Feminist Perspectives

● Feminists of all types have encouraged

sociologists to see the family as an institution
involving power relationships – “the personal is
political”

● Feminism has challenged the view of the family

as being based on cooperation, shared interests
and love

● Feminism has tried to show that men gain more

from family life than women.
 Feminism
The term 'feminism' was first coined in 1837 by a French
philosopher, Charles Fourier.

Though the goals and ambitions for each movement depended

considerably on society, culture, and the wants and needs of
women in that region, historians believe that the main,
common objective between all feminist movements was and
continues to be trying to ensure equality between men and
women as far as government, economic matters,
socio-political matters, and all the different rights which were
reserved for men, are concerned.
Feminism....
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this
Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,
property, birth or other status”-UDHR

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute

India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and
integrity of the Nation
 Gender Discrimination

Foetus-Sex Selection
Female Foeticide
Female Infanticide
Malnutrition
Neglect - Medical Care and Education
Sexual Abuse
Physical Violence
Dowry Harassment
Infertility
Desertion
Older Women and Widow… Emotional, Social and
Financial
Empowerment Through Conferment of Substantive
Rights/Power

Four Methods:
1.By creating penal sanctions against certain types
of behaviour.
2.By creating new proprietary entitlements for
women-share in property, right to work, etc.
3.By providing preferential treatment.
4.By facilitating the exercise of liberty or freedom.
 Empowerment through Positive Discrimination
1. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
(i) Equality before law for women (Article 14)
(ii) The State not to discriminate against any citizen on
grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of
birth or any of them (Article 15 (i))
(iii) The State to make any special provision in favour of
women and children (Article 15 (3))
(iv) Equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to
employment or appointment to any office
under the State (Article 16)
(v)The State to direct its policy towards securing for men and
women equally the right to an adequate means of
livelihood (Article 39(a)); and equal pay for equal work for
both men and women (Article 39(d))
(vi) To promote justice, on a basis of equal opportunity and to
provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or scheme or in
any other way to ensure that opportunities for securing justice
are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other
disabilities(Article39A)
(vii) The State to make provision for securing just and humane
conditions of work and for maternity relief (Article 42)
(viii) The State to promote with special care the educational and
economic interests of the weaker sections
of the people and to protect them from social injustice and all
forms of exploitation (Article 46)
(ix) The State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of
living of its people (Article 47)
(x) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood
amongst all the people of India and to renounce practices
derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e))……
2. LEGAL PROVISIONS
Although women may be victims of any of the crimes such as
'Murder', 'Robbery', 'Cheating' etc, the crimes, which are
directed specifically against women, are characterized as
'Crime against Women'. These are broadly classified under
two categories.
(1) The Crimes Identified Under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
(i) Rape (Sec. 376 IPC)
(ii) Kidnapping & Abduction for different purposes ( Sec. 363-373)
(iii) Homicide for Dowry, Dowry Deaths or their attempts (Sec.
302/304-B IPC)
(iv) Torture, both mental and physical (Sec. 498-A IPC)
(v) Molestation (Sec. 354 IPC)
(vi) Sexual Harassment (Sec. 509 IPC)
(2) The Crimes identified under the Special Laws (SLL)
(i) The Family Courts Act, 1954
(ii) The Special Marriage Act, 1954
(iii) The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
(iv) The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 with amendment in 2005
(v) Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
(vi) The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Amended in 1995)
(vii) Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
(viii) The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
(ix) The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1976
(x) The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
(xi) The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
(xii) The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983
(xiii) Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
(xiv) Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
(xv) The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
 Waves of Feminism
Feminist movements experienced three 'waves', or stages that dealt
with the same problems and issues, but with different perspectives.
The first 'wave' of the feminist movement observed in the 1800s and
early 1900s concentrated on women's suffrage, equal property
rights, parenting rights, rights related to marriage, and their right to
vote.

The second 'wave' advocated for legal equality between men and
women and the women’s liberation movement was observed in the
latter part of the twentieth century.

The third wave (1990’s – early 2000’s): The “micropolitics” of gender

equality. The third 'wave' of feminism continues to work for
correcting the mistakes made or failures faced during the second
phase.
Highlights of the newest Wave of Feminism:

The #MeToo movement – millions of women across the globe united,

stepping up to share their own assault stories using the #MeToo
hashtag.
The Time’s Up Movement- bringing high profile assault cases to the
spotlight. Influential and well-known men such as Roger Ailes,
Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Bill Cosby, Bill O’Reilly, Mario Batali
and former Senator Al Franken are exposed for their manipulative
and atrocious acts, fueled by high-profile women and celebrities
demanding changes in their respective industries.

A record number of women seek political office and leadership roles.

The demand for equality, rights, equal pay is brought to the public
eye at record highs- highlighted by marches across the country,
social media campaigns, and high-profile women taking a strong
stance.
 Types of Feminism

● Dictionary Definition: “Belief in the social,

political, and economic equality of the sexes”.

● In sociology, it means more than that.

● There are several recognizable branches of

feminism
Introduction to Feminist Theory

There are many types of feminism;

● Liberal
● Radical
● Socialist
● Marxist
● Lesbian
● Humanist
Liberal Feminism
● 18th century Liberal thought Mary Wollstonecraft
A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792)
● John Stuart Mill The Subjection of Women
(1869).

● Liberal feminists are concerned with extending to

women the liberal values of liberty, equality and
justice through legal and social reforms.
●
⚪ Legislative and political action-- action,
lobbying, courts--reformist and gradualist.
 Liberal Feminists
Liberal Feminists want very gradual change in society. Liberal
Feminists see that because of culture and attitudes of society,
women do not always get the chance to excel in the
workplace. If they want to stay and be successful at work they
must sacrifice time with their children.

It is because we are socialised in to different gender roles from

birth that this discrimination exists.

Sex Discrimination Act (1975) & The Equal Pay Act (1975)
were heavily supported by Liberal Feminists.

The primary focus is individual autonomy, rights, liberty,

independence and diversity.
 Radical Feminists
● Origins: Late 1960s New Left civil rights and anti-war
protests.
● Beliefs: Gender distinctions thought to be natural are
actually socially and politically constructed.

● Radical feminism takes its name from the Latin word, which
means root. In context, radical feminism believes in 'going to
the root' or source (of the problem).

● Radical feminism believes that it is the male-dominated

hierarchy (or patriarchy) which is responsible for the
oppressed status of women today.
 Radical Feminists (examples.)

● Kate Millett “The personal is political”

⚪ MEN, not just the patriarchy, at fault because all men benefit from
women’s oppression.
⚪ patriarchal assumptions permeate all social institutions--including
marriage, family, love, heterosexuality etc.

● Loosely organized groups calling for complete restructuring of society:

⚪ Betty Friedan (NOW); Germaine Greer, Gloria Steinem, Susan
Steinmetz; Pam Allen and Shulamith Firestone--the famous “bra
burning” protest at Miss America Contest in Atlantic City, New
Jersey, on Sep 7, 1968.

● Susan Brownmiller Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape

⚪ “Rape is the act of terror by which all men control all women”
 Socialist Feminism

● Combining radical feminism with Marxist analysis--

● Overthrow both class and gender - there is a
symbiotic relationship between capitalism and
patriarchy – women get exploited twice as women
and as workers – DUAL OPPRESSION

● Extend notions of modes of production (Marxist

economic determinism) to other production—e.g.
mothering
 Socialist and Marxist Feminism
Financial and personal exploitation, the institution of marriage,
childbirth and childcare, prostitution, and domestic work,
according to socialist feminists, are tools for degrading
women, and the work that they do, in a male-dominated
society.

Marx was of the opinion that the capitalist system was to

blame for the inequalities faced by the working classes, and
the removal of the capitalist system would remove these
inequalities, which would ultimately reduce gender inequalities
as well.
Socialist and Marxist feminism often considers itself to be a
sub-category of radical feminism, only referring to a different
'root of all problems', which is the economic system.
 Other Feminist Schools
Eco Feminism
It is actually a little philosophical, and spiritual in nature, and
hence has been a target of critics for a long time. Eco
feminism believes that the destruction of environment and
the oppression of women in society are symbolically related
to one another. According to this theory, just like men control
and destroy the environment for their own benefit and
pleasure, they control and oppress women too, for the same
reason.
Black Feminism believes that racism and gender
discrimination are two sides of the same coin. The liberation
and freedom from oppression of black women would ensure
equality for everyone, according to Black Feminists, who
refer to themselves as 'Womanists'.
 Separatist Feminism
Separatist feminism is against the concept of heterosexual
relationships, saying that it is not possible to solve the sexual
differences that exist between a man and a woman. Separatist
feminists believe that no man can contribute positively to the
feminist movement, and hence it is just better to shun
relationships with men, as even the most radical of men
display signs of patriarchy somewhere or the other.

I-Feminism
I-feminism is a newer branch of feminism which focuses on the
individuality of women, as well as their individual choices.
I-feminists account for freedom, peace, and harmony in
society based on individual choices, and support every
personal choice, from heterosexual relationships to
homosexual relationships to pornography.
 Other Feminist Schools
● Marxist-feminism focus on destruction of capitalism as
way to liberate women.

● Lesbian feminism Lesbian-feminist politics is a political

critique of the institution and ideology of heterosexuality as a
cornerstone of male supremacy
⚪ Rita Mae Brown, Charlotte Bunch, TiGrace Atkinson, McKinnon, Andrea
Dworkin, Adrienne Rich “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian
Existence” (1980)

● Humanist feminism women’s oppression is the inhibition

and distortion of women’s human potential by a society that
only allows the self-development of men.
Question

● Is the “personal political”?

● Once you have read through both sets of
notes post your response on the
Discussion Forum
● Return to Lesson Start