As I noted in Part 1 of this series, strands of thought that arise out of political movements are often difficult to categorize and also often answer to many names. The difference approach discussed here, following Haslanger and Hackett,1 may elsewhere be called radical, cultural, or gynocentric feminism. Recall that the basic nugget of thought underlying the sameness approach was the thought that men and women,2 in whatever way matters, are similar enough to warrant similar treatment. Insofar as they are denied similar treatment, they are wronged, and a system that denies them this treatment is wrong or unjust along the dimension of gender. I noted a problem with this approach in the first essay, which was that similar treatment is not always the best answer to the kinds of wrongs women face and which feminism seeks to alleviate. The difference approach may be seen as an attempt to offer a feminist alternative that avoids this pitfall.
Whereas the sameness approach responds to the sexist—who claims that men are better than women in some relevant way—by asserting the sameness of men and women, the difference approach responds by turning the sexist’s argument on its head—at least sometimes, perhaps in many domains, women are better than men. Of course, what is claimed is really closer to this: traditionally feminine attributes and qualities have been undervalued or devalued by a male-dominated society and should be revalued to reflect their true worth. Depending on the
Over the course of history, men and women have be faced with a communication barrier. The differing communication skills between men and women present challenges that can lead to foreseeable problems in relationships. These problems arise out of differing purposes, styles, traits, and emotions that accompany communication between the two sexes. Unless an understanding is reached, these barriers may never be broken down.
Men and women have always had their differences, but do those make their lives easier compared ? Both sexes have certain aspects to overcome the opposite sex, yet neither is better than the other. A woman comes into the world and is expected to act certain ways, to follow certain rules, and to be as feminine as she can just be, otherwise man comes into the world and is expected to be strong and being able to do everything only because he is a man. The idea of getting together and planning to become a family should equal both men and women, family is something that both should speak and express their oppinions. Though often times happen when man and woman meet each other, and
In this assignment I will evaluate and consider the arguments of the women’s right movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s by critically analyzing the differences and similarities between the liberal and radical feminists, the Equal Rights Act, similarities and differences between those who supported and opposed the Equal Rights Act, working class women who opposed and also surged the feminist movement, different key events such as the National Organization of Women that influenced the development of a women’s right movement, and the long range consequences of the modern women’s right movement.
Patriarchal domination causes the oppression of women worldwide. As time has gone on, there continuously seems to be arguments as to how men and women are different and therefore unfit to attain the same rights. The differences between the genders can be either biological or socially constructed. However, these views are important to feminists because they make all the difference in the way they articulate their arguments and fight for equality. In bell hook’s essay, “feminism: a transformational politic” she argues “the insistence on difference as the factor which becomes the occasion for separation and domination and suggest the differentiation of status between males and females globally is an indication that patriarchal domination of
“I think we 're struggling with trying to redefine various positions at this point in history. To allow freedom for women, freedom for men, freedom from those sharply defined gender roles “ (Fred Ward). I agree with this quote because in today’s society gender defines the roles of what a male and a female can do. What is gender? Gender, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, is the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones). The term gender is only used when we describe how men and women are different in a society but the actual term that really defines a man and a woman is sex. Sex, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, is either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and many other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions. The differences of gender roles are something that is seen in many cultures. It can be seen in families, society, in occupations, and in politics. This can be related in the field of psychology because these can create a general notion of a person and what they are supposed to do and how they should behave, or in other words what a person can create in his or her mind is stereotypes. Some stereotypes on gender are according to www.healthguide.org some of the gender stereotypes are that women should have clean jobs. That means that women should not have a job like a being a sewage worker or a miner. Another
“Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race” (Susan B Anthony). Feminism has evolved into our society in a slowly but remarkably life-changing way. Since the beginning of time, men have been deemed superior over women for the anatomy of their bodies and intellectual abilities. In the 21st century, patriarchal abuse has lessened and may not be practiced by women anymore; however, feminist (women and men) are fighting against these controversial roles implemented to them by society and culture. Many have the urge to presume that a feminist is a stereotypical man-hating activist who believes all the troubles in the world are caused by men. Feminism is anything but a stereotype; in fact the definition of feminism is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” Equality is the main aspect that ties feminist together through the hardships of the developing society. Feminist perspectives therefore challenge and explore patriarchal interests implemented in women’s ability to express themselves and the quality of their lives. Fundamentally, feminist analysis intends to closely examine how male dominance and female advocacy manifest themselves in specific angles of society. In the world of feminist analysis, according to Donald Hall, critics and theorists are
Difference theorizing involves privileging the marginalized, at least strategically. Subjectivity has meant revaluing the Feminine. Such thinking tends towards an at least bifurcated account of different social and cultural positioning. In the modernist identity politics versions of gender difference, this amounts to asserting differently constructed gender politics versions of gender subjectivity and experiences
In the United States, one of the major goals of feminist theorists has been to come up with ways to destroy the gender hierarchy that exists. There have been a lot of various means to do so, but a vast majority of these thinkers do acknowledge that this hierarchy is a problem that needs to be solved in order for women to fully advance in society and live up to their full capacity, both in society and personally. Different solutions may arise, but many U.S. feminist scholars can trace their beliefs, rooted in a woman’s innate capacity and the ability for society to progress, to Western liberal thought.
Feminism is the belief in the social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. Although vastly arising in the West, feminism is embodied worldwide and is represented by various institutions committed to activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests (Burkett & Brunrll, 2018). To many individuals, feminism is a way to express their thoughts and opinions on certain political issues that often times do affect one sex more than it does the other, thus creating gender inequality. Throughout history, women have always been oppressed by the ‘dominant’ sex, males. However, thanks to feminism, feminist theories and theorists, the oppression has become lesser.
We can find how for many years females have been leaving in a tough life in a society were men dominated in every aspect, from a family circle to politics. Meaning that women’s did not have the opportunities of freedom of expression and other activities, such as working, living independently, expressing their thoughts, and having the same right and opportunities as men’s. These oppressions against women’s in a patriarchy system push females to create a feminist movement, for the fight for equality between men and women. We can find how feminism has been vulnerable against the strikes from a patriarchy system that doesn’t support the fairness between both sexes. Knowing that feminists that support the ideology of feminism’s, these people contradict
From major events such as the recent presidential election, to social disputes such as the wage gap, one issue comes into the spotlight: gender inequality. For centuries, society viwed women as the inferior gender. In the 18th century philosophers such as Rousseau and Voltaire spread their ideas on how women exist to obey men; although it took decades, women began to show their discontent with these ideas. They pushed for human rights such as education and voting rights. Nearly two hundred years later, the United States gives women more rights than even before. Unfortunately, women still do not receive all the same rights as men. Today, many women identify themselves as feminists – people who advocate the equal rights
Men and women are not the same and are never going to be. Women should not have to act like men to be taken seriously in society. Making women “the same” as men should not be the goal. Equity is defined as “fairness or justice in the way people are treated”. This means that despite the differences between men and women, both genders should have equal opportunities and should be treated in a respectful and fair manner. Murray said that “In country after country, women’s groups and individual women have recognized that their personal experiences are not isolated and that they have key roles to play in their own development, in their societies and nation states, and ultimately in the future of the planet (257).” I feel that Murray and Ajinkya both make valid statements on the history of feminism and it is apparent that despite the different waves of feminism, women ultimately want equal rights. It seems inevitable that men and women will never be the same or treated equally, however, women and men can both be treated fairly eventually. Murray states that “the current worldwide human rights movement is the “mainstreaming” of the feminist movement…feminists can take pride in that idea, while at the same time knowing that women’s rights are fragile and continue to be challenged around the world (258).” Feminism is a movement fighting for the social, cultural, economic, and political equality of the sexes. It is the belief that
There are many differences when it comes to comparing men and women. There are not only physical appearance differences but there are also internal working mechanisms of their bodies that are different. Men and women differ genetically, physiologically, and psychologically (Loftus, Banji, & Schooler, 1987). Not only does battle of the sexes occur in real world situations, scientists argue back and forth as to which should be superior in terms of cognitive functioning and especially memory ability. Researchers have determined that memory ability may be influenced by differences in interest and expectations along with physiology capabilities (Loftus et al., 1987). It is also believed that cognitive style may play a role in what one remembers. Cognitive style is the psychological differences in a person’s manner of cognitive functioning particularly acquiring and processing information (Kozhevnikov, 2007). During early childhood, memory starts to develop by way of conversation with others primarily caregivers and parents (Dahl, 2014). It is believed that children there were asked for more detail in their story’s later in life could recall those earlier memories in more detail. Research has shown that parents spend more time introducing new information with girls and with boys more time talking about what to do with their feelings (Dahl, 2014). This could be in part because culture along with society tends to have gender
MacKinnon opposes both approaches because they abide by male dominance. MacKinnon feels “There is a politics to (this dominant approach). Concealed is the substantive way in which man has become the measure for all things” (34). “Under the sameness (approach) women are measured according to their correspondence with man,” while “under the difference approach women are judged according to their distance to man.” She feels that male power perpetuates male dominance, because “women and men are equally different, but not equally powerful” (51).
The Feminist thought is old enough to have a history complete with a set of labels: liberals,radical,marxist/socialist, and psychoanalytic ( with the exception of several more). Each school of feminism that’s been considered has offered explanations and solutions for women’s oppression that are rooted either in society’s political and economic structures or in humanbeings’ sexual and reproductive relationships, roles, and practices.