To what extent is there more that divides Feminism than unites it?
More divided: Is relatively united:
Equality v Difference: All feminists agree that there is a
patriarchy that needs to be overcome
Equality: Biological differences between within society. (Walby’s six structures
men and women are irrelevant & are only of patriarchy)
raised to enforce the inequality between All agree that as a result of the
men and women. Reject the idea of gender patriarchy women are disadvantaged
stereotypes and that women are more
& underrepresented in positions of
likely to posses motherly characteristics
than men, or that similarly women lack the
power, paid less ect:
drive/determination or ability to dominate Liberals would say this effects equality
in the way men can. of opportunity for women and refrains
John Stuart Mill “If women have a greater on their positive rights. ‘It is not
natural inclination for some things than enough claim that women are free to
others, there is no need of laws or social act equal to men unless they have the
inculcation to make the majority of them opportunity to do so’--> Simone De
do the former in preference to the latter” Beauvoir /Mary Wollstonecraft
Difference: Acknowledges the biological
Socialists would agree and would add
differences between men and women and
that this is due to the nature of
suggests that women should not in fact
strive for equality with men, almost capitalism (Reserve army of labour)
implying that women should be superior in order for independence women
to men ‘matriarchy’. Kate Millet need financial independence (Gilman)
Radical feminists would add that the
Reform v Revolution: oppression women face is also present
Liberal feminists, much like liberal in their domestic lives “personal is
thinkers, normally take a more gradualist political”, in which women are far
approach to overcoming the patriarchy. more likely to be confined to the home
The normally focus on solely the public and face violence in their homes than
sphere and not on domestic issues due to men Kate millet.
their pessimistic view on the state being
Post modern feminists would add that
too pervasive into the lives of individuals.
Socialist thinkers: whilst some socialist
tradition, culture and ethnicity plays a
thinkers are more gradualist, many part in the opportunities a woman may
connect the patriarchy directly to the or may not have. Therefore, if you
failings of capitalism & would argue that a strive for equality for women, it is
socialist revolution would also better the crucial that you consider
lives of women both financially and intersectionality. bell hooks. Similarly,
socially post modern feminists would raise the
Radical feminists are the most point that gender itself is a social
revolutionary in the sense that they
construct, and it is important to not
believe in order to address the issues
invalidate the views of those who are
women face, the idea of the traditional
nuclear family needs to be dismantled gender fluid/ transgender when
alongside a society where monogamous discussing women’s issues.
marriage isn’t normalised.
More divided: Is relatively united:
Equality v Difference: All feminists agree that there is a
patriarchy that needs to be overcome
Equality: Biological differences between within society. (Walby’s six structures
men and women are irrelevant & are only of patriarchy)
raised to enforce the inequality between All agree that as a result of the
men and women. Reject the idea of gender patriarchy women are disadvantaged
stereotypes and that women are more
& underrepresented in positions of
likely to posses motherly characteristics
than men, or that similarly women lack the
power, paid less ect:
drive/determination or ability to dominate Liberals would say this effects equality
in the way men can. of opportunity for women and refrains
John Stuart Mill “If women have a greater on their positive rights. ‘It is not
natural inclination for some things than enough claim that women are free to
others, there is no need of laws or social act equal to men unless they have the
inculcation to make the majority of them opportunity to do so’--> Simone De
do the former in preference to the latter” Beauvoir /Mary Wollstonecraft
Difference: Acknowledges the biological
Socialists would agree and would add
differences between men and women and
that this is due to the nature of
suggests that women should not in fact
strive for equality with men, almost capitalism (Reserve army of labour)
implying that women should be superior in order for independence women
to men ‘matriarchy’. Kate Millet need financial independence (Gilman)
Radical feminists would add that the
Reform v Revolution: oppression women face is also present
Liberal feminists, much like liberal in their domestic lives “personal is
thinkers, normally take a more gradualist political”, in which women are far
approach to overcoming the patriarchy. more likely to be confined to the home
The normally focus on solely the public and face violence in their homes than
sphere and not on domestic issues due to men Kate millet.
their pessimistic view on the state being
Post modern feminists would add that
too pervasive into the lives of individuals.
Socialist thinkers: whilst some socialist
tradition, culture and ethnicity plays a
thinkers are more gradualist, many part in the opportunities a woman may
connect the patriarchy directly to the or may not have. Therefore, if you
failings of capitalism & would argue that a strive for equality for women, it is
socialist revolution would also better the crucial that you consider
lives of women both financially and intersectionality. bell hooks. Similarly,
socially post modern feminists would raise the
Radical feminists are the most point that gender itself is a social
revolutionary in the sense that they
construct, and it is important to not
believe in order to address the issues
invalidate the views of those who are
women face, the idea of the traditional
nuclear family needs to be dismantled gender fluid/ transgender when
alongside a society where monogamous discussing women’s issues.
marriage isn’t normalised.
