Liberal feminism - -Early first wave feminism (in 19th and early 20th century) was deeply
influenced by liberal ideas in general, and Mary Wollstonecraft in particular. With her view being that
both men and women are rational and women acting 'childish' in her society was the effect of social
ex...
Feminism GRADED A+
Liberal feminism - ✔✔✔-Early first wave feminism (in 19th and early 20th century) was deeply
influenced by liberal ideas in general, and Mary Wollstonecraft in particular. With her view being that
both men and women are rational and women acting 'childish' in her society was the effect of social
expectation placed on to them.
-Liberals were the first to offer equal rights to women
-Many second wave feminists (1960-70) took their inspiration from liberal ideas. Perhaps the most
famous is Betty Friedan 'the feminist Mystique (1963). She believed that women should have legal rights
as they are rational along with civil rights. And that the lives women lead result in the 'problem that has
no name' (later became the patriarchy) and that women are oppressed by legal and social attitudes.
-wasn't until 1992 marital rape became illegal.
Liberal feminists champion gender equality - - ✔✔✔-which they define as:
'a society that treats everyone the same, irrespective of their gender.
-Liberal feminists see individualism and foundation equality as the basis of gender equality:
>ethical individualism: the belief that morally speaking individuals come first.
>foundational equality: each individual is of equal moral importance.
- so women should have exactly the same rights and freedoms of men.
-indivuals should be judged on their unique effort, not sex (race, religion ect)
-Mill 'accident of birth' should not determine things like the right to vote. The subjection of women.
Liberals believe in - - ✔✔✔-legal equality for all individuals (regardless of sex): e.g equal pay act 1970,
legal right to abortion and equality act 2010.
-political equality of individual (regardless of sex): right to vote and the right to form a political party:
women's equality party.
-equality of opportunity for all individuals (regardless of sex): the right to job roles e.g right to maternity
leave and not to be dismissed for pregnancy.
,Liberal feminist achieving equality - - ✔✔✔-For liberal feminists, gender equality is achieved when
female individuals are just as free to pursue careers or become politically active as male individuals,
without facing particular:
-legal obstacles
-discrimination: less favourable treatment of one group compared to other groups.
-damaging gender stereotypes / social pressures: the different way society expects men and women to
behave according to their gender roles.
Liberal feminism is reformist - - ✔✔✔In that it seeks to change society gradually and peacefully. First
wave liberal feminists were optimistic that once the vote had been extended to women, the state would
become more responsible to women, and would help deal with the discrimination they face.
Liberal feminists and the public sphere - - ✔✔✔-Liberal feminists believe that the state has a role in
opening up equal opportunity to access the public sphere. The state should remove legal obstacles to
women's participation. The state should actively ban employers from discriminating on the basis of sex.
Liberal feminists are hopeful that with these barriers removed, women will take up previously 'male'
jobs and thus inspire young girls to follow in their footsteps. Thus, the state can also indirectly tackle
social pressures/ gender stereotypes.
-Age of marriage act (1922) 12-16
-until 1922 men could claim that they weren't aware a girl was under 16.
-However, liberal feminists insist that it is not the role of the state to interfere in male-female
relationships in the private sphere (home).
Traditional marxists feminists - - ✔✔✔-Think that capitalism is the basis for the patriarchy, and in turn
women are used to prop up capitalism.
-Marxists argue that class exploitation is more significant than sexual oppression.
-class is more important than gender.
-the whole thing is determined by the economic base and that female emancipation comes with the
proletariat revolution.
-Engles in the 'origins of family , Private Property, and the State' - 'capitalism = world historical defeat of
the female sex'.
, -To ensure that no wealth was to leave the blood line only sons would inherit wealth, and only once
capitalism is removed female oppression can be removed.
-Frourie and Owens wanted communal living and free love.
-Enphasis on men working and not women due to unions.
-men relived of house work.
1st wave feminism - - ✔✔✔-The leadership of first wave feminism has been dominated by white
upper-class women.
-They argued for access into the public sphere in the same way as their male counter parts.
-missed out other races and classes.
Socialist feminism - - ✔✔✔-common humanity
-collectivism
-equality
-social class
-workers control.
Post modern feminism criticisms of liberal feminism - - ✔✔✔-Points out that first wave feminism and
liberal feminism was predominantly white and upper class.
-By focusing on accessing the public sphere tends to attract women who's social/ education
backgrounds make more of the public sphere available.
-Liberal feminism thus tends to reflect interests of white middle class women. Rather than the interest
of working class women and other ethnic minorities.
Socialist feminism criticisms of liberal feminism - - ✔✔✔-They believe that liberal feminism ignores the
underpinning problem: capitalism and that it is economic factors that hold women back.
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