Professional Documents
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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.
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.
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
Feminism
Women’s oppression causes the most
suffering
Feminism
household
Equal opportunities for women in the
public sphere
Attempts to criticize the dominant order.
Postmodern
Feminism Rejects claim that only rational, abstract
thought and scientific methodology can
lead to valid knowledge.
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.