Republic of the Philippines
SORSOGON STATE COLLEGE
Sorsogon City Campus
Sorsogon City
LABAYANI, SHARWEN CLOYD J.
HALUM, RALPH ANGEL
QUIJANO, NINO EMMANUEL
BSED-SCIENCES 2C
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FEMINIST THEORY
Many people incorrectly believe that feminist theory focuses exclusively on girls and women and that it has an
inherent goal of promoting the superiority of women over men.
In reality, feminist theory has always been about viewing the social world in a way that illuminates the forces
that create and support inequality, oppression, and injustice, and in doing so, promotes the pursuit of equality and
justice. That said, since the experiences and perspectives of women and girls were historically excluded from social
theory and social science, much feminist theory has focused on their interactions and experiences within society to
ensure that half the world's population is not left out of how we see and understand social forces, relations, and
problems. While most feminist theorists throughout history have been women, today people of all genders can be found
working in the discipline. By shifting the focus of social theory away from the perspectives and experiences of men,
feminist theorists have created social theories that are more inclusive and creative than those that assume the social
actor to always be a man.
Part of what makes feminist theory creative and inclusive is that it often considers how systems of power and
oppression interact, which is to say it does not just focus on gendered power and oppression, but on how it might
intersect with systemic racism, a hierarchical class system, sexuality, nationality, and (dis)ability, among other things.
GENDER DIFFERENCES
Some feminist theory provides an analytic framework for understanding how women's location in, and
experience of, social situations differ from men's.
For example, cultural feminists look at the different values associated with womanhood and femininity as a
reason why men and women experience the social world differently. Other feminist theorists believe that the different
roles assigned to women and men within institutions better explain gender difference, including the sexual division of
labor in the household.
Existential and phenomenological feminists focus on how women have been marginalized and defined as
“other” in patriarchal societies. Some feminist theorists focus specifically on how masculinity is developed through
socialization, and how its development interacts with the process of developing femininity in girls.
GENDER INEQUALITY
Feminist theories that focus on gender inequality recognize that women's location in, and experience of, social
situations are not only different but also unequal to men's.
Liberal feminists argue that women have the same capacity as men for moral reasoning and agency, but that
patriarchy, particularly the sexist division of labor, has historically denied women the opportunity to express and
practice this reasoning.
These dynamics serve to shove women into the private sphere of the household and to exclude them from full
participation in public life. Liberal feminists point out that gender inequality exists for women in a heterosexual marriage
and that women do not benefit from being married.
Indeed, these feminist theorists claim, married women have higher levels of stress than unmarried women and
married men. Therefore, the sexual division of labor in both the public and private spheres needs to be altered for
women to achieve equality in marriage.
GENDER OPPRESSION
Theories of gender oppression go further than theories of gender difference and gender inequality by arguing
that not only are women different from or unequal to men, but that they are actively oppressed, subordinated, and even
abused by men.
Power is the key variable in the two main theories of gender oppression:
psychoanalytic feminism and radical feminism.
PSYCHOANALYTIC FEMINISTS
attempt to explain power relations between men and women by reformulating Sigmund Freud's theories of
human emotions, childhood development, and the workings of the subconscious and unconscious. They believe that
conscious calculation cannot fully explain the production and reproduction of patriarchy.
RADICAL FEMINISTS
argue that being a woman is a positive thing in and of itself, but that this is not acknowledged in patriarchal
societies where women are oppressed. They identify physical violence as being at the base of patriarchy, but they think
that patriarchy can be defeated if women recognize their own value and strength, establish a sisterhood of trust with
other women, confront oppression critically, and form female-based separatist networks in the private and public
spheres.
STRUCTURAL OPPRESSION
Structural oppression theories posit that women's oppression and inequality are a result of capitalism,
patriarchy, and racism.
Socialist feminists agree with Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels that the working class is exploited as a consequence of
capitalism, but they seek to extend this exploitation not just to class but also to gender.
4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEMINISM
1. Liberal Feminism
Quite a tame strand in regards to other types of feminism. These feminists argue that gender inequality lies in
the denial of rights to women in primarily the fields of education and employment. It holds individual choice as supreme.
And, historically has fought for law changes in order to allow women to express their political freedom. With its reliance
on gaining political rights, it should be noted however that liberal feminism ignores the deep-rooted nature of gender
inequality and patriarchy (Walby, 1990).
2. Social Feminism
Socialist Feminists emphasize the democratic and egalitarian aspects of socialism. The root of gender inequality
is seen on societal expectations on the role of men and women in the household. Men are expected to be breadwinners
or good providers, while women are expected to manage the household. The patriarchal ideology present in any society
perpetuates the inequalities between men and women as it evident in capitalist sytem.
3. Radical Feminism
Radical feminists see gender equality as a system whereby men benefit from female subordination which has
been created through Patriarchy. Unlike Marxist feminists, they don’t see female subordination as being a byproduct of
Capitalism. But a part of the patriarchal system like male violence. Men inherently have a vested interest in the
continuation of patriarchy so will not let it go easily. Even sexual desire must be questioned as it is centered around male
notions of desire.
Radical feminists dispute amongst themselves about many things. One of which is whether pornography is
beneficial to women or not. The second being whether females should live in societies completely separate to men and
assume the role of lesbians.
4. Post modern Feminism
Post modern feminists argue that knowledge is created from a male’s standpoint and, thus, it is completely
biased. In essence, it calls into question the privileged position of male theorists. It attempts to criticize the dominant
order as it believes that all theory is socially constructed. The position of this type of feminism rests in attempt to speak
for all women and unmask all systems of oppression. However, it recognizes individualism, that is, different female
groups must articulate their own unique feminist positions in relation to specific and individual oppressions, hindrances,
and daily experiences.
HOMOSEXUALITY and TRANSGENDER
Human beings have different choices among a broad field of selections of food, cars, houses, music, clothes,
books, movies, hobbies and so on. This seems to be part of our nature and, customarily, we frown upon those whose
preferences are different. Such attitude extends even to sexual preference of people in the society, which may, in turn,
develop into discrimination.
Sexual preference is described by whom on is sexually attracted to. This usually comes in three types, namely:
heterosexuals, homosexuals, and bisexuals. A large number of society’s population composes the heterosexuals, those
who are sexually attracted to members of the opposites sex. Homosexuals are those attracted to members of the some
sex and are classified as gays (men) or lesbian (women). Lastly, bisexuals are those attracted to members of both sexes.
Transgenderism may come in different forms. Examples of which include cross-dressers, transsexuals, and other
gender non-conformists whose appearance are perceived to be unusual. Cross dressing means wearing the clothing of
the opposite sex. A cross-dresser may wear make up, long hair, lace blouse and skirts or dresses. A caution, however is
that person who cross dress do not always identify themselves with another sex, although this can sometimes be the
case. On the other hand, a transsexual is a person who lives or wishes to live full-time opposite his sex.
Homosexuality and transgenderism are oftentimes used interchangeably, which causes confusion to a lot of
people, even those who are homosexuals and transgender themselves. As a way of distinction, homosexuality is
basically an issue of sexual preference. It is manifested when boys/men who identify themselves as boys/men are
sexually and romantically attracted to other boys/men (same sex). In contrast, male but identify themselves as
girls/women; or those who were born male but identify themselves as boys/men. In short, homosexuals have gender
identity, which is in conformity with their biological sex (penis or vagina), only that they prefer same biological sex and
how they define themselves (male or female), which is internal and personally expressed through gestures, dressing and
grooming.
