Feminism theory and methods
Feminism: BASICS -✔✔✔-Inequality in every society, women inferior, feminism rectifies
-Gender norms are social constructs designed to discriminate against/oppress women. Children
socialised this way
-Patriarchy=female disadvantage
-Political activism to rectify systematic injustice
-Work with govs for social policies to better equality
Liberal Feminists: Gradual change -✔✔✔-In political, economic and social systems
-In culture/values/children's books/toys
-Changes in existing in structure
Liberal Feminists: Nobody benefits -✔✔✔-Male and female potential oppressed
-Rigid inflexible expectations of either sex
-Changes through sex discrimination act
Liberal Feminism CRITICISM: Based on males assumptions -✔✔✔-Values individualism and competition
-Encourages women to be more like men
-Denies traditionally female qualities
Liberal Feminism CRITICISM: Emphasises public life at expense of private -✔✔✔-Private life=seen as no
power struggle or politics
-Therefor assumed irrelevant
Liberal Feminism CRITICISM: Difference feminists -✔✔✔-Ethnocentric view
, -Based on white, MC experience
Liberal Feminism CRITICISM: Radical and Marxist feminists -✔✔✔-Fails to acknowledge deeper
structural inequalities
Marxist Feminists: Reproduction of next gen -✔✔✔-Domestic labour, childcare and emotion work keep
NF going
-Only one household wage paid: Breadwinners
Marxist Feminists: Tolerance of exploitation -✔✔✔-Husband must pay for wife so not easy to
withdraw labour power
-Less bargaining power=More likely to tolerate low wage than risk striking for more money
Marxist Feminists: Ideological conditioning -✔✔✔-Teaches future workers to be passive
-Required by capitalist class
Marxist Feminists: Private property disadvantages women -✔✔✔-Lack of ownership deprives women
of power
Marxist Feminists: WC women and WC men can revolt -✔✔✔-Considerable scope to push for
revolution
-Disappearance of gender equality
Marxist Feminism CRITICISM: No link -✔✔✔-No link between capitalism and patriarchy
-Patriarchy out-dates capitalism, found in tribal communities
Marxist Feminism CRITICISM: Radical feminists -✔✔✔-Masculine theory
Feminism: BASICS -✔✔✔-Inequality in every society, women inferior, feminism rectifies
-Gender norms are social constructs designed to discriminate against/oppress women. Children
socialised this way
-Patriarchy=female disadvantage
-Political activism to rectify systematic injustice
-Work with govs for social policies to better equality
Liberal Feminists: Gradual change -✔✔✔-In political, economic and social systems
-In culture/values/children's books/toys
-Changes in existing in structure
Liberal Feminists: Nobody benefits -✔✔✔-Male and female potential oppressed
-Rigid inflexible expectations of either sex
-Changes through sex discrimination act
Liberal Feminism CRITICISM: Based on males assumptions -✔✔✔-Values individualism and competition
-Encourages women to be more like men
-Denies traditionally female qualities
Liberal Feminism CRITICISM: Emphasises public life at expense of private -✔✔✔-Private life=seen as no
power struggle or politics
-Therefor assumed irrelevant
Liberal Feminism CRITICISM: Difference feminists -✔✔✔-Ethnocentric view
, -Based on white, MC experience
Liberal Feminism CRITICISM: Radical and Marxist feminists -✔✔✔-Fails to acknowledge deeper
structural inequalities
Marxist Feminists: Reproduction of next gen -✔✔✔-Domestic labour, childcare and emotion work keep
NF going
-Only one household wage paid: Breadwinners
Marxist Feminists: Tolerance of exploitation -✔✔✔-Husband must pay for wife so not easy to
withdraw labour power
-Less bargaining power=More likely to tolerate low wage than risk striking for more money
Marxist Feminists: Ideological conditioning -✔✔✔-Teaches future workers to be passive
-Required by capitalist class
Marxist Feminists: Private property disadvantages women -✔✔✔-Lack of ownership deprives women
of power
Marxist Feminists: WC women and WC men can revolt -✔✔✔-Considerable scope to push for
revolution
-Disappearance of gender equality
Marxist Feminism CRITICISM: No link -✔✔✔-No link between capitalism and patriarchy
-Patriarchy out-dates capitalism, found in tribal communities
Marxist Feminism CRITICISM: Radical feminists -✔✔✔-Masculine theory
