way women behave at home has an impact on their lives in the public sphere.

• women who are submissive at home will find it difficult to assert themselves in the public spheres

• If women do most of the housework/childcare, limited the time they have to advance their careers while freeing up men to work more

• A pattern of unequal gender relations to the next generation

Liberal feminists view of the state

• reforms that would eliminate discrimination and extend woman’s rights

• Changes that would enshrined in law fair and equal treatment for all women in all aspects of life.

• Came to feel that the state needed to do more than extend equality of opportunity to women

Radical feminists view of the state

• advocated revolution to bring about wholesale change.

• Patriarchy is so ingrained into fabrics of the state that it can only be eliminated if the existing structures of government are dismantled - create of state systems designed fir the new era of gender equality.

Socialist feminist view of the state

Patriarchal capitalism emerged from and is upheld by the state. As long as the state exists genuine freedom will be denied for most citizens.

What I the core view of society

• patriarchy

• Equality and difference feminism

• Intersectionality

Patriarchy

vast majority of power within economic, political, religious, educational and social institutions is held by men.

• men uphold positions of authority in politics + business women have more junior roles = men more suited for top jobs than women

• Senior men favour other men when making appointments and promotions. Women are overlooked

• Men run media outlets, which reinforce patriarchal norms in their articles etc

• Men design academic curriculums - neglect women’s history, literature and cultural contributions

• Most scientific research is Carried out by men and centred around male concerns.

Different of approach to patriarchy by feminists

Liberal = reform patriarchal societies through political, social and cultural change.

Radical + socialists = confrontational approach, attack patriarchal values. Some encourage women to live entirely separate from men, sidestep patriarchal power together.

Equality and difference feminism

Equality: men and women have complete parity

Difference feminism: men and women are different and that this should be accepted.

Intersectionality

Understanding that all members of society are complex individuals with multiple identities.

Individual will vary according to a range of factors, such as social class, race, ethnicity, religion and gender identity.

Recognised that people can face mutiple sources of oppression, capitalist forces, patriarchy and racist attitudes.

Core view of the economy

Positions they held commanded less respect, pay gap and less security

• end the gender pay gap e.g: 2010 Supreme Court v Sheffield county council breached equality pay act 1970

• Women being promoted to highest levels in orginisations

• No jobs considered off limits for women.

Socialist feminists view of economy

Pre capitalistic world the work being done by women had been considered equally vital to that performed by men. Capitalist mindset led women to be considered the property of men. Sheila rowbotham claimed an end to capitalism would benefit women more than men. Would inspire women to organise for a post capitalist future.