Questions and Answers
What is feminist theory?
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.
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What is feminist institutional theory?
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Define feminist interactionist theory.
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What is liberal feminism?
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What does sexism mean?
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Define rational choice feminist theory.
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What is domination according to oppression theorists?
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What is psychoanalytic feminism?
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Define patriarchy.
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What is radical feminism?
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Define socialist feminism.
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What does capitalist patriarchy refer to?
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What is historical materialism?
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What is intersectionality theory?
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Define vectors of oppression and privilege.
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What does the term othering refer to?
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What is meant by standpoint?
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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.