Sociological Theory: Feminist Theory Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is feminist theory?

A theory that promotes male dominance

A system of ideas about social life and human experience developed from a woman-centered perspective (correct)

A theory that ignores women's experiences

A theory based solely on male experiences

What does the term 'gender' refer to in feminist sociological theory?

A concept distinguishing biologically determined attributes associated with male and female from socially constructed behaviors associated with masculinity and femininity.

What is cultural feminism?

A feminist theory that explores and celebrates the social values of women's distinctive ways of being.

Define existential or phenomenological feminism.

A feminist theory of difference that sees people born into a world shaped by male experience and ignores or marginalizes women's experience. Signup and view all the answers

What is feminist institutional theory?

A feminist theory that sees gender differences as resulting from the different roles that women and men play within various institutional settings. Signup and view all the answers

Define feminist interactionist theory.

A feminist theory that views gender as an accomplishment by skilled actors in interaction with others. Signup and view all the answers

What is liberal feminism?

A feminist theory of inequality arguing that women may claim equality with men based on human capacity for moral agency. Signup and view all the answers

What does sexism mean?

A system of discriminatory attitudes and practices privileging male experience and devaluing female experience. Signup and view all the answers

Define rational choice feminist theory.

A theory that sees women as rational decision-makers under institutional constraints and pressing opportunity costs. Signup and view all the answers

What is domination according to oppression theorists?

Any relationship in which one party, the dominant, succeeds in making the other party subordinate. Signup and view all the answers

What is psychoanalytic feminism?

An effort to explain patriarchy through the use of reformulated theories of Freud and his successors. Signup and view all the answers

Define patriarchy.

A system in which men subjugate women, pervasive in social organization and maintained over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is radical feminism?

A theory that affirms the value of women and argues they are oppressed by violence or the threat of violence. Signup and view all the answers

Define socialist feminism.

An effort to develop a unified theory focusing on the role of capitalism and patriarchy in oppressing women. Signup and view all the answers

What does capitalist patriarchy refer to?

The oppression of women traceable to a combination of capitalism and patriarchy. Signup and view all the answers

What is historical materialism?

The idea that material conditions of human life are key factors that pattern human experience and social arrangements. Signup and view all the answers

What is intersectionality theory?

The view that women experience oppression in varying configurations and degrees of intensity. Signup and view all the answers

Define vectors of oppression and privilege.

The varied intersections of social inequality that serve to oppress women differentially. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term othering refer to?

An act within a subordinated group to define a member as unacceptable by a criterion. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by standpoint?

The perspective of embodied actors within groups that are differentially located in social structure. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Feminist Theory Overview

Feminist theory is a comprehensive framework that offers insights into social life and human experience through a woman-centered lens.

Gender

Gender differentiates between biological sex and social behaviors linked to masculinity and femininity, emphasizing the socially constructed nature of gender roles.

Cultural Feminism

This branch of feminism highlights and appreciates unique social values stemming from women's specific experiences and ways of being.

Existential or Phenomenological Feminism

Focuses on the cultural environment that shapes experiences, often emphasizing how male perspectives dominate while marginalizing women's experiences.

Feminist Institutional Theory

Analyzes how differing roles of women and men within institutional contexts contribute to gender disparities.

Feminist Interactionist Theory

Views gender as an outcome of social interactions, where individuals are held accountable for adhering to societal gender norms.

Liberal Feminism

Advocates for gender equality based on the inherent moral agency of all humans, attributing inequality to patriarchal structures influencing key institutions like law, labor, family, education, and media.

Sexism

Describes a system that favors male experiences and devalues female experiences, promoting discriminatory attitudes and practices.

Rational Choice Feminist Theory

Considers women as rational decision-makers who encounter more institutional barriers and opportunity costs compared to men.

Domination

Defines a relational dynamic where one party maintains control over another, failing to recognize the subordinate’s autonomy and subjectivity.

Psychoanalytic Feminism

Uses reformulated theories from Freud to explain the persistence of patriarchy and its implications on women's lives.

Patriarchy

Identifies a pervasive system in which men oppress women, characterized by its resilience despite challenges over time and space.

Radical Feminism

Emphasizes that women’s oppression is deeply rooted in social structures, often enforced through violence or the threat of violence.

Socialist Feminism

Aims to create a cohesive theory highlighting the interconnection of capitalism and patriarchy in the systemic oppression of women.

Capitalist Patriarchy

Connects women's oppression to the interplay of capitalism and patriarchal structures.

Historical Materialism

A Marxian perspective that suggests material conditions shape human experiences and social structures, which evolve over time due to inherent dynamics.

Intersectionality Theory

Argues that women's oppression is complex, manifesting in diverse forms and varying intensities influenced by multiple social factors.

Vectors of Oppression and Privilege

Examines the intersections of social inequities that differentially affect women's experiences of oppression.

Othering

Describes the process in which group members define others as outsiders based on specific criteria, undermining the potential for unity and collective resistance.

Standpoint

Refers to the unique perspectives arising from the positions of individuals within a social hierarchy.

The Outsider Within

Refers to individuals who belong to marginalized groups yet have unique insights often missing from mainstream narratives, enhancing understanding of their experiences.

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Description

Explore key concepts related to feminist theory through these flashcards. This quiz focuses on important definitions and ideas that shape our understanding of gender and social life from a feminist perspective.