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Feminist Theory and Practice: Amna Baig
Feminist Theory and Practice: Amna Baig
Amna Baig
What is Feminism?
French Word: Feminism, a medical term to
describe feminization of male body or to
describe women with masculine traits
Used in USA – Early part of twentieth century
for the group of women with the political
agenda of changing the social position of
women.
What is Feminism?
Feminism – A movement that confronts the
abuse of power and seeks equality (political
social and economic) and justice. It rests on
two premises women are disadvantaged
because of their sex and this established norm
must be changed.
What is Feminism?
Feminist – a basic commitment to end female
oppression with different political and social
discourse. Heterogeneity- Sign of a healthy
debate
Feminist Theory:
1) Comprehensive account of women’s
subordination
2) Identifies underlying causes
3) Develops effective strategies to overcome them
Liberal Feminism
Gender differences aren't biological – they are
socially constructed
Common humanity supersedes and overcomes
procreative differences - pushes for equal
opportunity
Reformist in nature – tries to open up public life
equally to women + men without discrimination,
without challenging patriarchy
Highlights discrimination at work
Liberal Feminism
Criticism – Accepts male values and pushes
for women to act like men to ensure equality
in a society.
Radical Feminism
Cutting edge feminist theory 1967 - 1975
Focus on oppression of women – Intent on
social change
Revolutionary in nature – questions gender
roles based on biology
Labels sexuality as the root cause of
oppression
Patriarchy – from discrimination to
oppression
Radical feminism
Criticizes male dominant culture – Male
attributes lead to destruction, Wars.
Celebrate womanhood – biology gives rise to
psychology, creativity is good.
Definition – analyses how patriarchy generates
the threat of violence and how actual violent
behavior by men acts as a controlling agent for
women in general, affecting their identities.
Marxist/Socialist Feminism
Puts housewives into the structure of
Capitalism – vital to economy
Criticizes Family as a source of women's
oppression + exploitation – economically
dependent on man. Family is Latin for
servant.
Brief history of Womanhood – prehistoric
times and evolution of male dominant society
Marxist/Socialist Feminism
Women's position in Global system – World
systems theory, periphery and core.
Capitalism should be replaced by socialism to
bring in equality
Socialist = neither patriarchy nor capitalism
can explain gender inequalities alone
Two way system = Interaction of economic
system with gender relations
Psychoanalytical Feminism
Freud's theory of personality development
Source of Men’s dominance – Focus on childhood
development
Two sided unconsciousness of men – Emotional
needs and rejection as potential castrators
Psychological gendering of childhood – role of
unconsciousness
Break the cycle – Shared parenting
Men's Feminism
Application of Feminist theories to the study of
men + masculinity
Scrutiny of different masculinities in gender
debate
Analysis of Hegemonic Masculinity
Gender is embedded in society not in traits
Gender inequality is not only b/w men and
women but also men of lower economic status
Military and aggressive sports lead to wars
Post Modern Feminism
Gender and sexuality are shifting
Equality will come when there are so many
recognized sexes and genders which cant be
played against each other
Queer theory – Unique narrative , Celebration
of anomalies
Feminism Waves
For distinction – categorized into waves
Different people – different goals – different
influences
1st , 2nd and 3rd
First wave of Feminism
Origin: USA + Europe
Late ninetieth century – early twentieth
British women struggled for legal rights –
Property rights
Woman suffrage movement in the USA –
NWP after & during WW1 (parades, marches)
Interwoven with reformist movements
(abolishment)
First wave of Feminism
Suffragettes confronted stereotypes – engaged
in public persuasion, challenging the cult of
domesticity.
Denying vote is denying full citizenship
19th amendment – 1920
Second Wave of Feminism
Equality – Equity - 1960s-1980s
Equality in broader societal spheres
Radical Women's liberation Movement
Post war western societies – clamor for civil
rights
Neo- Marxists – Patriarchy is inherent in the
society and sexual differences are more
fundamental than class differences
Second Wave of Feminism
Socioeconomic struggle – highly theoretical
(Rape, Equal Pay, Family decisions)
Goal = Equitable access to resources and
opportunities
Third wave of Feminism
Movement to embrace ambiguity and differences
(age, class, race)
Women are now more capable, strong with better
opportunities
Activism through performance, mimicry and
rhetoric's
Concerned with establishing new critical global
perspective based on alliances
Concept of travesty – Commands respects of
diversity
United nations conferences on
Women
Four conferences in Past Quarter century
Instrumental in elevating the cause of gender
equality to the very center of Global Agenda
First three decades focused on codification of
women's legal and civil rights and gathering
of data on women’s status
Second stage developed strategies and plans
of actions
United nations conferences on
Women
Mexico City – 1974
International year of Women
Start of worldwide dialogue on women issues
Copenhagen – 1980
Review and appraisal of World Plan of Action
Areas of focus – Equality Development and
peace
United nations conferences on
Women
Nairobi – Birth of Global Feminism 1985
Shifted focus to women of developing areas
All issues are women issues
Beijing – 1995
Shift from women to gender
restructuring institutions according to gender
needs
Policies to have gender perspective
Feminism in Pakistan
Two dominant discourses
Secular and Modern Islamic feminism
Is feminism anti-Islamic?
Fatima Jinnah and Begum Rana Liaquat Ali
All Pakistan Women Association – 1949
Hudood Ordinance – Zia ul Haq 1980
Conspiracy theories related to feminism on
Pak