Feminism Key Terms

Sex -the biological distinction between females and males Gender -the socially constructed roles and characteristics by which a culture defines male and female Essentialism -An emphasis on the fundamental nature of the biological differences between men and women Androgyny -displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics Patriarchy -A form of social organization in which males dominate females Private sphere -aspects of life which are of concern of the individual and her close family and friends only Public sphere -Aspects of social, political and economic life that concern the whole community and not confined to the home Intersectionality -the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage. Liberal Feminism -A strand of feminism that emphasizes gender equality and seeks to work within the current system Radical Feminism -Form of feminist theory that believes that gender inequality is the result of male domination in all aspects of social and economic life.