Feminist Theory PDF

Feminist Theory What do you think the feminist theory is? Who is a Feminist? Answer… A Feminist is a supporter of feminism, or an advocator for equal rights for women. The doctrine advocating social, political and all other right of women equal to those of men....

Feminist Theory What do you think the feminist theory is? Who is a Feminist? Answer… A Feminist is a supporter of feminism, or an advocator for equal rights for women. The doctrine advocating social, political and all other right of women equal to those of men. Definition of Feminist Theory Conflict theories that were developed to explain the impact of sex and gender on behaviour, and to consider issues of human behaviour from the specific viewpoint of women. Definition of Feminist Theory Conflict theories that were developed to explain the impact of sex and gender on behaviour, and to consider issues of human behaviour from the specific viewpoint of women. The History of Feminism The Recent history of Feminism came in three waves: First wave occurred in the 1940’s and 1950’s The second wave occurred in the 1960’s and 1970’s The third wave Famous Feminists Betty Friedan Emily Murphy Introduction to Feminist Theory There are many types of feminism; Liberal Radical Socialist Marxist Lesbian Humanist Different Types of Feminism: Main Three Types of Feminism: - Liberal - Socialist - Radical oOther Types Include: - Third Wave Feminism - Ecofeminism - Black Feminism (Womanism) Liberal Feminism “Argues that discriminatory policies force women into an inferior social class that restricts their rights to participate fully in society according to their individual abilities.” Liberal Feminism 18th century Liberal thought Mary Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) John Stuart Mill The Subjection of Women (1869). Liberal feminists are concerned with extending to women the liberal values of liberty, equality and justice through legal and social reforms. Legislative and political action-- action, lobbying, courts-- reformist and gradualist. Socialist Feminism “Based on the assumption that the status of women is a social inequality rooted in a sexual division of paid and unpaid labour.” Socialist Feminism Combining radical feminism with Marxist analysis-- Overthrow both class and gender - there is a symbiotic relationship between capitalism and patriarchy – women get exploited twice as women and as workers – DUAL OPPRESSION Extend notions of modes of production (Marxist economic determinism) to other production—e.g. mothering Radical Feminism “Argues that the differences in power between men and women result in any male-female relationship as being exploitative.” Radical Feminism 1) History – This theory emerged in the sixties. Critiqued Marxist theory. 2) What do Radical Feminists claim? A) Assumptions – Patriarchy-- Men as a group desire control over women as a group and organize society around oppression. Other theories cannot explain footbinding, infibulation, sex trafficking, porn. etc. B) Propositions: Men and women control women through: Controlling Motherhood (and devalue it) Controlling Sexuality State helps in control by failing to write laws or writing laws that allow men to control women’s bodies and role in society. C) Solutions -- Allow women to control motherhood and sexuality. Radical Feminists Origins: Late 1960s New Left civil rights and anti-war protests. Beliefs: Gender distinctions thought to be natural are actually socially and politically constructed Significant and radical change is needed in society Multi-Racial Feminists 1) Assumptions Species Being; the world will always be heterogeneous. Oppression exists when people deny differences. 2) Propositions People’s racial identities lead to macro-level segregation, which leads to oppression. (for instance, biology shows people who live closer have chromosomes most similar). Racism and Sexism are organizing principles of society. Segregation leads to different kind of sexism and classism in homes of people of color. 3) Solutions: Get rid of segregation Understand the relational nature of race oppression. Post-Modern Feminists 1) Assumptions – Positivism is false. There is no knowable reality. Just people struggling to control what is considered knowledge. 2) Propositions – Oppression is caused by powerful people controlling language, discourse. For example, many of us believe violence is everywhere because media. 3) Solutions – Open up media and other institutions so everyone has opportunity. Solution: Reality needs to be deconstructed to examine how power is used. Deconstruction is: Breaking down social reality to examine the subtext embedded beneath the surface of social reality. Other Feminist Schools Marxist-feminism focus on destruction of capitalism as way to liberate women. Lesbian feminism Lesbian-feminist politics is a political critique of the institution and ideology of heterosexuality as a cornerstone of male supremacy Rita Mae Brown, Charlotte Bunch, TiGrace Atkinson, McKinnon, Andrea Dworkin, Adrienne Rich “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence” (1980) Humanist feminism women’s oppression is the inhibition and distortion of women’s human potential by a society that only allows the self-development of men. Discussion Questions How has the feminist theory changed society? Has gender equality improved or declined? Do you agree with the feminist theory? (That change is required so that the needs of all people are met) Do you think that by looking through the feminist theory that we are missing other perspectives? Feminism What is it? Why does the word have such a bad rap? History of Feminist Movement First Wave – cult of true womanhood, moral Second Wave – equality, consciousness-raising Third Wave? – Women should exploit the little power they have