Edexcel A Level Sociology Theory and
Methods- Feminist theories May 2024
Exam Review Questions and Answers
100% Pass
liberal/reformist feminism - Answer>> Laws and policies-
Libfems believe women can achieve gender equality with laws-
e.g sex discrimination laws can secure equal opportunities for
women
Cultural change- stereotypes are a barrier to equality- they reject
biological differences.
liberal/reformist feminism- sex and gender - Answer>> Ann
Oakley- sex= biological differences between males and females.
gender= culturally constructed differences between masculine
and feminine roles.
Changes in socialisation and culture- gradually leading to more
rational attitudes to gender
Political action to introduce anti-discriminatory laws and policies-
steadily bringing a fairer society.
Libfems critique functionalist view of them saying instrumental
roles are for men and expressive roles are for women- libfems
aim to break this barrier
Evaluation of liberal feminism - Answer>> -produced evidence
documenting the extent of gender inequality and discrimination
and legitimises the demand for reform, they help show result is
from different treatment and socialisation policies.
libfems are too over optimistic though, they believe in the march
of progress - they ignore the possibility that there are deep-seated
structures causing women's oppression (capitalism and
patriarchy)
Walby- no explanation for the overall structure of gender
inequality
, Marxist and Radical fem- fails to recognise the underlying causes
of women's subordination
Radical Feminism - Answer>> -Patriarchy is universal;
Firestone= the origins of patriarchy lies in women's ability to bear
children and most primary form of opression and all men press
women.
Radical feminism- The personal is political - Answer>>
patriarchal oppression is direct and personal, occurs in public and
private spheres of life. All relationships involve power-
sexual/physical violence or the threat of it- controls all women.
Brownmiller- fear of rape is a powerful deterrent against women
going out alone at night.
Sexuality-Patriarchy constructs sexuality to satisfy men's desires-
pornography presents women as passive sex objets
Adrienne Rich- argues that men force women into a narrow and
unsatisfying 'compulsory heterosexuality'
Radical Feminism- Change - Answer>> Separatism- Greer- all
female matrilocal households as alternative to heterosexual
family; living apart from men
Consciousness-raising; through sharing experiences In these
groups, women come to see other women face the same
problems- collective action such as slutwalk marches.
Political lesbianism- heterosexual relationships are inevitably
oppressive- 'sleeping with the enemy', lesbianism is only non
oppressive form of sexuality
Evaluation of radical feminism - Answer>> -They draw attention
to political dimension of areas such as marriage, domestic
violence, rape etc-
-Marxist assert that class, not patriarchy is the form of inequality-
only capitalism
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