Summary
Politics Of Difference MC quiz 3: readings summary
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Summary of the required readings for the Politics of Difference mC quiz 3, therefore it covers from lecture 9 to lecture 11.
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The Politics of Differencereading notes
Lecture 9
1) Pateman, C. (1988). Contracting In. In: Pateman, C. The Sexual Contract. pp: 1-18.
Stanford University Press.
This piece discusses the role of storytelling in understanding political theory,
focusing on the concept of the social contract and its often-overlooked counterpart,
the sexual contract. It highlights how traditional political narratives, such as those
surrounding the social contract, typically emphasize freedom and equality, but
neglect to address the patriarchal power dynamics inherent in the sexual contract.
The social contract theory, popularized by social contract theorists, presents a
narrative of individuals relinquishing certain freedoms in exchange for civil society
and political rights. However, this narrative omits the parallel story of the sexual
contract, which establishes patriarchal dominance over women. While the social
contract is portrayed as a story of freedom, the sexual contract represents a story of
subjection.
The piece argues that civil freedom is intricately linked with patriarchal
dominance, as seen in the historical construction of political right as patriarchal right
or sex-right. It emphasizes how contracts, including the marriage contract and
employment contract, perpetuate patriarchal power structures by relegating women to
subordinate roles.
It discusses how the exclusion of women from the original pact in social contract
theory reflects broader societal attitudes towards gender roles and reinforces
patriarchal norms. Despite recent legal reforms and changes in social attitudes,
patriarchal domination remains pervasive, particularly evident in contracts involving
women.
The piece challenges conventional interpretations of contract theory, suggesting
that contracts not only reflect but also perpetuate power imbalances and social
hierarchies. It calls for a deeper examination of the intersection between contract
theory and patriarchal domination to better understand and address systemic
inequalities within society.
- Critique of Capitalism and Contract Theory: The passage begins with G.D.H.
Cole's assertion that the problem with capitalism is not merely poverty or
, inequality, but rather a form of slavery. This criticism is extended to traditional
contract theories, which focus on exploitation and inequality but overlook the
deeper issue of subordination, akin to master-slave relationships.
- Patriarchy and Contractual Relations: The passage delves into the role of
patriarchy in shaping social and contractual relationships, arguing that
patriarchal subordination is often overlooked in political theory. Classic
contract theorists like Rousseau are criticized for perpetuating patriarchal
norms in their theories.
- Revival of Feminist Movement: The passage highlights the resurgence of
feminism in the late 20th century and its critique of patriarchy. It discusses the
ambiguity of the term "patriarchy" and its contested meanings within feminist
discourse.
- Civil Society and Patriarchal Division: There's an analysis of civil society as
post-patriarchal but also influenced by patriarchal norms, especially regarding
the division between private and public spheres. The passage discusses how
patriarchy persists in both spheres and shapes social relations.
- Intersection of Feminism, Socialism, and Contract Theory: It explores the
intersection of feminism, socialism, and contract theory, highlighting how
certain assumptions about individual ownership perpetuate patriarchal norms.
The passage critiques both liberal and socialist perspectives for overlooking
patriarchy's role in shaping societal structures.
- Sexual Contract and Patriarchal Domination: The passage introduces the
concept of the sexual contract and its role in perpetuating patriarchal
domination. It discusses how the idea of individual ownership reinforces
patriarchy and how feminists navigate the complexities of addressing sexual
difference in political discourse.
- Feminist Critique of Contract Theory: Finally, the passage acknowledges the
importance of feminist resistance to patriarchal norms and calls for a nuanced
understanding of gender relations within contract theory.
Overall, the text offers a critical analysis of patriarchy, contract theory, and
feminism, highlighting the interconnectedness of these concepts in shaping societal
structures and power dynamics.
,2) Hooks, B. (1984). Rethinking the Nature of Work. In: Hooks, B. Feminist Theory.
From Margin to Center. pp: 95-106. Boston: South End Press.
The text offers a critique of early feminist perspectives on work, particularly
highlighting the biases inherent in the focus on bourgeois class interests.
Bias in Early Feminist Perspectives: The passage argues that early feminist
thought, influenced largely by middle-class white women, prioritized the entry
of women into the workforce without adequately considering the needs and
realities of working-class and non-white women. The emphasis on high-paying
careers as a form of liberation ignored the experiences of women already
working in low-paying or exploitative jobs.
Exclusion of Working-Class Women: The focus on careerism and economic
independence alienated many working-class women from the feminist
movement. Working-class women often saw work as exploitative rather than
liberating and were skeptical of feminist claims that employment would lead to
liberation.
Intersectionality: The passage highlights how race intersected with class in
shaping women's experiences with work. Non-white women, particularly black
women, expressed concerns that the entry of white women into the workforce
would further limit opportunities for racial minorities.
Feminization of Poverty: The passage discusses the phenomenon of middle-
class white women increasingly experiencing poverty, leading to a belated
recognition of the economic challenges faced by women across different
classes. This "feminization of poverty" underscored the need for a more
inclusive feminist agenda that addressed the economic concerns of all women.
Re-Thinking the Nature of Work: The passage calls for a re-evaluation of
societal attitudes towards work, particularly in recognizing the value of both
paid and unpaid labour traditionally performed by women. It suggests that
feminist activism should aim to reshape the concept of work to be more
meaningful and dignified for all individuals, regardless of gender or class.
Critique of Capitalism: While the passage acknowledges the need for
economic reforms to address women's economic exploitation, it also suggests a
more radical critique of capitalism is necessary to truly address the root causes
of gender and class inequalities.
Overall, the text advocates for a more inclusive and intersectional feminist
movement that addresses the diverse economic needs and experiences of women
across different social classes and racial backgrounds. It emphasizes the importance
of re-thinking societal attitudes towards work and advocating for systemic changes to
address economic exploitation and inequality.
, 3) Roseneil, S., I. Crowhurst, T. Hellesund, A. C. Santosa & M. Stoilova (2013).
Changing Landscapes of Heteronormativity: The Regulation and Normalization of
Same-Sex Sexualities in Europe. Social Politics 20(2): 165-199.
Introduction
This paper examines transformations in institutional norms regarding same-sex
sexualities in Europe, focusing on Bulgaria, Norway, Portugal, and the UK from the
late 1960s to the present It discusses three processes of normative change: the
legitimization of same-sex practices, the protection of LGB individuals, and the
recognition of intimate relationships. The authors argue that there has been a shift in
the landscape of heteronormativity, with the emergence of a new European norm of
"homotolerance" and the normalization of same-sex sexualities, termed
"homonormalization." They situate their analysis at the intersection of studies on
sexual citizenship and the legal regulation of same-sex sexualities, emphasizing
macro-level processes of normative change and the displacement of
heteronormativity. The study adopts a European comparative perspective to consider
both national-specific factors and exogenous influences, including Europeanization
and transnationalization processes.
National Contexts: Welfare, Sexuality and Social Movements.
The author provides an overview of the national contexts of four European
countries in terms of their welfare regimes and historical development of social
movements related to sexuality.
- Norway: Known for its social democratic welfare state, Norway has a strong
commitment to gender equality and individualized family policy. The early
movements for homosexual rights in Norway were influenced by the discourse
of human rights and gradually gained visibility and support, leading to a
trusting relationship between the gay movement and the state.
- UK: Historically a liberal welfare state, the UK has transitioned towards a
social investment state. It emphasizes individual economic activity and has a
less well-established state gender policy machine compared to Norway. The
UK's feminist activism has been more ambivalent about entering the state.
- Bulgaria: As a post-communist European state, Bulgaria's welfare regime
combines elements of social democratic and traditional-family oriented
systems. The communist era saw pro-natalist policies and a focus on marriage,
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