-A critique of patriarchal society

Feminism -A critique of patriarchal society -Want to liberate women from physical and psychological barriers imposed by patriarchy -Society where women lead is superior The Waves -1 st wave = 1850s - 1940s, focus on legal/political rights. Liberal approach, extended liberal ideas of freedom and human nature to include women -Wanted societal/economic reform -Wollstonecraft, Perkins Gilman -Equal workplace opportunities -2 nd wave – 1960s - 80s – looked at gender roles society expected of women -‘Personal is the political’ - more than political emancipation -3 rd wave – 1990s – angered feminism too preoccupied with white MC women, women of colour and culture needed respect -4 th wave – 2008 – reacting to inequality in media, transfeminism Dichotomies Equality feminists -Majority of feminists – liberal, radical, socialist -Want elimination of cultural differences to achieve absolute equality -Women’s nature and gender is socially constructed and determined by society.Biological differences are inconsequential. There are no specific feminist traits -Equality is achieved when male superiority = destroyed, want gender neutrality (the politics of sameness) androgynous -Simone De Beauvoir – female characteristics = myth to confine women. Men and women are the same and contraceptives and abortion allow women to compete with men in society Difference feminists -Women are biologically and culturally difference, this should be recognised and celebrated due to distinct gender characteristics. Sexes have natures -Minority of feminists - essentialism where biological differences are consequential and do determine fundamental gender and nature differences -Difference – don’t accept one gender is superior and differences should be embraced.-Cultural – women’s natural qualities are superior – a world where women dominated would be less violent and would embrace nature and not exploit it environmentally -More extreme – challenge male dominance, women are superior as female essence is more caring, nurturing than competitive and aggressive men (called inverted sexism by critics) -The politics of difference – women born different with different nature -Carol Gilligan – argues biology does affect women’s human nature, essentially different Strands of feminism Liberal -Reformist, via democratic pressure, gender stereotypes can be eliminated, no revolutionary change is needed. Focus on public sphere over private sphere -Liberal values of individualism – foundational equality and equality of opportunity e.g.Wollstonecraft argued for political equality -Freidan’s book began 2 nd wave, also De Beauvoir emphasized concept of otherness and women should be free to choose the roles they took -Wanted an end of discrimination and inequality in the workplace, and gender equality, wanted to end outdated cultural attitudes via and education and oppose sexist language -Changes in law to facilitate legal equality in all public spheres of society -Inspired changes e.g. 1928 ROTP act and 1975 Sex discrimination act -Accept sex differences and the superiority of men as an artificial construct, created by a male dominated (patriarchal society). History, education, culture and media that has reinforced this view so reform is needed 1 / 2

-Individualism is the basis of gender equality -Betty Friedan – feminine mystique – women still treated like second class citizens.Chosen motherhood is liberation. The idea of being and a mother and wife is glamorized and idealized by media and society when its not the goal – social construct.Reform is needed for liberation e.g. education -Motherhood should be a choice – equality of opportunity Socialist -Argues economics leads to gender inequality and capitalism causes patriarchy -1. Reformist socialism feminism – Collectivism and cooperation as female qualities.Capitalisms exploitive qualities reformed patriarchy and that socialism would gradually succeed – allow men and women to co-exist in egalitarian society and economy -More humanist than feminist – wished parity between sexes -Gilman supported intersectionality as she argued gender and capitalism were interconnected oppression as only economic independence could give women freedom and equality with men and that motherhood shouldn’t prevent women form working outside the home -the personal is the political approach -She wanted communal forms of living where child rearing and housework would be shared and professionalized allowing wider role of women on society -2. Revolutionary socialist feminists – Engles argued economics caused gender inequalities and capitalism created patriarchy. Most extreme Marxist views.-Women reproduced workforce and socialized children to continuing cycle of capitalist oppression -Women were a reserve army of labour to be cast off. Oppression and inferior status of women linked to. capitalism, women and WC oppressed.-Patriarchal societies assign an inferior role to women – source of cheap labour: in the home they are a largely unpaid workforce, outside they are largely low paid, part time worker (see recent gender pay gap debate for evidence). Dispensable, at times of a slump it is women thrown out of work - often lack job security. Advocate the destruction of capitalism. Women should be granted the same working conditions, pay and opportunities as men; they must no longer be seen as ‘second class labour.’ -Gender inequality stems from economics and capitalism creates patriarchy -Sheila Rowbotham – expanded on Engles theory, WC women found employment in factories and paid less, had no childcare and argued men don’t understand the nature of the oppression of women. ‘men will often admit other women are oppressed but not you’. – men from the political left cannot understanding the nature of the oppression they impose on women -Women had always been oppressed and that alienation from capitalism and patriarchy meant a ‘revolution within a revolution was needed’ -Shelia Rowbothman- looked into aspects of women’s life e.g. family, work, sexuality.Need two revolutions, one against capitalism and one against patriarchy.-Charlotte Parkins Gilman – technological development now means there is no difference -Social and economic construct Radical -Radical argued both public and private sphere must be addressed as ‘the personal is the political’ but liberal think just public -Millet was critical of Romanic love and monogamous marriage as she thought children were socialised by family unit and that these norms were reinforced by religion, education, myths, art and literature -Wanted to abolish nuclear family and replace with communal living and child rearing -See gender differences as deep rooted affecting home, work and personal life -Must be destroyed through cultural revolution and want androgyny -Kate millet – sexual politics – roots of traditional patriarchy are in family structure. Men and women relationships were about oppression and power. Women have accepted their inferiority. Women can only be free when separate from men. Women shouldn’t have relationships with men – form own communities. Self sufficient -Large variety of reforms – lacks cohesion as different feminists have different focus -E.g. Germaine Greer agued patriarchy socialized women to view desires as unfeminine and to be embarrassed about their bodies however Greer argued that sexual liberation

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