A basic introduction

Question ?
Write down what you
automatically think of
when you are asked to
Consider what is a
feminist or Feminism.
 What is Feminism?
Like Marxism,
Feminism is a
Structural,
Conflict Theory.
 Feminists are not all
Skin headed lesbian men hating women

Feminism is a broad term

covering several types or
branches

Radical Liberal rence Black Marxist Disabled

Diffe

And even MEN can be feminists

The list goes on...............
 Feminism is
Concerned with exploring the inequalities
that exist between men & women
in society from a female perspective
& illustrate how males dominate social
relationships & restrict the opportunities
of women.
Consider the clip which reflects how
women were traditionally seen.

Harry Enfield: Women Know Your

Limits
 Brief Background to Feminism
•Campaigners for equality for women bought about
Feminism.
•At the beginning of the 20th Century, women were
campaigning for equal rights in terms of education,
marriage, employment & politics.
•Second Wave Feminism emerged as a challenge to
existing social theories which were Male-stream,
meaning dominated by male thinkers & therefore
bias, sexist & lacking in emotional focus & a female
Perspective on things.
The Suffragettes
 The Suffragette Movement

•Emmeline Pankhurst born in Manchester was married to

Marsden Pankhurst an MP & barrister, who worked with
her to promote equality for women.
•Emmeline led the British suffragette movement & after
many frustrating years of government ignoring
them, they eventually won the right for all British women
to vote.
•The suffragettes had chained themselves to railings, set fire
to government buildings & became more violent in their
attempt to get women equality with men.
By Summer 1914, 1,00’0’s of suffragettes had been
imprisoned.
But in July, World War I provided a real turning point for the
campaign.

Women had to do the work of men in the factories, on the

Land and support & care for their families. The government
could not deny then, that they were equally as capable as
men & gave women over the age of 30
the right to vote.
Sadly, after all the hard
work in fighting to get
women treated equally
with men, Emmeline died
just a few weeks after
British
women were granted the
right to vote.
Today, although much has been
achieved through campaign
activity, Women still earn on
average 80% of male earnings for
doing the Same job & are still
victims of Structural, cultural &
economic Gender discrimination &
inequality.
So, let’s take a
look at what
Feminists today,
are still cocerned
about.
As we noted earlier,
there are several
different types of
Feminist theory, but allof
them share certain
characteristics.
•They all believe that there is a
fundamental division in society
between men & women.
•That women are to some extent
exploited by men.
•That society is male dominated
or Patriarchal.
Differences between
the perspectives of
different
Feminists....
Variations between Feminists can
be lumped into 4 broad
approaches
•Radical
•Marxist
•Liberal
•Differenc
 Radical
One of the most significant but
feminists
controversial voices of this perspective
in the 2oth Century is Australian born
Germaine Greer.
Academic writer, journalist & scholar.
Radical (basically meaning
extreme)feminists Believe that men are
the enemy, and that they control,
exploit & oppress women
through the process of patriarchy
(male rule or domination) in employment,
family relations, sexual relations & status.
 Radical Feminists solution to this:
•Men give up their patriarchy
•Women exist without men
& self-reproduce
•Women keep their lives
separate from men
•Abolish the nuclear family
unit
 Marxist
Feminism
In the 1970’s a number of women began to draw
Upon Marxist theory to explain the oppression of
Women in society.
They do not see women’s oppression arising solely
From Patriarchy, but primarily from Capitalism
that Forces them to be unpaid labourers &
nurturers in Order to maintain capitalism.
 Fran Ansley
(1972)
Ansley believes that women suffer as a
result of Capitalism due to being the
‘takers of shit’
whereby they absorb their Husbands
frustration at his powerlessness & status
in a Capitalist Society.
She argues that women act as a
safety valve
that ensures that capitalism continues
& the bourgeoisie remain powerful &
wealthy.
 Liberal Feminism
Liberal Feminism is less of a theoretical
perspective and more of a political movement.
They tend to criticise other Feminists for
ignoring the progress that has been made in
society with regards to gender inequality.
They are also more likely to argue that gender
Roles are also limiting for men
Ann Oakley
Oakley like many other liberal
feminists focuses her research on
Identifying discrimination & lack of
equality of Opportunity for
women in order to highlight these
issues and to raise
awareness & change attitudes.
 Difference
Feminism
Basically, the 3 branches of feminism we have just
Considered tend to see women as a single group who
share the same interests, experiences & types of
exploitation.

Difference Feminism, that has much in common with

Postmodernism, argues that women have a variety of
interests & needs and are not one single united group.
 For example
•Many women are lone parents so are
not exploited by a cohabiting man.
•Different cultures or families from
different ethnic backgrounds have varied
gender relationships in them that are not
Considered to be exploitative but rather
Natural & right.
•Lesbian relationships
 Radical Feminism Marxist Feminism Liberal Feminism
Society is
controlled by

Society is defined
as...

Who benefits from

inequality Make a copy of this table on bond
paper Cut up the statements you’ve been given
What is to blame And then using your hand-outs decide
for inequality
which statement belongs to which
Solutions to the
Feminist
perspective.
exploitation

Criticisms
Men Primarily Capitalism & Mainly men but some
Men women do have power

Recognises inequality exists Places too much emphasis Patriarchy doesn’t explain
but doesn’t really provide a on men working & women’s why women are
theory to explain why or how lack of finances. More male exploited only how.
it continues. unemployment lately-Welfare Exaggerates the extent of
state support inequality in society.

Men Having a lack of equality Nobody. Gender

stereotypes mean that men
of opportunity miss out on raising children
& women in paid work.
Separation of the sexes and Get rid of sexism in the Revolution or more
women become self- socialization process economic equality to
reproductive New reforms & laws against balance men & women’s
discrimination financial power

Women are dominated by Men’s status as paid Socialization into gender

men due to biology – employer means roles & sexist
men are stronger, women are financially discrimination
women give birth dependent on men
Patriarchal Patriarchal The Bourgeoisie &
Men/husbands
 Radical Feminism Marxist Feminism Liberal Feminism
Society is Men Primarily Capitalism & Mainly men but some
Men women do have power
controlled by

Society is defined a Patriarchal Patriarchal Having a lack of equality of o

pportunity
s...

Who benefits from Men The Bourgeoisie & Nobody. Gender stereotypes
Men/husbands mean that men miss out on r
inequality aising children & women in p
aid work.
What is to blame fo Women are dominated by Men’s status as paid e Socialization into gender role
men due to biology – men mployer means wome s & sexist discrimination
r inequality are stronger, women give n are financially depen
birth dent on men
Solutions to the exp Separation of the sexes a Revolution or more ec Get rid of sexism in the socia
nd women become self- r onomic equality to bal lization process
loitation eproductive ance men & women’s New reforms & laws against
financial power discrimination

Criticisms Patriarchy doesn’t explain Places too much emphasi Recognises inequality exists
why women are exploited s on men working & wome but doesn’t really provide a t
n’s lack of finances. More
only how. heory to explain why or how i
male unemployment latel
Exaggerates the extent of y- Welfare state support t continues.
inequality in society.