The State:
- Do not have a distinctive theory of the state, socialist feminists see the state as the agent of capitalism and since capitalism naturally exploits women, the state is the ultimate architect of such exploitation.
- The main characteristic of the modern state that concerns feminists relates to patriarchy. Oppression and exploitation of women in a male-dominated society – the state allows this exploitation.
- Liberals will argue that the state is reluctant to address the inferior position of women as themselves are dominated by men.
- Radical feminists will view such developments as welcome but also superficial. Such reforms do not address the more fundamental problem of the systemic nature of discrimination. Patriarchy is more pervasive than their forms suggest. These problems have been deeply rooted and the state is powerless to combat them.
Society:
Patriarchy:
- Many feminists see society as a deeply patriarchal in nature.
- For socialist feminists, they see capitalism as an area where workers have been exploited whilst radical feminists think the patriarchy is damaging women rather than workers.
- It can be combated in one of two ways: A full-scale attack on cultural values in society involving violent resistance to male dominance. Or create a female counter-cultural separate altogether from the patriarchal society.
- Liberals think reform is the solution.
Equality
& Difference Feminism:
- Equality feminists have limited aspirations. They seek equality for women in all spheres. They are described as liberals.
- Difference Feminism is more complex. They see men and women as having differences and they should be recognised in society. They do not believe that one gender is superior to the other, they believe that the differences should be embraced. They believe some characteristics are better.
- Equality feminists believe that differences automatically lead to inequality and it must benefit men only.
Intersectionality:
- This contemporary, post-modern idea among feminists suggest that women have multiple identities as well as their female sex and gender. Thus, the problems women face is intersectional, involving a combination of their female identity and other identities such as ethnicity, sexual orientation, social class, and religion.
- Many critics suggest that feminism tended to be a largely white, middle class, one size fits all movement. Whilst pointing out that women from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds face very different problems. E.g. the oppression faced by black women vs white women.
- Kimberlee Crenshaw pointed out that in modern society we all have multiple identities and gender is not the only identity we have. Traditional feminism suggests that gender is everything but intersectionality says not.
- Bell Hooks stresses race as key identity and insists that the battle against sexism. She thinks that there needs to be a black feminist movement etc.
The
Economy:
- All feminists are agreed that women are discriminated against in the economic world. E.g. low paid low skills.
- Socialists feminists go further saying that there is a reserve army of labour: Developed by Friedrich Engels, suggesting that in an industrial capitalist system, women form such a group to increase output in the short term and to keep wages low but the group can be dispensed with when not required.
- Similar in the way men were oppressed when capitalism first came about, women are oppressed in a post-industrial society.