14.1.3 Patriarchy: Diverse Feminist Perspectives

Patriarchy

Similarities Between Different Feminist Strands on Patriarchy

Feminists all recognise the patriarchy as a system of male dominance that contributes to the oppression and marginalisation of women. Regardless of their specific approaches, feminists agree that patriarchy creates and sustains gender inequalities that must be challenged and dismantled to achieve true gender equality.

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Socialist Feminism

Understanding Patriarchy

• Socialist feminists view patriarchy as deeply intertwined with capitalism. They argue that patriarchy and capitalism mutually reinforce each other, creating a system where women are economically exploited and socially oppressed.
• Patriarchy is seen as a tool used by capitalism to maintain the economic dependency of women on men, particularly through the unpaid labour that women perform in the home.

Critique and Solutions

• Socialist feminists believe that the fight against patriarchy must include a broader struggle against capitalism. They advocate for economic reforms, such as the socialisation of domestic work, equal pay, and workplace equality, as essential steps toward dismantling patriarchal structures.
• They argue that true gender equality can only be achieved through the collective overthrow of both capitalism and patriarchy, leading to a more egalitarian society.

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Liberal Feminism

Understanding Patriarchy

• Liberal feminists see patriarchy primarily as a system of legal and institutional inequalities that limit women's opportunities and freedoms. They focus on how laws, policies, and social norms have historically favoured men, leading to the systemic marginalisation of women.
• Patriarchy, from a liberal feminist perspective, is manifested in discrimination in education, employment, and politics, as well as in the lack of legal rights for women.

Critique and Solutions

• Liberal feminists aim to dismantle patriarchy by advocating for legal reforms and policy changes that promote gender equality. They focus on ensuring that women have equal rights, access to opportunities, and the ability to participate fully in public life.
• Key strategies include lobbying for anti-discrimination laws, promoting equal pay, and encouraging women's participation in politics and leadership roles.

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Radical Feminism

Understanding Patriarchy

• Radical feminists view patriarchy as the fundamental and most pervasive form of oppression. They argue that patriarchy is a deeply rooted system of male dominance that permeates all aspects of society, including culture, religion, family, and sexuality.
• For radical feminists, patriarchy is not just about economic or legal inequalities but about power relations that control and oppress women in every area of life.

Critique and Solutions

• Radical feminists call for a revolutionary overhaul of society to dismantle patriarchy. They advocate for the complete restructuring of social institutions, particularly those related to family, sexuality, and reproduction, which they see as the primary sites of women's oppression.
• They also emphasise the importance of consciousness-raising, encouraging women to recognise and challenge the ways in which patriarchy shapes their lives and relationships.

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Postmodern Feminism

Understanding Patriarchy

• Postmodern feminists critique the concept of patriarchy as too simplistic and universalising. They argue that the experience of patriarchy varies greatly depending on other factors such as race, class, sexuality, and culture.
• Postmodern feminists challenge the notion of a single, overarching patriarchy, instead focusing on how multiple systems of power and oppression intersect to create diverse experiences of inequality.

Critique and Solutions

• Postmodern feminists advocate for a more nuanced and intersectional approach to understanding and challenging patriarchy. They emphasise the importance of recognising the diversity of women's experiences and the need for feminist strategies that are inclusive and adaptable to different contexts.
• They also question traditional feminist narratives and encourage a deconstruction of established ideas about gender, power, and identity, arguing for a more fluid and flexible approach to gender equality.

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To What Extent Do Feminists Agree on the Concept of Patriarchy

For:

• Patriarchy where men are dominant in society
• Patriarchy is oppressive towards women
• Patriarchy has been socially constructed by men to designate a gender role to women
• Liberal feminists like Gilman and De Beauvoir identify gender stereotyping
• Friedan and Millett define patriarchy as cultural and not as a biological phenomenon
• Patriarchy must be opposed in the public sphere
• Equality of opportunity, where discrimination and gender stereotypes are eliminated

Against:

• Liberal feminists argue that patriarchy in the public sphere can be reformed through legislation
• However, radical feminists argue for the personal is political
• Millett argues that the patriarchal father dominates the family and the mother socialises children into gender roles, which gives men the power that it denies women. She seeks to abolish the nuclear family and traditional marriage
• Socialist feminist Rowbotham argued that female oppression was not just a result of patriarchy but was interlinked with women being oppressed economically as well as culturally
• Intersectionality: women from different backgrounds and religions/races experience discrimination differently