22 - Feminism

Question 1

Core ideas: gender

Answer 1

-Sex = physical (not gender)
-Gender = Social construction
-Usually imposed upon
by society
-May be chosen by
individuals
-Limits options as
‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’
and especially those not
fitting these categories
-Many sexes and genders

Question 2

Core ideas: patriarchy

Answer 2

• Elimination of the subordination of women

- Against patriarchy: system of rule by men giving them power over women in politics, economics, society, etc.

Question 3

Core ideas: personal is political

Answer 3

-Traditional view: politics is public, family and personal relationships are private
-‘Public man’ dominates
the state, education,
and the economy
-Private woman’
restricted to the home
and family
-Feminist view: ‘Personal is the political’ (Carol Hanisch)
-Constructed
public/private divide
that does not actually
exist
-Empowerment of
women needed =
political action and
changes (eg. domestic
violence, rape, jobs)

Question 4

Core ideas: justice

Answer 4

Equality/difference/equity

• Liberals seek equality: everyone is treated the same as individuals, before the law, opportunities, etc.
• Conservatives seek maintaining differences as essential to society: father, mother, etc.
• Radicals and socialists seek liberation: seek fairness in power relationships: society, economics, and political structures, etc. (barriers removed)

Question 5

Women’s power

Answer 5

Aristophanes’ Lysistrata (411 B.C.): Asserting women’s power → sexual (grossly simplifying and limiting)

Question 6

Mary Wollstonecraft

Answer 6

• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)
• Enlightenment commitment to reason and equality
• Women and men are equals in possessing the capacity to reason
• Women oppressed by social institutions, including education
• Differences between men and women are artificial, not natural
• Changing institutions (eg. Marriage, education) will end inequality

Question 7

Liberal feminism

Answer 7

• Overcome overt discrimination (clear legal barriers) change laws and institutions
• Goal: Equalize opportunities for men and women
• 25% of the members of Canada’s House of Commons are women

Question 8

Socialist feminism

Answer 8

• Patriarchy - capitalism: systems of inequality artificially created
• ‘Pink collar’ jobs = Women OR ‘the feminine’
• ‘Feminization of labour’ (Guy Standing) more women = lower wages and conditions that push men out of that sector/industry
• Double burden/day: Home and work

Question 9

Radical feminism

Answer 9

-Start from women’s experiences to analyze and rebuild politics
-Overcome sexist attitudes and beliefs, women also internalize harmful attitudes and false beliefs
-Emphasize women’s differences
-Against: Patriarchy
artifice
-For: Empowerment,
choice, equity
-Overthrow patriarchy
-Male bias in the debate
over rules and setting
up society women had
no role in creating
-Empower women:
Institutions, local, family,
and individually

Question 10

Feminism: new paths

Answer 10

-Recognize diversity of women’s experience and political impact (women’s rights movement historically no minority leaders)
-Sexual (LGBTQ+)
-Encourage women of
different sexualities to
be accepted
-Racial and ethnic and disabled (indigenous and anti-racism and anti-ableism)
-Geographical (post-colonial)
-Men’s liberation (masculinity studies)
-Intersectional feminism – catch-all?
-More broad
understanding of
women that do not fit
into historical definitions
of women or those who were once denied rights