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Lesson 6- Feminist Theory

The document provides a historical overview of feminist theory, detailing the three waves of feminism: the first wave focused on women's suffrage, the second wave addressed broader issues like sexuality and workplace rights, and the third wave encompasses diverse feminist activities since the early 1990s. It emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in recognizing various forms of oppression and outlines different feminist theories, including liberal, Marxist, radical, socialist, and postmodern feminism. Notable feminists mentioned include Sandra Harding, Elizabeth Garreth Anderson, Simone de Beauvoir, and Annestine Beyer.

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12 views

Lesson 6- Feminist Theory

The document provides a historical overview of feminist theory, detailing the three waves of feminism: the first wave focused on women's suffrage, the second wave addressed broader issues like sexuality and workplace rights, and the third wave encompasses diverse feminist activities since the early 1990s. It emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in recognizing various forms of oppression and outlines different feminist theories, including liberal, Marxist, radical, socialist, and postmodern feminism. Notable feminists mentioned include Sandra Harding, Elizabeth Garreth Anderson, Simone de Beauvoir, and Annestine Beyer.

Uploaded by

jx2h88nxp7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FEMINIST THEORY

Objectives:
a) Provide a brief historical overview of feminist
theory, highlighting key milestones, such as the
first-wave, second-wave, and third-wave feminism.
b) Discuss how each wave of feminism built upon the
previous one, addressing new issues and
advocating for the rights of women and
marginalized groups.
c) Emphasize the significance of intersectionality in
feminist theory and its role in recognizing the
multiple forms of oppression experienced by
individuals.
Feminism
- the advocacy of women’s rights on the
grounds of political, social, and economic
equality to men.
Feminist Theory
• Feminist theory is an outgrowth of the general
movement to empower women worldwide.

• It aims to understand the nature of gender


inequality.

• Feminists fight for the equality of women and


argue that women should share equally in
society’s opportunities and scarce resources.
3 waves in describing the
history of feminism:

• The first wave of feminism talks about


women’s suffrage or having the right to
vote.
3 waves in describing the
history of feminism:

• The second wave of feminism broadened


the debate to a wide range of issues:
sexuality, family, the workplace,
reproductive rights, de facto inequalities,
and official legal inequalities.
3 waves in describing the
history of feminism:
• The third wave of feminism refers to
several diverse strains of feminist activity
and study, whose exact boundaries in the
history of feminism are a subject of debate,
but generally marked as beginning in the
early 1990s and continuing present.
Different kinds of Feminist
theory.
1.Liberal Feminism – this is the variety of
feminism that works within the structure
of mainstream society to integrate women
into that structure.

2.Marxist Feminism – inequality in gender


is based on a division of labor
Different kinds of Feminist
theory.
3. Radical Feminism – male power is always
based on social relations and interaction.

4. Socialist Feminism – women are inferior


because of class-based capitalism

5. Postmodern Feminism – women attempt to


change and criticize the dominant order or
modern thought.
Distinct Feminist Disciplines

1.Philosophy – The feminist philosophy


refers to a philosophy approached from a
feminist perspective.

2.Epistemology – It talks about how women


think.
Distinct Feminist Disciplines
3. Psychology – Feminist psychology critiques
the fact that historically psychological research
has been done from a male perspective with
the view that males are the norm.

4. History – It aims to reanalyze and re–read


all parts of history using the feminist
perspective.
Distinct Feminist Disciplines

5. Geography – It critiques existing


geographical and social studies, arguing that
academic traditions delineated by
patriarchy, and contemporary studies which
do not confront the nature of previous work
reinforce the male bias of academic study.
NOTABLE FEMINISTS
• Sandra Harding
– criticizes all sociological
theories claiming they are
all gender–biased. Social
theory must be created by
women and include issues
central to women.
NOTABLE FEMINISTS
• Elizabeth Garreth
Anderson
– first English woman to
qualify as a physician
and surgeon in the UK;
co–founder of the first
hospital staffed by
women.
NOTABLE FEMINISTS
• Simone de Beauvoir
– partner of Jean Paul
Sarte. Writer of “The
Second Sex” which sets
out a feminist
existentialism which
prescribes a moral
revolution
NOTABLE FEMINISTS

• Annestine Beyer
– pioneer of women’s
education
The End!

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