Kate Millet (1934-2017)

Second wave: Radical Feminist

Key text: Sexual Politics (1970)

Human Nature

-oppression of women most entrenched form of oppression

-the only major differences between men and women are biological

-there is no evidence that certain characteristics are male and others are female

-sex and gender are distinct → stereotypes, prejudices all based in nothing

Society

-relationship between men and women in both public and private spheres is political, patriarchy affects aspects of life and is political

-traditional gender role arbitrary (by chance)

-children taught traditional gender roles from birth- girls taught to be submissive, boys taught to be dominant

-male control must be acknowledged and accepted in order to be eliminated

-should strive for a community of respect, honour and esteem for everyone

-modern society completely characterised by patriarchy, which is all pervasive and affects by private and public life

State

-Need to overthrow the patriarchy for women to be free- revolution of the mind

-the state is merely the agent of the patriarchy; it is part of the problem not part of the solution

Economy

-supportive of socialist economics but this was not fundamental to her feminism