ISBN-10: 0007597495, Robb Webb et al (2016) AQA A Level Sociology Book 2, Napier Press. Males usually portray Eve as a temptress who created sin in the world. Structural Oppression: Structural oppression theories posit that women’s oppression and equality are a result of capitalism, patriarchy, and racism, Socialist feminist agree with Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels that the working class is exploited as a consequence of the capitalist mode of production, but they seek to extend this exploitation not just to class but also to gender intersectionality theorists seek to explain oppression and inequality across a variety of variety of variables, including class, gender, race, ethnicity, and age. Below it is simplified into four main perspectives: Radical Feminism, Marxist Feminism, Liberal Feminism and Difference Feminism, Inequality between men and women is universal and the most significant form of inequality. Even after women enter the public sphere, they are still expected to manage the private sphere and take care of household duties and child rearing. The experience of women has not been particularly happy under communism. Churches have also tended to support a type of sex role segregation in society in which women are given a ‘derivative status’. This type of Feminist analysis seems to suggest that it is not necessarily religion itself that is patriarchal. The first theoretical account of patriarchy is found in Engels theory of women’s subservience under capitalism. Required fields are marked *. Feminist theory is one of the major contemporary sociological theories, which analyzes the status of women and men in society with the purpose of using that knowledge to better women’s lives. She uses the Greek myth of Isis and Osiris as an example of this in which the evil Touphoun overpowers the male Osiris. Psychoanalytic feminists attempt to explain power relations between men and women by reformulating Freud’s theories of the subconscious and unconscious, human emotions, and childhood development. Feminist Theory: A Criticism of Previous Sociological Explanations Gender inequality, Feminist theory arose as a reaction to the sexist, biological explanations for gender inequalities such as those of Talcott Parsons. This ideology also teaches that the subordinate status of women is God’s will, and that it is virtuous for women to accept such positions. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Feminist theorists also question the differences between women, including how race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, and age intersect with gender. Ultimately, El Saadawi believes that where religion evolves within patriarchal cultures, men distort religion to act in their own interests and to help justify their own privilege and the oppression of women. Did My Fundamentalist Upbringing Prepare Me for Coronavirus? She offers an Egyptian Feminist perspective on the role of religion and thus broadens our understanding away from the typically white female voices of feminism. Like many other Feminists Walby sees violence against women as a form of male control of women, which is still a problem for many women today, although she concedes that it is difficult to measure how much progress has been made in this area, because of validity problems where the stats are concerned. Radical feminism views patriarchy as dividing rights, privileges and power primarily by gender, and as a result oppressing women and privileging men. Reach the audience you really want to apply for your teaching vacancy by posting directly to our website and related social media audiences. In The Hidden Face of Eve (1980), Nawal El Saadawi considers the role of religion in perpetuating female oppression in the Arab World. Husbands can divorce their wives instantaneously. Three 30 mark essay questions and extended essay plans. Because the husband has to support his wife and children, he is more dependent on his job and less likely to demand wage increases. Gender norms are socially constructed not determined by biology and can thus be changed. Socialist Feminism Vs. Other Types of Feminism. It is primarily men who have benefitted from the subordination of women. To Walby, the state is still patriarchal, racists and capitalist. Adapted from Haralmabos and Holborn 8th edition 2013, El Saadawi (2015) The Hidden Face of Eve: Women in the Arab World (new edition). It tends to portray women as universally good and men as universally bad, It has been accused of man hating, not trusting all men. Radical Feminist Perspectives on Religion Radical Feminists emphasize the patriarchal nature of some mainstream religions such as Catholicism and Islam. It follows that women can use religion to lead fulfilling lives, but need to fight oppression within mainstream religions organisations to do so, or even to develop their own unique, individual paths to a feminine spirituality. 3. She points out that various goddesses and priestesses were replaced with male prophets. She believes that the only way for women to free themselves from oppression is to themselves fight for their own liberation. on Radical Feminist Perspectives on Religion, on Nawal El Saadawi: The Hidden Face of Eve, on Feminist Perspectives on Religion: Karen Armstrong, on Feminist Theory for A Level Sociology: An Introduction, on Feminist Theory: A Summary for A-Level Sociology, on Sylvia Walby’s Six Structures of Patiarchy. Abortion and other reproductive rights have to do with control of one’s life choices and autonomy. Cultural feminism is a variety of feminism which emphasizes essential differences between men and women, based on biological differences in reproductive capacity. Some critics argue that it focuses too much on the negative experiences of women, failing to recognise that some women can have happy marriages for example. However, she does recognise that women of different class and ethnic backroads and different sexual orientations experience these structures in different ways. As second-wave feminists examined society during the 1960s, they did observe households headed by women and female leaders. For example, cultural feminists look to the different values associated with womanhood and felinity as a reason why men and women experience the social world differently. Feminists emphasise the importance of political activism in order challenge gender inequalities. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The origins of patriarchy are closely related to the concept of gender roles, or the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex.Much work has been devoted to understanding why women are typically thought to inhabit a domestic role while men are expected to seek professional satisfaction outside of the home. 4. The concept of patriarchy has been criticised for ignoring variations in the experience of oppression. 52 Pages of revision notes covering the entire AQA ‘beliefs in society’ specification: from perspectives on religion, organisations, class, gender ethnicity and age and secularisation, globalisation and fundamentalism. I’ve taught A-level sociology for 16 years and have been an AQA examiner for 10 of those, so I know what I’m talking about, and if you purchase from me you’re avoiding all those horrible corporations that own the major A-level text books and supporting a fully fledged free-range human being, NOT a global corporate publishing company. Cultural feminists advocate for equally valuing of “female “occupations: respecting child care in the home, for instance, and paying so that it is economically viable; respecting “female” values of care and working to balance a culture that overvalues “male” values of aggression; etc. Daly also believed that ultimately women needed to stop relying on ‘religion from above’, and should instead seek ‘spirituality from within’. Historically, for example, Goddess religions have celebrated the creative and nurturing power of the feminine. In the Middle East, Asia and Europe, for example, archaeologists have uncovered numerous symbols of the Mother Goddess. Such religions were interpreted in the context of patriarchal societies, primarily by men. Thus, unlike Marxist perspectives, we do not need to eradicate religion in order to achieve female liberation. Men have interpreted religious doctrines in order to justify their positions of power. For feminists, that status quo is a patriarchal society. Contemporary sociologist. The creation of equal opportunities is the main aim of liberal feminists – e.g. Socialist feminists wanted to work with men to correct the inequities between men and women. They argue that such religions have developed in patriarchal societies and have been ‘hijacked’ by men. Most feminists argue along similar lines to functionalists and Marxists that religion acts as a conservative force, maintaining the status quo. Like Marxism, socialist feminism recognized the oppressive structure of capitalist society. She was heavily inspired by Simon de Beavoir. MC/WC , Criticised preceding feminist theory for claiming a ‘false universality’ (white, western heterosexual, middle class), Criticised preceding Feminists theory of being essentialist, Critiqued preceding Feminist theory as being part of the masculinist Enlightenment Project, Postmodern Feminism – concerned with language (discourses) and the relationship between power and knowledge rather than ‘politics and opportunities’, Helene Cixoux – An example of a postmodern/ destabilising theorist. Radical feminism opposes existing political and social organization in general because it is inherently tied to patriarchy. Islam and Christianity have both constituted important stages inn the evolution of humanity. Linda Woodhead argues that religion is not necessarily sexist or patriarchal and writes of a “religious feminism.” For example, she argues that the veil, in Islamic societies, has been misinterpreted by some western feminists. Radical Feminists – ignores other sources of inequality such as sexual violence. Walby also recognises that patriarchal structures can change and they can be affected by the actions of both men and women – and in more recent works she talks of ‘gender regimes’ rather than patriarchy to reflect this greater fluidity. In Communist society, Marxist feminists believe that gender inequalities will disappear. Thus, radical feminists tend to be skeptical of political action within the current system, and instead tend to focus on culture change that undermines patriarchy and associated hierarchical structures. Thus, liberal feminists also tend to support marriage as an equal partnership, and more male involvement in child care. Marxist Feminists believe that there is considerable scope for co-operation between working class women and men and that both can work together. Rules on abortion, contraception, etc.