2. Provide you with a brief overview
of the basics of Feminist Theory &
get you familiar with the key concepts
Underpinning this sociological perspective
3. Learning Outcomes:
•By the end of the session you should all
have a basic understanding of the Feminist
Perspective.
•Be able to define important key concepts
•And independently undertake a plenary
activity to apply your knowledge &
understanding of this perspective.
4. Question ?
Write down what you
automatically think of
when you are asked to
Consider what is a feminist
or Feminism.
6. Feminists are not all
Skin headed lesbian men hating women
Feminism is a broad term covering
several types or branches
Radical DisabledMarxistBlackDifferenceLiberal
And even MEN can be feminists
The list goes on................
7. 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.
8. Consider the clip which reflects how
women were traditionally seen.
Harry Enfield: Women Know Your Limits
9. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. So, let’s take a look
at what Feminists
today, are still
cocerned about.
16. As we noted earlier,
there are several different
types of Feminist theory,
but all of them share
certain characteristics.
17. •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.
20. Radical feminists
One of the most significant but
controversial voices of this perspective
in the 2oth Century is Australian born
Germaine Greer.
Academic writer, journalist & scholar.
21. 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.
22. 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
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. 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
29. Radical Feminism Marxist Feminism Liberal Feminism
Society is
controlled by
Society is defined
as...
Who benefits from
inequality
What is to blame
for inequality
Solutions to the
exploitation
Criticisms
Make a copy of this table on A3 paper
Cut up the statements you’ve been given
And then using your hand-outs decide
which statement belongs to which Feminist
perspective.
30. Men Primarily Capitalism &
Men
Mainly men but some
women do have power
Recognises inequality exists
but doesn’t really provide a
theory to explain why or how
it continues.
Places too much emphasis
on men working & women’s
lack of finances. More male
unemployment lately-Welfare
state support
Patriarchy doesn’t explain
why women are exploited
only how.
Exaggerates the extent of
inequality in society.
Men Having a lack of equality
of opportunity
Nobody. Gender stereotypes
mean that men miss out on
raising children & women in
paid work.
Separation of the sexes and
women become self-
reproductive
Get rid of sexism in the
socialization process
New reforms & laws against
discrimination
Revolution or more
economic equality to
balance men & women’s
financial power
Women are dominated by
men due to biology –men
are stronger, women give
birth
Men’s status as paid
employer means women
are financially dependent
on men
Socialization into gender roles &
sexist discrimination
Patriarchal Patriarchal The Bourgeoisie &
Men/husbands
31. Radical Feminism Marxist Feminism Liberal Feminism
Society is
controlled by
Men Primarily Capitalism &
Men
Mainly men but some
women do have power
Society is defined
as...
Patriarchal Patriarchal Having a lack of equality of
opportunity
Who benefits from
inequality
Men The Bourgeoisie &
Men/husbands
Nobody. Gender stereotypes
mean that men miss out on
raising children & women in
paid work.
What is to blame
for inequality
Women are dominated
by men due to biology –
men are stronger, women
give birth
Men’s status as paid
employer means
women are financially
dependent on men
Socialization into gender
roles & sexist discrimination
Solutions to the
exploitation
Separation of the sexes
and women become self-
reproductive
Revolution or more
economic equality to
balance men &
women’s financial
power
Get rid of sexism in the
socialization process
New reforms & laws against
discrimination
Criticisms Patriarchy doesn’t
explain why women are
exploited only how.
Exaggerates the extent of
inequality in society.
Places too much
emphasis on men
working & women’s lack
of finances. More male
unemployment lately-
Welfare state support
Recognises inequality exists
but doesn’t really provide a
theory to explain why or how
it continues.
