Liberal Feminists example essay topic

Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues. Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of gender inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations and sexuality. Feminist political activism campaigns on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, sexual harassment, discrimination and sexual violence. Themes explored in feminism include discrimination, stereotyping, objectification, sexual objectification, oppression and patriarchy. Modern feminist theory has been extensively criticized as being predominantly, but not exclusively, associated with western middle class academia.

Feminist activism, however, is a grass roots movement which crosses class and race boundaries Feminism is not a single ideology. Over-time several sub-types of Feminist ideology have developed. Early feminists and primary feminist movements are often called the first-wave feminists, and feminists after about 1960 the second-wave feminists. More recently, a new generation of feminists have started third-wave feminism.

Whether this will be a lasting evolution remains to be seen as the second-wave has by no means ended nor has it ceded to the third-wave feminists. Moreover, some commentators have asserted that the silent majority of modern feminists have more in common ideologically with the first-wave feminists than the second-wave. For example, many of the ideas arising from Radical feminism and Gender feminism (prominent second-wave movements) have yet to gain traction within the broader community and outside of Gender Studies departments within the academy. For example, Radical feminism argues for the existence of an oppressive patriarchy that is the root cause of the most serious social problems. Violence and oppression of women, because they are women, is more fundamental than oppressions related to class, ethnicity, religion, etc.

Radical feminism's have been very vocal and active in influencing attitudes and state-wide school curriculum standards. Thus, it is not unusual for feminism to be equated with the ideas proposed by Radical feminism. Some find that the prioritization of oppression and the universalization of the idea of 'Woman,' which was part of traditional Radical feminist thinking, too generic, and that women in other countries would never experience the same experience of being 'woman' than women in Western countries did. Some radical feminists advocate separatism-a complete separation of male and female in society and culture-while others question not only the relationship between men and women, but the very meaning of 'man' and 'woman' as well. Some argue that gender roles, gender identity, and sexuality are themselves social constructs. For these feminists, feminism is a primary means to human liberation.

Liberal feminism is a form of feminism that argues that equality for women can be achieved through legal means and social reform, and that men as a group need not be challenged. Liberal feminism is a somewhat conservative form of feminism by today's standards, although it is rooted classically in liberalism. Liberal feminism leans towards an equality of sameness with men (not a difference feminism). Liberal feminism conceives of politics in individualistic terms and looks to reform present 'liberal' practices in society, rather than advocating for a wholesale revolutionary change.

Feminist writers associated with this tradition are amongst others Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill and second wave feminist Betty Friedan. Liberal feminists tend to support legalizing gay marriage, It is their opinion that the government has no place defining what sort of consensual relationships individuals may engage in. Liberal feminists also tend to be pro-choice when it comes to debates concerning abortion. A common argument given for this position is that every individual should have control over his or her own body, and that this also affords them the right to make medical decisions. Because of this approach to self-ownership, liberal feminists also tend to support legalizing or decriminalizing prostitution, a position often challenged by radical feminists and by the religious right.

Liberal feminists tend to view the criminalization of prostitution to be a legislative act rooted in patriarchal control over the personal and business affairs of women, and thus repressive. Marxist feminism is a sub-type of feminist theory which focuses on the dismantling of capitalism as a way to liberate women and states that capitalism, which gives rise to economic inequality, dependence, political confusion and ultimately unhealthy social relations between men and women, is the root of women's oppression According to Marxist theory, in capitalist societies the individual is shaped by class relations; that is, people's capacities, needs and interests are seen to be determined by the mode of production that characterises the society they inhabit. Marxist feminists see gender inequality as determined ultimately by the capitalist mode of production and the major social divisions as class related. Women's subordination is seen as a form of oppression (rather than an illiberal discrimination) which is maintained (like racism) because it serves the interests of capital and the ruling class.

Marxist feminists have also extended traditional Marxist analysis by looking at domestic labour as well as waged work. Socialist feminism criticizes the system of capitalism for being exploitive of women. Socialist feminists use and critique traditional Marxism to uncover the complex nature of women's oppression, especially as it relates to economics. Socialist feminism focuses on the economic class aspects of women's oppression. Much debate has occurred within socialist feminist circles about the exact relationship between sexual, economic class, and racial oppression. Some, usually termed Marxist-feminists, claim that economic class causes oppression.

Although they recognize women's oppression as part of a complicated attachment of male dominance, they view it always through its capitalist foundations. Socialist feminists name society's system of male privilege, patriarchy. All socialist feminists recognize that capitalism-the exchange of one's labour for wages to create someone else's profit-is particularly problematic for women. However, the particular relationship between patriarchy as a semi-independent system of patriarchal privilege and capitalism remains controversial. socialist feminists give priority to the economic side of women's oppression. They believe that the economic class aspects of women's lives define their life choices and that these differences between women must be addressed before women can understand one another's needs.

This understanding led to abortion-rights work, which demanded access for poor women, not just for middle-class women who could afford to pay for it.