Feminist TheoriesFeminist TheoriesCourse Code:Course Code:

46474647

Ms Mehreen QaisarMs Mehreen Qaisar

13-9-201113-9-2011

Overview Overview

1)1) Definition of Feminism:Definition of Feminism:

2)2) Waves of Feminism:Waves of Feminism:

3)3) Major Types of Feminism:Major Types of Feminism:

4)4) Questioning & Answering Session:Questioning & Answering Session:

Definition of Feminism:Definition of Feminism: Feminism is political, cultural and Feminism is political, cultural and

economic movement that advocates more economic movement that advocates more gender-specific rights for women and gender-specific rights for women and campaigns for women's rights, women campaigns for women's rights, women interests and legal protection for women.interests and legal protection for women.

Waves of Feminism: Waves of Feminism:

1)1) First Wave of FeminismFirst Wave of Feminism

2)2) Second Wave of FeminismSecond Wave of Feminism

3)3) Third Wave of FeminismThird Wave of Feminism

First Wave of Feminism:First Wave of Feminism: This version of feminism continued to exist into the This version of feminism continued to exist into the

1950s and 1960s.1950s and 1960s. The emphasis of liberal feminism is on inequality The emphasis of liberal feminism is on inequality

between men and women in the public sphere of between men and women in the public sphere of life - employment, education and politics.life - employment, education and politics.

Liberal feminists champion legal and political Liberal feminists champion legal and political equality with men.equality with men.

Mary Wollstonecraft argued that women should be Mary Wollstonecraft argued that women should be entitled to the same rights. entitled to the same rights.

According to this philosophy, society itself does According to this philosophy, society itself does not need a major overhaul, but rather laws need to not need a major overhaul, but rather laws need to be changed.be changed.

Liberal feminists focus on individual Liberal feminists focus on individual empowerment.empowerment.

In the United States and much of the Western In the United States and much of the Western world, liberal feminism is the most mainstream world, liberal feminism is the most mainstream form of feminism.form of feminism.

Second Wave of Feminism:Second Wave of Feminism: Second-wave feminism is a feminist movement is a feminist movement

beginning in the early 1960s and continuing to the beginning in the early 1960s and continuing to the present, and it coexists with present, and it coexists with third-wave feminism. . Second wave feminism is largely concerned with Second wave feminism is largely concerned with issues of equality other than suffrage, such as issues of equality other than suffrage, such as ending discrimination.ending discrimination.

Third Wave of Feminism: Third Wave of Feminism:

(Started in early 1990s) (Started in early 1990s)

Third wave feminism began as a response to perceived began as a response to perceived failures of the second wave and to the backlash against failures of the second wave and to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second wave. initiatives and movements created by the second wave.

Third wave feminist argued , that second wave has over-Third wave feminist argued , that second wave has over-emphasize the experiences of upper middle-class white emphasize the experiences of upper middle-class white women. women.

Third Wave feminism celebrates the construction of Third Wave feminism celebrates the construction of individual identities in a complex, postmodern world.individual identities in a complex, postmodern world.

Third Wave feminism is focused more on personal Third Wave feminism is focused more on personal empowerment as a starting place for social change. empowerment as a starting place for social change.

First wave of feminism Second Wave of Feminism

Third Wave of Feminism

1. Liberal Feminism Radical feminism2.Marxist feminism3. Socialist feminism 4.Islamic feminism

1.Black feminism2.Post modern feminism3.Psychoanalytical feminism

Individual  Liberal and Postmodern

Class Analysis Marxist, Socialist Radicals

Liberal feminism seeks individualistic seeks individualistic equality of men and women through equality of men and women through political and legal reform without altering political and legal reform without altering the structure of society. the structure of society.

Two important Issues to liberal feminists Two important Issues to liberal feminists are ”are ”equity in wage workequity in wage work” and ” and gender gender inequalities in houseworkinequalities in housework. reproductive . reproductive and abortion rights, sexual harassment, and abortion rights, sexual harassment, voting, education, affordable childcare, voting, education, affordable childcare, affordable health care, sexual and affordable health care, sexual and domestic violence against women.domestic violence against women.

Radical Feminism:Radical Feminism: Radical feminists believe that society is extremely Radical feminists believe that society is extremely

patriarchal, and until patriarchy is transformed on all patriarchal, and until patriarchy is transformed on all levels, the system will remain unjust.levels, the system will remain unjust.

Radical feminists emphasized the need for dramatic Radical feminists emphasized the need for dramatic social change in order to achieve genuine equality social change in order to achieve genuine equality for women .for women .

Cultural Feminism:Cultural Feminism: Cultural feminists believe that there are fundamental, Cultural feminists believe that there are fundamental,

biological differences between men and women, and that biological differences between men and women, and that women should celebrate these differences. women should celebrate these differences.

They believe that if women ruled the world there would be no They believe that if women ruled the world there would be no more war and it would be a better place.more war and it would be a better place.

Marxist Feminism:Marxist Feminism: Marxist feminists feel that overcoming Marxist feminists feel that overcoming

class oppression overcomes gender class oppression overcomes gender oppression.oppression.

A form of feminism, based on the ideas of A form of feminism, based on the ideas of Marx.Marx.

Marxist feminists is a sub-type of feminism Marxist feminists is a sub-type of feminism that sees contemporary gender inequality as that sees contemporary gender inequality as determined by Capitalism. determined by Capitalism.

Marxist feminism focuses on the Marxist feminism focuses on the dismantling of capitalism as a way to dismantling of capitalism as a way to liberate women. liberate women.

The position of women in the family serves The position of women in the family serves the interests of the economy and the ruling the interests of the economy and the ruling classclass

Use of women as “Reserve army labor”Use of women as “Reserve army labor” The unpaid work of the household The unpaid work of the household

Socialist Feminism:Socialist Feminism: Socialist feminists can be defined as those Socialist feminists can be defined as those

feminists who are concerned with feminists who are concerned with challenging “capitalism” as well as male challenging “capitalism” as well as male supremacy or “patriarchy”.supremacy or “patriarchy”.

Socialist feminist emphasizes that true Socialist feminist emphasizes that true equality will equality will notnot be achieved without major be achieved without major overhauls within society-- particularly overhauls within society-- particularly economic overhauls. economic overhauls.

Islamic Feminism: Islamic feminism is concerned with the Islamic feminism is concerned with the

role of role of women in Islam and aims for the and aims for the full equality of all full equality of all Muslims, regardless of , regardless of gender, in public and private life. Islamic gender, in public and private life. Islamic feminists advocate feminists advocate women's rights, , gender equality, and social justice , and social justice grounded in an Islamic framework.grounded in an Islamic framework.

Eco Feminism:Eco Feminism: Eco feminist see men's control of land as Eco feminist see men's control of land as

responsible for the oppression of women responsible for the oppression of women and destruction of the natural environment.and destruction of the natural environment.

Post modern Feminism:Post modern Feminism: Postmodern feminists argue that gender is Postmodern feminists argue that gender is

socially constructed concept.socially constructed concept.

““Women is not born rather than it becomes”Women is not born rather than it becomes”

Simone de BeauvoirSimone de Beauvoir

Psychoanalytical Feminism:Psychoanalytical Feminism: Gender inequality comes from early Gender inequality comes from early

childhood experiences.childhood experiences. It maintains that gender is not biological It maintains that gender is not biological

but is based on the psycho-sexual but is based on the psycho-sexual development of the individual.development of the individual.

Black Feminism: Black Feminism:

(emerged from (emerged from 1980 onwards)1980 onwards) Black feminismBlack feminism argues that argues that sexismsexism, class , class

oppression, and oppression, and racismracism are inextricably are inextricably bound together. Forms of feminism that bound together. Forms of feminism that strive to overcome sexism and strive to overcome sexism and classclass oppression. oppression.

Questioning & Answering Questioning & Answering Session:Session:

Thanks for Patience HearingThanks for Patience Hearing