Types Of Feminism
Liberal Feminism - ✔✔✔-Explains oppression of women in terms of of unequal access to existing
political, economic, and social institutions
-Concerned with women's rights being equal to those of men and that women have equal access to
opportunities
-Criticized because it accepts existing institutions rather than trying to change them
Socialist Feminism - ✔✔✔-Sees oppression of women in terms of their subordinate positions in the
patriarchal and capitalist systems
-Focus on collective change and empowerment
-Looks mostly at the economic and class aspects of women's lives
Reformist Feminism - ✔✔✔-Belief that gender inequality can be eliminated through legislative or
electoral reforms
-Limit their efforts to what can be achieved within the current system
-Oriented primarily to more privileged white, middle-class women
Radical Feminism - ✔✔✔-Explains oppression of women in terms of patriarchy and calls for dramatic
social change
-Male domination manifests itself in women's sexuality, gender roles, and family relationships and is
carried over into the male dominated world of work, government, religion, and law
-Separatists feminists are the most radical of this group
Black Feminism - ✔✔✔-1970's: grew out of black women feeling their needs were not being addressed
in the Women's Liberation Movement
-Sexism, class oppression and racism are inextricably linked
-Can't overcome sexism in a racist society
Liberal Feminism - ✔✔✔-Explains oppression of women in terms of of unequal access to existing
political, economic, and social institutions
-Concerned with women's rights being equal to those of men and that women have equal access to
opportunities
-Criticized because it accepts existing institutions rather than trying to change them
Socialist Feminism - ✔✔✔-Sees oppression of women in terms of their subordinate positions in the
patriarchal and capitalist systems
-Focus on collective change and empowerment
-Looks mostly at the economic and class aspects of women's lives
Reformist Feminism - ✔✔✔-Belief that gender inequality can be eliminated through legislative or
electoral reforms
-Limit their efforts to what can be achieved within the current system
-Oriented primarily to more privileged white, middle-class women
Radical Feminism - ✔✔✔-Explains oppression of women in terms of patriarchy and calls for dramatic
social change
-Male domination manifests itself in women's sexuality, gender roles, and family relationships and is
carried over into the male dominated world of work, government, religion, and law
-Separatists feminists are the most radical of this group
Black Feminism - ✔✔✔-1970's: grew out of black women feeling their needs were not being addressed
in the Women's Liberation Movement
-Sexism, class oppression and racism are inextricably linked
-Can't overcome sexism in a racist society
