Feminism
IS THERE ANY CONSISTENCY AMONG THE VARIOUS FEMINISMS OR IS FEMINISM INCOHERANT?Without fear of contradiction one can successfully collate the feminist philosophy, both as a progressively forward-looking movement, and an evolving, multitude of openly pro-feminine theories. Indeed 'core feminist theory' dictates, that feminism should persist in the sole pursuit of "equality, amongst men and women, on political, economic, and social grounds". This essay hopes to carefully outline the historical backdrop for the conception of feminist ideology. This essay shall subsequently endeavour to determine the likelihood of prevailing homogeneous issues, amongst a variety of feminist oriented viewpoints. Consequently the aim of this study shall be to accurately highlight possible consistencies and conforming arguments, within the aggregate feminist schools of thought. Contrary to popular belief the historically ongoing and widespread restrictive practise against women, is not a purely modern concept. This rather inept and presently unacceptable form of severe discriminatory behaviour has its roots, as with many notable political issues, in Ancient times. In the Athenian Polis, for example, women were entirely and deliberately excluded from
the potential capacity of all women she urges sensible and moral reform of the political, social, and legal aspects of women's lives. Marriage is another unconventional yet constant theme throughout her book, which is not surprising as marriage during this period of history, would give the husband legal ownership of his wife, her property, and their offspring, and as such would go against Wollstonecraft's philosophy. Wollstonecraft is against marriage and therefore far ahead of her time, especially since in the 18th century a good marriage was the goal of most women. For Wollstonecraft, however, independence is essential and true freedom could only be obtained from remaining unmarried. Marriage under law Wollstonecraft argued was nothing short of 'legalised prostitution'. Targeting Rosseau and other male writers of the time, she criticises their belief that women should face severe restraint, i.e. within a traditional marriage, and be condemned to live as though they were property. She poses the question, why women should be bound in this way and face second class treatment in society in general. Promoting ! Engels wrote 'The Origin of The Family, Private Property and The State' in the latter half of the 19th century. He focuses greatly on early human history, following the disintegration of the primitive community and the emergence of a class society, based on private property. Engels looks into the origin and essence of the state, and concludes it is bound to wither away leaving a classless society. Marxist and socialist perspectives of feminism today specifically concentrate on patriarchy, and the wider oppression that takes places between women and society. They accept that early 'matriarchal' societies, which provided a great degree of individual freedom to women, went into decline. Marxists in particular make a point of historical change, advocating that the eventual merger of the family, private property, and the state, would mutually reinforce the need for men to identify their own children. In other words, as private property became a more of a significant factor in soci! Mill equates the oppressive nature of men toward women with that of slavery, and questions the legitimacy to which such behaviour should be tolerated. He goes on to say that men generally seem to believe that society, requires the effective domination of women, and that subsequent discrimination is more a of necessary than voluntary practice. Mill also criticises the male gender (in general) for being too single minded, and unable to learn the lessons of history, arguing the apathy of change within society and amongst men, is disgracefully in favour of preserving the status quo. al evolution, the average male desired to acknowledge his heir and as such thoroughly campaigned to successively restrict the sexually liberal activities, of women. In doing so, argues Engels, one could successfully correlate the rise of the family with the demise of female independence. This social patriarchy was rooted firmly within the concept of private property and capitalism, and in the wider context, for segregation and discriminative practise against women to be ended, capitalism had
Some common words found in the essay are:
Property State', Women' Mill, Germaine Greer, Rights Woman', Greek Oilcos, FEMINISM INCOHERANT, Targeting Rosseau, Emily Pankhurst, Radical Feminism, Marxists Socialist, private property, radical feminists, feminist ideology, family private property, determined behaviour, foundation modern, subjection women, feminist school, practise women, liberally based, amongst women,
Approximate Word count = 2142
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
|