Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, fictional,

or philosophical discourse. It aims to understand the nature of gender inequality. It

examines women and men social roles, experiences, interests, chores, and feminist
politics in a variety of fields, such as anthropology and sociology, communication, media
studies, psychoanalysis,[1] home economics, literature, education, and philosophy.[2]

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters such
as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. The term was probably
coined by Pythagoras. Philosophical methods include questioning, critical discussion,
rational argument, and systematic presentation. Classic philosophical questions include:
Is it possible to know anything and to prove it? What is most real? Philosophers also
pose more practical and concrete questions such as: Is there a best way to live? Is it
better to be just or unjust? Do humans have free will?

Gender inequality acknowledges that men and women are not equal and that gender
affects an individual's lived experience. These differences arise from distinctions in
biology, psychology, and cultural norms. Some of these distinctions are empirically
grounded while others appear to be socially constructed. Studies show the different lived
experience of genders across many domains including education, life expectancy,
personality, interests, family life, careers, and political affiliations. Gender inequality is
experienced differently across cultures.

A gender role, also known as a sex role, is a social role encompassing a range of
behaviors and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or
desirable for people based on their actual or perceived sex. Gender roles are usually
centered on conceptions of femininity and masculinity, although there are exceptions and
variations. The specifics regarding these gendered expectations may vary substantially
among cultures, while other characteristics may be common throughout a range of
cultures. There is ongoing debate as to what extent gender roles and their variations are
biologically determined, and to what extent they are socially constructed.

Anthropology is the study of humans and human behavior and societies in the past and
present. Social anthropology and cultural anthropology study the norms and values of
societies. Linguistic anthropology studies how language affects social life. Biological or
physical anthropology studies the biological development of humans.

Sociology is the scientific study of society, patterns of social relationships, social

interaction, and culture of everyday life. It is a social science that uses various methods
of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about
social order, acceptance, and change or social evolution. While some sociologists
conduct research that may be applied directly to social policy and welfare, others focus
primarily on refining the theoretical understanding of social processes. Subject matter
ranges from the micro-sociology level of individual agency and interaction to the macro
level of systems and the social structure.

Communication is the act of conveying meanings from one entity or group to another
through the use of mutually understood signs, symbols, and semiotic rules.

Media studies is a discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history, and
effects of various media; in particular, the mass media. Media studies may draw on
traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core
disciplines of mass communication, communication, communication sciences, and
communication studies. Researchers may also develop and employ theories and
methods from disciplines including cultural studies, rhetoric, philosophy, literary theory,
psychology, political science, political economy, economics, sociology, anthropology,
social theory, art history and criticism, film theory, feminist theory, and information theory.
Psychoanalysis is a set of theories and therapeutic techniques related to the study of
the unconscious mind, which together form a method of treatment for mental-health
disorders. The discipline was established in the early 1890s by Austrian neurologist
Sigmund Freud and stemmed partly from the clinical work of Josef Breuer and others.

Home economics, domestic science or home science is a field of study that deals

with the relationship between individuals, families, communities, and the environment in
which they live.

Feminist literary criticism is literary criticism informed by feminist theory, or more

broadly, by the politics of feminism. It uses the principles and ideology of feminism to
critique the language of literature. This school of thought seeks to analyze and describe
the ways in which literature portrays the narrative of male domination by exploring the
economic, social, political, and psychological forces embedded within literature. This way
of thinking and criticizing works can be said to have changed the way literary texts are
viewed and studied, as well as changing and expanding the canon of what is commonly
taught. It is used a lot in Greek myths.

Overview of feminism
-Many people incorrectly believe that feminist theory focuses exclusively on girls and
women and that it has an inherent goal of promoting the superiority of women over men.
In reality, feminist theory has always been about viewing the social world in a way that
illuminates the forces that create and support inequality, oppression, and injustice, and in
doing so, promotes the pursuit of equality and justice.

Summary
-It examines women's and men's social roles, experiences, interests, chores,
and feminist politics in a variety of fields, such as anthropology and sociology,
communication, media studies, psychoanalysis, home economics, literature, education,
and philosophy. Feminist theory focuses on analyzing gender inequality.

History
-Feminists and scholars have divided the movement's history into three "waves". The first
wave refers mainly to women's suffrage movements of the nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries (mainly concerned with women's right to vote). The second wave refers to the
ideas and actions associated with the women's liberation movement beginning in the
1960s (which campaigned for legal and social rights for women). The third wave refers to
a continuation of, and a reaction to the perceived failures of, second-wave feminism,
beginning in the 1990s.

Radical feminists view society as fundamentally a patriarchy in which men dominate

and oppress women. Radical feminists seek to abolish the patriarchy in order to "liberate
everyone from an unjust society by challenging existing social norms and institutions."
This includes opposing the sexual objectification of women, raising public awareness
about such issues as rape and violence against women, and challenging the concept
of gender roles. Shulamith Firestone wrote in The Dialectic of Sex: The Case for
Feminist Revolution (1970): "[T]he end goal of feminist revolution must be, unlike that of
the first feminist movement, not just the elimination of male privilege but of the
sex distinction itself: genital differences between human beings would no longer matter
culturally."[2]