Feminism is a political movement; it exists to rectify sexual inequalities, although strategies for social change vary enormously. The creation of equal opportunities through policy is the main aim of liberal feminists – e.g. the Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act. Socialisation into gender roles has the consequence of producing rigid, inflexible expectations of men and women. The primary goal is the eradication of capitalism. In a communist society gender inequalities should disappear. Capitalism rather than patriarchy is the principal source of women’s oppression, and capitalists are the main beneficiaries.

Radical feminists have often been actively involved in setting up and running refuges for women who are the victims of male violence. Criticise preceding feminist theory for claiming a ‘false universality’ (white, western heterosexual, middle class) The disadvantaged position of women is because of the emergence of private property and the fact that women do not own the means of production. This post summarises the key ideas of Radical, Liberal, Marxist and Difference Feminisms and includes criticisms of each perspective. Introduction – Feminism: The Basics

Difference Feminists argue it is an ethnocentric perspective – based mostly on the experiences of middle class, educated women. The concept of patriarchy has been criticised for ignoring variations in the experience of oppression. Postmodern Feminism is concerned with language (discourses) and the relationship between power and knowledge rather than ‘politics and opportunities’. Chapman et al (2016) – A Level Sociology Student Book Two [Fourth Edition] Collins. ISBN-10: 0007597495 Blames the exploitation of women on men. It is primarily men who have benefitted from the subordination of women. Women are ‘an oppressed group.

Liberal Feminists do not seek revolutionary changes: they want changes to take place within the existing structure. Society is patriarchal – it is dominated and ruled by men – men are the ruling class, and women the subject class. The explanation for gender inequality lies not so much in structures and institutions of society but in its culture and values.

Patriarchy is the main cause of gender inequality: women are subordinate because men have more power.

Based upon male assumptions and norms such as individualism and competition, and encourages women to be more like men and therefor denies the value of qualities traditionally associated with women such as empathy. Feminism runs across the whole A-level Sociology course, and is especially relevant to the sociology of the family. Some alternatives suggested by Radical Feminists include separatism – women only communes, and Matrifocal households. Some also practise political Lesbianism and political celibacy as they view heterosexual relationships as “sleeping with the enemy.” Radical-libertarian feminists believe that it is both possible and desirable for gender differences to be eradicated, or at least greatly reduced, and aim for a state of androgyny in which men and women are not significantly different.The traditional nuclear family also performs the function of ‘ideological conditioning’ – it teaches the ideas that the Capitalist class require for their future workers to be passive.