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One is not born but rather

becomes a woman
Simone de Beauvoir

FEMINIST THEORY
Feminist Theory is an outgrowth of the general
movement to empower woman worldwide.
- It is the extension of feminism into theoretical or
philosophical discourse.
- It aims to understand the nature of gender
inequality.
- Feminists fight for the equality of women and
argue that women should share equally in
societys opportunities and scarce resources.

HISTORY OF FEMINISM
First wave = women suffrage or having the
right to vote
Second wave = sexuality, family, the
workplace, reproductive rights, de facto
inequalities and official legal inequalities
Third wave = several diverse strains of
feminist activity and study

KINDS OF FEMINIST THEORY


Feminist Theories

Description

Liberal Feminism

It works within the structure of mainstream society to


integrate women into that structure.

Marxist Feminism

Inequality on gender is based on division of labor.

Radical Feminism

Male power is always based from social relation and


interaction.

Socialist Feminism

Women are inferior because of class based on


capitalism.

Postmodern Feminism

Women attempt to change and to criticize the


dominant order or the modern thought.

FEMINIST THEORY EXPLAINED


1. Philosophy
The Feminist philosophy refers to a philosophy
approached from a feminist perspective.
Feminist philosophy involves attempts to use
methods of philosophy to further the cause of
the feminist movements.
It also tries to criticize and/or re-evaluate the
ideas of traditional philosophy from within a
feminist view.

FEMINIST THEORY EXPLAINED


2. Epistemology
It talks about how women think.
It explains that there is a difference in the ways
of how women think compared to men.
It seeks to establish knowledge production from
a womans perspective.
It theorizes that from personal experience comes
knowledge which helps each individual look at
things from a different insight.

FEMINIST THEORY EXPLAINED


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 re-analyze and re-read all parts of history
using the feminist perspective.
To explore and illuminate the female viewpoint of
history in order to recover and demonstrate the
significance of womens voices and choices in the
past.

FEMINIST THEORY EXPLAINED


5. Geography
It critiques existing geographical and social
studies, arguing that academic traditions are
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.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson first Englishwoman to qualify as a
physician and surgeon in the UK; co-founder of first hospital staffed
by woman.
Simone de Beauvoir partner of Jean Paul Sarte. Writer of The
Second Sex which sets out a feminist existentialism which
prescribes a moral revolution.
Patricia Hill Collins Believed that individuals have their own
reality constructs that are linked to the groups to which they belong.
Annestine Beyer Pioneer of womens education

Feminism is Not a Plot


against Men.

Strengths and Weaknesses


STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

1. It is believed that Sociology of the past


focused on issues as to how they affect
men thus applying analysis with little or
no consideration of women.

1. Feminist has been critical of traditional


roles of women and at times looking
down on the roles that women play e.g.
family.

2. Patriarchy or male control is present in 2. Feminist of colour have been critical


all society.
this perspective in its lack of analysis
issue on race and class as factors
shaping social reality as it relates
inequality.
3. Because of routinely different
experiences and differences in power,
womens and men perceptions for reality
differ.
4. The public and private spheres of life
are both socially created thus gendered
(that is, unequal for men and women).
5. Its analysis is from a micro and
macrolevel.

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