11

FEMINIST
A
L
O

theory
R

GROUP 2
DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
 Historical
background
> Although the terms “feminism” and “feminist” did not
become mainstream until the late 1990s, the general
public had been using them much earlier through
movements and published pieces/works by notable
people.

Plato advocated
for women's political and social
early
equality, arguing that they
should be considered members
Historical
of the highest class and allowed
to represent and fight for
themselves. Women in Plato's
time, on the other hand, did not
have much of an opinion, a
background
voice, or many
rights.
From the early
19th century
to the
20th century
, there were struggles for
women's right to vote,
women's right to education,
better working conditions, and
an end to double standards
between men and women. But
with the help of women’s
rights activists, they succeeded
in having these rights and
opportunities for women.
From the early
1960s to the
late 1980s the rise
of the liberation movement led to
increased female enrollment in
universities, the establishment of
academic women's studies, courses
and departments, and the
establishment of feminist notion in
fields such as politics, sociology,
history, and literature. This shift in
academic interest challenged the
status quo, its norms, and its
officials
 what is
feminist theory?
/ feminism
feminist theory?
/ feminism
> Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into
theoretical, fictional, or philosophical discourse. Feminist theory aims to interrogate
inequalities and inequities along the intersectional lines of ability, class, gender, race, sex,
and sexuality, and feminists seek to effect change in areas where these intersectionalities
create power inequity.
> Women have traditionally been treated as subordinate to men, and that feminism can
help in granting women rightful status in society.
> Feminists share a common goal in support of equality for men and women thus, it is a
way for gender equality and is responsible for movements for freedom, and justice.
 GENDER
VS
SEX
 Gender
It’s social and legal status, and set of
expectations from society, about
behaviors, characteristics, and
thoughts. Gender identity is how Sex is a label that
you feel inside and how you express you’re assigned by a
your gender through clothing, doctor at birth based on
behavior, and personal appearance. the genitals you’re born
with and the
chromosomes you have.

Sex
FEMINISM
VS
FEMINITY

Feminism
the belief that women
should be allowed the same
rights, power, and
opportunities as men and be
treated in the same way, or
the set of activities intended
to achieve this state.
Femininity (also called womanliness)
is a set of attributes, behaviors, and
roles generally associated with
women and girls. Femininity can be
understood as socially constructed,
and there is also some evidence that
some behaviors considered feminine
are influenced by both cultural
factors and biological factors.
Feminity
Gender
Ideology
refers to attitudes regarding the suitable roles, rights, and
responsibilities of men and women in society.

the unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on

Gender
Inequality
their gender. This is caused by gender ideology. A core factor
that feeds gender inequality is people's gender ideology

Gender OPPRESSION
the manner in which certain groups are privileged or disadvantaged due to
gender. [gender oppression is “unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power.”
Gender discrimination, a form of gender oppression is “Attitudes, conditions or
behaviors that promote stereotyping of social roles based on gender.”
Movements
"4 waves
of feminism "
First Took place in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries.
wave The goal of this wave was to open up

suffrage
opportunities for women, with a focus on suffrage.

Abolitionist movement
> organized effort to end the practice of slavery in the United States
Seneca Falls Convention in 1848
> first women's rights convention in the United States.
> Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott
First Challenged the "cult of domesticity"

wave > "The Culture of Domesticity or Cult of True Womanhood is a

term used by historians to describe what they consider to have

suffrage
been a prevailing value system among the upper and middle
classes during the 19th century in the United States.
Selective and exclusive nature of the movement
- Sojourner Truth; Ain’t I A Woman
- “That man over there says that women need to be helped into
carriages and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place
everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over
mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a
woman?” She successfully points out the double standard
existing within the movement at that time and was a voice for
the black women who felt unrepresented.”
 Began in the 1960s and continued into the 90s
Betty Friedan’s book, The Feminine Mystique Second
" discussed “the problem that has no name”: the general
unhappiness of American women in the 1960s and 70s." wave
• In this phase, sexuality and reproductive rights were
dominant issues, and much of the movement's energy was
focused on passing the Equal Rights Amendment to the
Constitution guaranteeing social equality regardless of sex.
equal pay
"Women's struggle is class
- The Food and Drug Administration approved an oral
struggle.”
contraceptive pill, made available in 1961. - 1968 order
- Many women felt that it was
made sex-segregated help wanted ads for employment
unwise to discuss gender equality
illegal.
without taking into consideration
- The Women’s Educational Equity Act of 1972 and 1974
- The legalization of no-fault divorce. racial inequality too.

Third began in the mid-90's

- Anita Hill’s case
wave • The third wave stepped onto the stage as strong and

patriarchy
empowered, eschewing victimization and defining feminine
beauty for themselves as subjects, not as objects of a sexist
patriarchy.
- Media and pop culture.
- Girl bands such as Riot Grrrl
- Slutwalks
• Made it more inclusive to trans feminists
• It was less united compared to the first and second waves.
- transversal politics.
 Fourth
Feminism now
Social media.
wave
Feminism no longer just refers to the struggles
of women; it is a clarion call for gender equity.

what is the feminist

MOVEMENT?
Today, feminist identities are created and reinforced when
feminists get together, act together, and read what other
feminists have written.
> State bureaucracies, universities, privately supported social
services, magazines, and other organizations begin to provide
jobs so that some feminists can put their political principles to
work in an activity that gives them an income
principles

1. Working to increase equality

- Feminism acknowledges that women's

experiences are not only distinct from men's, but

principlesalso inherently unfair.

- Feminist notion connects ideas to action.
Example & Achievements
→ In March 2020, we → Due to continuous → World Economic

principles
celebrated National action, women achieve
Women’s Month by
Forum's (WEF)
development in terms of
taking action through a government
work and
Global Gender Gap
series of seminars about business. report (2021),
gender equality and - Republic Act No. 7160,
women empowerment
Philippines ranks
approved on October 10,
across the Philippines. For 1991: AN ACT 17 out of 156
instance, the PROVIDING FOR A countries in terms
Seminar/Conference held LOCAL GOVERNMENT of gender equality.
in LGU Roxas, Isabela. CODE OF 1991

2. Expanding human choice.

- Feminists believe that both men and women
should have the freedom to develop their human

principles
interests and talents, even if those interests and
talents conflict with the status quo.
Example & Achievements
Hidilyn Diaz
principles
(who showed their overflowing

passion for weightlifting) proves that

women are capable of gaining strength
physically as much as men are.
3. Eliminating gender stratification
> Gender stratification refers to the social ranking, where men typically
inhabit higher statuses than women.
> Feminists oppose laws and cultural
norms (implicit (unwritten) social

principles
rules that measure what is seen as normal in certain situations) that limit
income, educational, and job opportunities for women.
> examples of gender stratification
→ Women shouldn’t be part of the workplace. Career and professional
advancement shouldn’t be important for women.

 Gender stratification according to

interactionists exists because people act toward each
other based on the interpretations they have for each
other, and these interpretations are obtained from social
interaction.
Charles Cooley's “looking-glass self” theory holds that an individual’s

understanding of their gender role is influenced by how society

perceives them. As a result, if society recognizes a man to be masculine,

he will portray himself to be masculine as well



Example & Achievements

→ Republic Act No. 7688, approved on

March 3, 1994: AN ACT GIVING
REPRESENTATION TO WOMEN IN

THE SOCIAL SECURITY
→ Legislative (law → Republic Act No. 8972, approved COMMISSION, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE SECTION 3 (A) OF
on November 7, 2000: AN ACT
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1161, AS
makers) victories

Principles
PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS
AMENDED
AND PRIVILEGES TO SOLO
- The SSS shall be directed and
favoring women PARENTS AND THEIR
CHILDREN, APPROPRIATING
controlled by a Social Security
Commission composed of the Secretary
are finally FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
of Labor and Employment, the SSS
Administrator and seven appointive
- Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000
achieved aims to develop a comprehensive
members, three of whom shall represent
the labor group, one of whom shall be a
program of social development and woman, three, the management group,
throughout the welfare services for solo parents one of whom shall be a woman and one,
and their children. the general public, to be appointed by
time.
the President of the Philippines.

4. Ending sexual violence and

promoting sexual freedom
Feminists feel that women should have control over
their reproduction and sexuality. This involved
eliminating the stigma associated with sexual activity
and ensuring that everyone has access to safety for
reproduction health.

Example & Achievements

→ Republic Act No. 8353, approved on September 30, 1997: AN ACT EXPANDING
THE DEFINITION OF THE CRIME OF RAPE, RECLASSIFYING THE SAME
AS A CRIME AGAINST PERSONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ACT

Principles
NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL
CODE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Anti-Rape Law of 1997 broadened the definition of rape which may be committed
by having carnal knowledge (sexual intercourse) of a woman under certain
circumstances (through force, threat, or intimidation) or by committing acts of
sexual assault.

Example & Achievements

→ Republic Act No. 9262, approved on March 8, 2004: AN ACT DEFINING
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN,

Principles
PROVIDING FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR VICTIMS,
PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
- Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 penalizes
the commission of violence against women and their children (VAWC) in
the context of domestic violence or violence in intimate relationships.

Example & Achievements

→ Republic Act No. 9710, approved on August 14, 2009: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE
MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN

Principles
- Magna Carta of Women is a comprehensive women’s rights law that seeks to eliminate
discrimination against women, by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling, and promoting the rights
of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sectors.
→ Republic Act No. 10354, approved on December 21, 2012: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A
NATIONAL POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH
- The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 or the Reproductive
Health Law provides for a national policy on responsible parenthood and reproductive health.
Types of Feminism
1. Liberal Feminism
Liberal feminism also is an individualistic form of
feminist theory, which focuses on women’s ability to
maintain their equality through their own actions
and choices. Liberal feminists argue that society
holds the false belief that women are, by nature, less
intellectually and physically capable than men.
2. Socialist Feminism
Socialist feminism addresses women's inequality in a two-pronged
approach, connecting capitalism and patriarchy and proving that
patriarchy isn't the sole source of oppression. The first objective is
often referring to women's limited roles in society, staying at home
and raising a family, as a major factor in their oppression. The
second object aims to show that women can experience it in various
other ways, including race, class, sexual orientation, and education,
among others.
3. Radical Feminism
The main belief of radical feminists is that equality can
only be achieved through gender separation and political
lesbianism. They think the patriarchy can be defeated if
women recognize their own value and strength, establish
trust with other women, and form female-based separatist
networks in the private and public spheres.
4. Intersectional Feminism
Intersectional feminism believes that other feminist
theories create an incorrect acceptance of women’s
oppression based on the experiences of mostly western,
middle class, white women.
This type of feminism offers insight that not all women
experience oppression in the same way.

5. Marxist Feminism
Karl Marx
Marxist feminists believe that capitalism is the cause of women’s
oppression and that this oppression in turn, helps to reinforce
capitalism.
Marxist feminists regard classism, rather than sexism, as the
fundamental cause of women’s oppression. They explore how ideas
of gender structure production in capitalism and argue that
women are exploited by a capitalist society.

You've reached the end.

Thank you so much for
listening!