Radical Feminism Versus Liberal Feminism

Until the 1960s, feminism was widely regarded as a sub-set of liberalism and socialism, rather than as an ideology in its own right. Today, however, feminism can be considered a single doctrine in that all feminists subscribe to a range of ‘common ground’ beliefs, such as the existence of a patriarchal society, and the desire to change gender inequalities. Then again, it can be argued that feminism is characterised more by disagreement than consensus, as three broad traditions: liberal feminism, Marxist or socialist feminism, and radical feminism, which often contain rival tendencies, are encompassed within each core feminist theme. This essay will argue that, despite tensions between its

Liberal Feminism-: Feminists make progress toward sexual uniformity by means of sensible political and lawful change. Liberal woman's rights is a type of women's liberation that contends that balance for ladies can be accomplished through lawful means and social change. This is the assortment of

Radical feminism, starting around the 1960s, sought to eradicate male supremacy. This wave of feminists believe that men are the main source of oppression and if you eliminate patriarchy, then everyone will

In this essay I will explore the different schools of feminism such as Marxist, liberal and radical feminism, who share the view that women are oppressed in a patriarchal society but differ in opinion on who benefits from the inequalities. Each school of feminism has their own understanding of family roles and relationships which I will assess through this essay.

Liberal feminism is grounded in the ideological framework of liberalism and therefore shares a commonality with liberal themes of human nature. Whilst acknowledging the biological differences between sexes, early liberal feminists argued that prevailing liberal ideas should also be applied to women. Therefore, both men and women possesses natural rights, they should have equal rights under law and share equal opportunity (Beasley 1999).

Daniel Drezner explains the ideas that many feminist’s share: the world is vastly different for women than it is for men. The gap between the genders is to the detriment of women. Radical feminist would concur with this point. Radical feminism centers on the idea that the suppression of the female gender is the main focus of all oppression within the world (Rowland and

Liberal feminism wanted to integrate women into modern day society. The argument was that social problems were mostly caused by the ignorance and social constraints of freedom of choice for women. The inequality in gender resulted from the socialization that forces everyone to grow up with the wrong ideas that men and women cannot choose how to live their own lives. They have been taught from the beginning of life that men and women are

Firstly, Liberal feminist are focused on human and civil rights and freedom of individuals, to summarise, they believe that all humans should have equal rights within their society. They believe that society changing itself to help women does not happen. Liberal feminists believe the status of women changing can become a reality if laws that are oppressing for women change because it would create more opportunities for women to prove that they are equal to men. Oakley explains a difference between sex and gender. Oakley believes sex differences are set

Liberal feminists-is all about maintaining their equality and this is judged on the way they act as a person or the choices they choose to

Liberal feminism, which is mainly concerned with solving all social problems to fight ignorance and social restraints on freedom of choice for everyone, not just woman.

Secondly, liberal feminism has been criticised because it tends to assume that all women accept their gender identities in a passive way. Liberal feminism also does not take race or class into consideration. Marxist feminists believe women's subordination is down to the influence of capitalism. Women are seen as a reserve army of labour.' Companies only hire them when they really need them, and they do less important jobs than men, making them more disposable. Women change jobs more frequently than men, so are more vulnerable at times of redundancy, they tend to be less skilled, and capitalist ideologies locate women in the home.

As reported by, feminist criminologists, their perspective of rape and sexual assault differ between liberal and radical feminists. Liberal feminists’ viewpoint in regards of rape as a gender-neutral assault on a persons’ autonomy and mainly focusing on the harm that rape can do to an individual. In contrast, radical feminists describe rape as a subject to be recognised and understood as a major pillar of patriarchy; a social system in which men claim the positions of dominance and control of the central norms and values that are linked with masculinity (Johnson, 2005: p. 4-15). The radical feminists believe that rape is a patriarchal structure within male power, thus displaying the harms that rape can do to an individual and as a group of women. Furthermore, the radical feminists approach view rape as male have the control and authority over the use of women’s bodies, which involves the sexual and reproductive. Hence, this is the core element of patriarchy, Radical feminist believe that rape is one of many forms that connects men’s sexual exploitation and violence, as well as, reinforcing women’s oppression (Whisnant, 2013).

Feminism and feminist social theory unlike other theoretical perspectives is woman-centered and inter-disciplinary, hence promotes methods of achieving social justice. The feminism and feminist social theory takes into consideration three questions, what of the women? Why is the present social world as it is today? Additionally, how can the social world be changed to make it more just for the women and all people alike? In recent developments, feminist theorists have begun questioning the differences between women. The areas under question include race, ethnicity, class, age intersect, and gender. In summation, the feminist theory involves the concern with giving women world over voice, and highlighting how they have contributed to the

Like Liberal Feminism, Radical Feminism seeks to end partriarchy. However; In contrast to Radical Feminism, focuses more on the issue of men’s oppression of women rather other social conditions. The crux of this perspective is sexuality which is seen as the locus of male power Mackinnon (1989a).

They believe and argue that since patriarchy is so pervasive and deeply entrenched in our societies molding our thoughts and attitudes, our assumptions and our basic institutions. Some radical feminists, such as Adrienne Rich or Mary O’Brien have focused on the special roles of females as mothers and caregivers, arguing that women must be relieved from having the sole responsibility or must be in control of them. Others such as Kate Miller highlight the violence that is perpetuated against women by focusing on domestic abuse, sexual harassment, rape, pornography, and the objectification of women. Most radical feminists believe that the construction of gender by a patriarchal society is responsible for the subjugation of women and henceforth should be rejected. Consequently some advocate for androgeny, which is the encompassment of both female and male traits as a treatment for the subjugation of women. Overall radical feminists advocate the rejection of the constructed