Feminism Exam Questions with Correct Answers
Sex and gender - Answer-- The most common anti-feminist argument mostly associated with conservatives asserts that gender divisions in society are "natural" and women and men merely fulfill the social roles that nature designed for them
- Therefore, a...
Sex and gender - Answer-- The most common anti-feminist argument mostly associated
with conservatives asserts that gender divisions in society are "natural" and women and
men merely fulfill the social roles that nature designed for them
- Therefore, a women's physical and anatomical make up suits her to a subordinate and
domestic role in society in short: "biology is destiny"
- The biological factor most linked to women's social position is their ability to bear
children which is unique to the female sex
- However, feminists argue that biological facts do not disadvantage women nor
determine their social destiny
Sex and gender, 2 - Answer-- Women are mothers but they do not need to accept the
responsibilities of motherhood: nurturing, educating and raising children this can be
shared between men and women in a so called "symmetrical family". Child rearing
could be carried out by the state or "extended" families
- Feminists draw a sharp distinction between "sex" and "gender"
- Sex is the biological differences between men and females, these differences are
natural such as, reproduction
- Gender is a cultural term which refers to different roles that society ascribes to men
and women
Sex and gender, 3 - Answer-- Simone de Beauvoir: "Women are made, not born"
- Patriarchal ideas blur the lines between gender and sex. They assume that social
distinctions are rooted in biology or anatomy
- However, feminists do not seen the link between sex and gender and argue that
gender differences are socially or even politically constructed
- Most feminists argue that sex differences between men and women are rather minor.
They argue that human nature is androgynous (the possession of both female and male
characteristics; used to imply that human beings are sexless "persons" in the sense that
sex is irrelevant to their social role or position). Therefore, as we inherit genes from both
mother and father we have a blend of both male and female attributes. Sex is just a
biological fact of life and has no social, political or economic significance
Sex and gender, 4 - Answer-- Therefore, men and women should not be judged on their
sex but as individuals, as "persons". A main goal of feminism is the achievement of
genderless "personhood" and establishing a concept of gender that is divorced from
biological sex has a crucial significance for feminist theory
- Some feminists have attacked the sex/gender divide. "Difference feminists" suggest
that there are profound differences between men and women and from an "essentialist"
, perspective social and cultural characteristics are seen to reflect deeper biological
differences. Post-modern feminists have questioned whether "sex" is as clear-cut a
biological distinction as is usually assumed. For example, the features of "biological
womanhood" do not apply to many classified as women: such as some cannot bear
children and some are not attracted to men. Therefore if there is not a fixed
biological/cultural divide the concepts of sex and gender become hopelessly entangled
Equality and difference - Answer--Traditionally, women have demanded equality with
men, even to the point where feminism is often characterized as a movement for the
achievement of sexual equality
- However, the issue of equality has also exposed major faultlines with feminism:
feminists have embraced contrasting notions of equality and some have rejected
equality in favour of the idea of difference
Equality and difference, 2 - Answer-- Liberal feminists champion legal and political
equality with men. They have supported the equal rights agenda so that women are
able to compete in public life on equal terms with men and be free to act as genuine
individuals
- Socialist feminists argue that equal rights may be meaningless unless women also
enjoy social equality. Equality in the terms of economic power therefore one must
address issues of pay differences and waged and unwaged work. Capitalism needs to
be replaced by socialism
Equality and difference, 3 - Answer-- Radical feminists are primarily concerned about
equality in the family and personal life. Equality must therefore, operate in terms of
childcare and other domestic responsibilities and being in control of one's own body.
However, they also argue that equality is not enough. Something beyond equality is
needed such as women's liberation. There are also many differences between men and
women.
- However, all three strands are united in viewing gender differences in a negative light
- Equality feminism is a form of feminism that aspires to the goal of sexual equality,
whether this is defined in terms of formal rights, the control of resources, or personal
power
Equality and difference, 4 - Answer-- Equality feminism links "difference" to patriarchy
seeing it as a manifestation of oppression or subordination. From this perspective the
feminist goal should to liberate women from "difference"
- However, other feminists champion difference rather than equality
Equality and difference, 5 - Answer-- Different feminists regard the very notion of
equality as either misguided. To be equal with a man implies that women are "male
identified" in that they define their goals in terms of what men are or what they have.
Therefore, although the goal maybe to overthrow patriarchy many warn against the
dangers of modelling themselves on men
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