Feminism

Feminism

 Belief in the social, political, and

economic equality of the sexes.
 The movement organized around
this belief.
Feminism

Feminist Theory is an outgrowth of the

general movement to empower women
worldwide.

Feminism can be defined as a recognition

and critique of male supremacy combined
with efforts to change it.
 Feminism

 The goals of feminism are:

 Todemonstrate the
importance of women
 Toreveal that historically
women have been
subordinate to men
 Tobring about gender
equity.
 Feminism

 Simply put:
Feminists fight for the equality of
women and argue that women
should share equally in society’s
opportunities and scarce
resources.
Individualist feminism Relational Feminism
(Karen Offen)

Types
 As old as human history itself.

In Germany the feminists were

fighting for the right of women
History to engage in sexual relations
regardless of marital and legal
consideration.

Marianne Weber (the wife of Max

Weber) was a feminist
 Weber thought that women
should be treated equally in
the social institution of
marriage, along with all the
other social institutions.

History
She made it clear that
marriage was between a man
and a woman
  Thecontemporary feminism movement
began in the 1960’s.
 Freelove helped escape the sexual double
standard.
History  Divorce became commonplace
 Women were “happy housewives” no more
 Higherlevel employment and fulfillment
outside the home were becoming the norm
Theories
of
Feminism
Liberal
Feminism
 All people are created
equal and should not
be denied equality of
opportunity because
of gender
 Liberal Feminists focus
their efforts on social
change through the
construction of
legislation and
regulation of
employment practices
 Inequality stems
from the denial of
equal rights.
Liberal
Feminism The primary
obstacle to equality
is sexism.
 Division of labor is related to
gender role expectations.

Females give birth. Males left

to support family
Marxist
Feminism
Bourgeoisie=Men

Proletariat=Women
 Male power and
privilege is the basis of
social relations
Radical
Feminism
Sexism is the ultimate
tool used by men to
keep women oppressed
 Women are the first oppressed group

Women's oppression is the most

widespread

Radical Women’s oppression is the deepest

Feminism
Women’s oppression causes the most
suffering

Women’s oppression provides a

conceptual model for understanding all
other forms of oppression
 Men control the norms of
acceptable sexual
behavior

Radical Refusing to reproduce is

the most effective way
Feminism to escape the snares

Speak out against all

social structures because
they are created by men
Socialist Feminism

Views women’s oppression as stemming from their

work in the family and the economy

Women’s inferior position is the result of class-based

capitalism

Socialist believe that history can be made in the

private sphere (home) not just the public sphere
(work)
Argues that economic and cultural sources of women’s
oppression should be neutralized
  Arguments:

Socialist  An increased emphasis on the private

sphere and the role of women in the

Feminism
household
 Equal opportunities for women in the
public sphere
 Attempts to criticize the dominant order.

All theory is socially constructed.

Postmodern
Feminism Rejects claim that only rational, abstract
thought and scientific methodology can
lead to valid knowledge.

The basic idea is that looking to the past is

no longer the way to go. We are a global
economic world highlighted by technology.
Looking to the past no longer applies.
Feminism
in
practice
Gender Differences

Girls begin to suffer bouts of clinical depression form the frustration

they experience when their bodies changes. Beyond depression and
thoughts of suicide, girls are more vulnerable to eating disorders,
substance abuse, and dropping out of school.

Body is at heart of the crisis of confidence for adolescent girls.

By the age thirteen, 53 percent of American girls are unhappy with

their bodies; by the age of seventeen, 78 percent are dissatisfied.
Society’s Influence

Women found in their body image a sense of self

definition and a way to announce who they are to the
world.

Today many young girls worry about the contours of

the bodies especially shape, size, and muscle tone
because they believe that the body is the ultimate
expression of the self.
Society’s Influence

Fashion and the film industry are two huge

influences on societal expectations that
women display their bodies sexually.

The sexual revolution liberated women from

the Victorian standard of modesty but also
demanded a commitment to diet and beauty.
Many feminist theorists believe that an individual is labeled at
birth as a member of a sex category, either male or female,
and from that point on, is held to acting accordingly.

Gender is not something that one has or something that one

is; rather, it is something that one does.

Doing Gender
Gender as Social Structure

Risman does not accept the criteria She is especially upset by the field
of nature as a way to distinguish of sociobiology.
behavior expectations.
 By assigning people to one or two
categories- male or female- society
has created difference between them.

Gender as
Social
Structure
Risman feels that genders strongest
influence is found at the interactional
level, and therein lies the deepest
liability for the continuation of
inequality in American family life
  Feminism can be defined as a social
movement and an ideology in support of
the idea that a larger share of scarce
resources should be allocated to women.
Relevancy  Feminist believe that women should
enjoy the same rights in society as men
and that should share equity in society’s
opportunities.
 Feminist sociological theory
represents an attempt to give a voice
to women and female perspective.

Feminist sociological theory is

generally critical of the traditional
Relevancy scientific sociological approach that
stresses a commitment to neutrality,
objectivity, and empirical research.

There are many criticisms of

feminists.
  One is that they leave themselves wide
open to attack because they themselves
are very biased in their approach.
 Second, although a commitment to
Relevancy- empirical research is not a must in
designs of social theory; relying on such
-Criticism techniques as oral testimony and the
analysis of such content a diaries risk a
lack of objectivity and bias. When an
individual is asked for his or her story, it
is always biased from his or her
perspective.
 Third, most feminists claim
that all sociological theories
are gender-biased but fail to
provide any proof of this
claim.
Relevancy-
-Criticism Fourth, gender is just one
variable in human
interaction. Many feminist
believe that interactions are
based solely on gender
distinction.
  Fifth criticism of the feminism comes
from within feminist sociological theory
itself. The fact that there is such a great
Relevancy- variety of sociological feminist theories
represents a clear lack of consensus
-Criticism among feminists as to the best means to
go about fighting sexism, discrimination,
and oppression.
  Sexism and discrimination
exists in nearly all social
institutions.
 Religion is considered a long-
time perpetuator of gender
inequality- like Catholic
Church forbids females from
Relevancy being priests.
 Giving a voice to women
remains feminist sociological
theory’s greatest contribution
to the field of sociology
specifically and society in
general.
References

 Risman, B. J. (2004). Gender As a Social Structure: Theory Wrestling with

Activism. Gender & Society, 18(4), 429–450.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243204265349
 Offen, K. (1988). Defining Feminism: A Comparative Historical
Approach. Signs, 14(1), 119-157.
 Cox, E. (2016). Feminism has failed and needs a radical rethink. Retrieved
from
http://theconversation.com/feminism-has-failed-and-needs-a-radical-rethink
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