Feminist
Theory
Definition
Feminist theory is a major branch of sociology.
It is a set of structural conflict approaches
which views society as a conflict between men
and women. There is the belief that women are
oppressed and/or disadvantaged by various
social institutions.
Goals Of Feminism
The perspectives and experiences of women
and girls have historically been excluded
from social theory and social science.
Thus, feminist theory aims to focus on the
interactions and issues women face in
society and culture, so half the population is
not left out.
Feminism in general means the belief in
the social, economic, and political
equality of the sexes. The different
branches of feminism may disagree on
several things and have varying values.
Despite this, there are usually basic
principles that all feminists support:
Increasing gender equality
Feminist theories recognize that women’s
experiences are not only different from men’s
but are unequal.
Feminists will oppose laws and cultural norms
that mean women earn a lower income and have
less educational and career opportunities than
men.
Ending gender oppression
Gender oppression goes further than
gender inequality. Oppression means that
not only are women different from or
unequal to men, but they are actively
subordinated, exploited, and even abused
by men.
Ending structural
oppression
Feminist theories posit that gender
inequality and oppression are the result of
capitalism and patriarchy in which men
dominate
Expanding human
choice
Feminists believe that both men and women
should have the freedom to express
themselves and develop their interests, even
if this goes against cultural norms.
Ending sexual
violence
Feminists recognize that many women suffer
sexual violence and that actions should be
taken to address this.
Promoting sexual
freedom
Having sexual freedom means that women
have control over their own sexuality and
reproduction. This can include ending the
stigma of being promiscuous and ensuring
that everyone has access to safe abortions.
Structural Oppression
Structural oppression theories posit that women's
oppression and inequality are a result of
capitalism, patriarchy, and racism. Socialist
feminists agree with Karl Marx and Freidrich
Engels that the working class is exploited as a
consequence of capitalism, but they seek to
extend this exploitation not just to class but also
to gender.
Waves of
Feminism
First wave feminism
The first wave of feminism is believed to have started
with the ‘Women’s Suffrage Movement’ in New York in
1848 under the leadership of Susan B. Anthony and
Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Those involved in this feminist
movement were known as suffragettes. The main aim of
this movement was to allow women to vote. During this
time, members of the suffrage movement engaged in
social campaigns that expressed dissatisfaction with
women’s limited rights to work, education, property, and
social agency, among others.
First wave feminism
Emmeline Pankhurst was considered the leader of the
suffragettes in Britain and was regarded as one of the
most important figures in the movement. She founded
the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), a group
known for employing militant tactics in their struggle for
equality. Despite the first wave of feminism being mostly
active in the United States and Western Europe, it led to
international law changes regarding the right for women
to vote.
Second wave feminism
Second-wave feminism started somewhere in the
1960s after the chaos of the Second World War.
French feminist author Simone de Beauvoir
published a book in 1949 entitled ‘The Second Sex’
which outlined the definitions of womanhood and
how women have historically been treated as
second to men.
Second wave feminism
She determined that ‘one is not born but becomes a
woman’. This book is thought to have been
foundational for setting the tone for the next wave of
women’s rights activism.
Feminism during this period was focused on the social
roles in women’s work and family environment. It
broadened the debate to include a wider range of
issues such as sexuality, family, reproductive rights,
legal inequalities, and divorce law.
Second wave feminism
From this wave, the movement toward women’s rights
included the signing of the Equal Pay Act of 1963,
which stipulated that women could no longer be paid
less than men for comparable work.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 included a section which
prevents employers from discriminating against
employees on the basis of sex, race, religion, or
national origin. Likewise, the famous Roe v. Wade
decision protected a woman’s right to have an
abortion from 1973.
Third wave feminism
The third wave of feminism is harder to pinpoint but it
was thought to have taken off in the 1990s. Early activism
in this wave involved fighting against workplace sexual
harassment and working to increase the number of
women in positions of power. The work of Kimberlé
Crenshaw in the 1980s is thought to have been the root.
She coined the term ‘intersectionality’ to describe the
ways in which different forms of oppression intersect,
such as how a black woman is oppressed in two ways: for
being a woman and for being black.
Fourth wave feminism
Many believe that there is now a fourth wave of
feminism, which began around 2012. It is likely that
the wave sparked after allegations of sexual abuse
and harassment, specifically of celebrities, which gave
birth to campaigns such as Everyday Sexism Project
by Laura Bates and the #MeToo movement. Fourth-
wave feminism is digitally driven and has become
more inclusive to include those of any sexual
orientation, ethnicity, and trans individuals.
Thankyou!
