Lecture One: Introduction to Gender and Feminist Thought
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Transcript Lecture One: Introduction to Gender and Feminist Thought
Feminist Perspectives on the Family
Feminists of all types have encouraged
sociologists to see the family as an
institution involving power relationships –
“the personal is political”
Feminism has challenged the view of the
family as being based on cooperation,
shared interests and love
Feminism has tried to show that men gain
more from family life than women.
Types of Feminism
Dictionary Definition: “Belief in the social,
political, and economic equality of the
sexes”
In sociology, it means more than that.
There are several recognisable branches
of feminism
Introduction to Feminist Theory
There are many types of feminism;
Liberal
Radical
Socialist
Marxist
Lesbian
Humanist
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.
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
Radical Feminists (examples.)
Kate Millett “The personal is political”
MEN, not just the patriarchy, at fault because all men benefit from
women’s oppression.
patriarchal assumptions permeate all social institutions--including
marriage, family, love, heterosexuality etc.
Loosely organized groups calling for complete restructuring of
society:
Betty Friedan (NOW); Germaine Greer, Gloria Steinem, Susan
Steinmetz; Pam Allen and Shulamith Firestone--the famous “bra
burning” protest at Miss America Contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on
Sep 7, 1968.
Susan Brownmiller Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape
“Rape is the act of terror by which all men control all women”
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
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.
Question
Is the “personal political”?
Once you have read through both sets of
notes post your response on the
Discussion Forum
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