‘To what extent are the differences within feminism greater than the similarities?’.
In many aspects, the ideology of Feminism consists of contrasting
views, and this is highlighted through the ways in which different
feminist thinkers attach the core principles (Personal is political,
Patriarchy, Intersectionality, Sex and Gender, Equality vs difference etc)
towards their own beliefs. However, the notion that underpins all
feminists (Radical, Liberal, Socialist and Post-Modern) is that women
are disadvantaged in society in comparison to men, and that this
needs to be corrected. Some may suggest this shows all feminists
share a common goal or objective to progress the opportunities of
women to allow them to be equal to their male counterparts, although
in many cases different types of thinkers have opposing ideals on the
role and position women should have in society making their ‘common
goal’ less clear. For these reasons, I would argue that there are
mainly more differences within feminism than similarities.
Firstly, many of the tensions within feminism are determined by the
different categories of feminists who have their own interests.
Although they may have their own individual ideas their position on
areas such as human nature, the state, society and the economy are
largely determined on the type of feminism they are associated with.
For example, both Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Sheila Rowbotham
share similar outlooks on the issues capitalism creates for women, as
they are both Socialist feminists. ( Some may argue that Socialist
feminism overall is more of an expansion of socialism, and an attempt
to dissolve capitalism ,rather than focusing directly on the issues of
women.)Although, naturally if you compared their ideas to the ideas of
Kate Millet, bell hooks or Friedan they would not come to a consensus
due to Millet being a radical feminist, bell hooks being a post- modern
feminist and Friedan being a Liberal feminist. Therefore, it could be
said that feminists as a whole are divided amongst themselves and
this creates further contrasts. This is especially presented within
Radical feminists, who even within their own branch of Feminism do
not share the same values on society. Whilst Radical equality
feminists would want a more androgynous society where gender is
not a determining factor for opportunity, Radical difference feminists
argue that this will encourage women to compete to be more like men,
which in turn leads them to dismiss stereotypically female qualities
like compassion and sensitivity which difference feminists believe
In many aspects, the ideology of Feminism consists of contrasting
views, and this is highlighted through the ways in which different
feminist thinkers attach the core principles (Personal is political,
Patriarchy, Intersectionality, Sex and Gender, Equality vs difference etc)
towards their own beliefs. However, the notion that underpins all
feminists (Radical, Liberal, Socialist and Post-Modern) is that women
are disadvantaged in society in comparison to men, and that this
needs to be corrected. Some may suggest this shows all feminists
share a common goal or objective to progress the opportunities of
women to allow them to be equal to their male counterparts, although
in many cases different types of thinkers have opposing ideals on the
role and position women should have in society making their ‘common
goal’ less clear. For these reasons, I would argue that there are
mainly more differences within feminism than similarities.
Firstly, many of the tensions within feminism are determined by the
different categories of feminists who have their own interests.
Although they may have their own individual ideas their position on
areas such as human nature, the state, society and the economy are
largely determined on the type of feminism they are associated with.
For example, both Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Sheila Rowbotham
share similar outlooks on the issues capitalism creates for women, as
they are both Socialist feminists. ( Some may argue that Socialist
feminism overall is more of an expansion of socialism, and an attempt
to dissolve capitalism ,rather than focusing directly on the issues of
women.)Although, naturally if you compared their ideas to the ideas of
Kate Millet, bell hooks or Friedan they would not come to a consensus
due to Millet being a radical feminist, bell hooks being a post- modern
feminist and Friedan being a Liberal feminist. Therefore, it could be
said that feminists as a whole are divided amongst themselves and
this creates further contrasts. This is especially presented within
Radical feminists, who even within their own branch of Feminism do
not share the same values on society. Whilst Radical equality
feminists would want a more androgynous society where gender is
not a determining factor for opportunity, Radical difference feminists
argue that this will encourage women to compete to be more like men,
which in turn leads them to dismiss stereotypically female qualities
like compassion and sensitivity which difference feminists believe
