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FEMINISM,  A meta-ideology, Objectives of Feminism in general:, 1. Create awareness about subjection of women which even women lack, 2. Influence state policies, 3. Highlight Masculinist nature of political theory ; “ Where are the, women ? “ ; Do women agree with ‘social contract’ entered into by, men., , , , Origins can be traced to Plato, Evolved in form of waves, Feminism divisions – Basis of Ideology and Temporal, Feminism Divisions, , Temporal, 1st Wave, 2nd Wave, 3rd Wave, , Ideological, Liberal Feminism, Socialist Feminism, Radical Feminism, , 1st Wave:, Timeline: 18th and 19th Century, , , , , , , Liberal Feminism :, Civil and Political rights to women can lead to end of women’s, subordination, Mary Wollstonecraft-Mother of Feminism, She belonged to times of, French revolution , presented Charter on rights of women, In Britain ,’suffragate” movement started demanding right to vote for, women., , 184

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, , , , Socialist Feminism :, Timeline: 18th and 19th Century, Marx didn’t discuss liberation of women, But ,Engels in his book discussed subordination of women because of, institution of private property, Communist revolution and end of, Capitalism will lead to end of subordination of women, , Criticism:, 1. Socialists treat end of Capitalism as primary and Liberation of women, as Secondary objective whereas in Feminism, Liberation of women, must be primary objective, 2. End of Capitalism may not automatically lead to end of patriarchy, because Patriarchy is older than Capitalism., , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Lenin had progressive view towards women and he made woman a, cabinet minister, improved status of women in USSR, However Stalin had conservative approach—Mother Heroines title to, those women who produced more babies, Contemporary socialists focus on economic empowerment of women, ,accounting domestic labour ,equal wages ,maternity benefits, etc., 2nd Wave, Early 1960s – coincides with birth of Radical feminism, Today ,Feminism refers primarily to Radical Feminism.Liberal and, Socialist Feminism theories no longer considered real feminist theories, as they are written from Men’s point of view., Seek to develop feminist terminology and feminist literature, Prominent scholars, (1)Betty Friedan – “Feminine Mystique” ;, (2) Simone de Beauvoir – “The Second Sex” ;, (3) Kate Millet – “Sexual Politics” ;, (4) Shulasmith Firestone –”Dialectics of Sex “, , 185

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Concepts of Feminism:,  Gender v/s Sex:, Radical Feminists make a difference between the terms Sex and, Gender. Sex is a biological term. It only denotes that Men and Women, are different. It has nothing to do with Who is Superior or Inferior. Man, are superior and women are inferior, It is not natural distinction but a, social distinction. Thus, The basis of inequalities and discrimination is, not natural but Social. According to Simone de Beauvoir “One is not, born women but one becomes women” According to Radical Feminists, we live in a gendered society i.e; Society which favours a particular sex, over other sex.,  Patriarchy (as basic structure of Society rather than economic, structure), Unlike Marxists, Radical Feminists consider patriarchy as basic structure, of society. Patriarchy denotes male domination or preference for males, over females. The worst aspect of Patriarchy is not just sub-ordinate, status of women but violence against women because of their sex., Some specific kinds of violent actions are faced only by women. Ex:, Female Foeticide, Infanticide, Honour Killing etc.,,  Personal is Political – fundamental phrase of Radical feminism coined, by Carole Hanisch, This is the fundamental phase of radical feminism coined by, Carole Hanisch (Organised protest against Miss America 1968). Radical, Feminists highlights the neglect of women perspective and concerns in, entire tradition of political philosophy with exception of plato and J S, Mill. The Origin of this neglect can be attributed to Aristotle who is, called as Father of Political Science. It was Aristotle who separated, personal and poltical i.e; Family and State. He denied citizenship to, women and confined women within four walls of family. It was, assumed that women had no separate interest and concerns of women, can be taken care by men/master. Such a Tradition was continued by, other philosopher. Hegel suggested that Family is a sphere of Altruism,, Love and Care. He neglected the fact that within a family women may, , 186

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face exploitation, violence and sub-ordination. One of the, consequences of separation of personal and political is is, marginalization of women in politics and decision making institutions., Not only theory but even profession of politics is dominated by men., The Lack of representation of women ensured that state remains, patriarchal. This is reflected even in the laws made by state. Catherine, Mackinnon analyzed rape laws in states of America. They have loop, holes which makes it extremely difficult to hold the criminal convicted., Hence, She says when I look at state, state appears male.,  Susan M.Okin in her book Gender, Justice and Family gave following, interpretation of the phrase “Person is Politcal”, 1. Assumption that family and state belong to different spheres, contrary, to belief states doesn’t intervene in personal sphere., For Example: by making personal laws, 2. Hetero-sexual families develop patriarchal values as children grow up, watching subordinate status of women, 3. Women contribution at home is not accounted and working women, face dual burden,  Differentiated Equality – Iris Marion Young, Liberal Feminists demanded equality of status for women. They, believed that If women get equal civil and political rights They will get, equal status., Radical Feminists believe that status will not be equal even when, women have equal rights, Why?, Because we live in a gendered-society. In a gendered-society women, need special rights Hence they suggest differentiated equality (or), differentiated Citizenship as against universal citizenship., For Example: Reserving compartments/ seats for women in trains, Betty Friedan,  Surveyed White married well-off American women,  Dissatisfaction with life – unknown problem –later names as “problem, which has no name”, Later realised it was Patriarchy, , 187

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Patriarchy perpetuated by creating myths or so-called essential women, qualities ,Ex : myth like women lose attraction after certain age,  Myths perpetuated by:, 1. Women Magazines portray married women as happy and problematic, life of career women, 2. So-called scientific disciplines like medical science and psychology,, Radical feminists are especially critical of Sigmund Freud who argues, that most important objective of women is to look attractive to men, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Simone de Beauvoir, French, influenced by Jean Paul Sartre – “Existence is prior to Essence”, Existence –What we are ;Subject consciousness, Essence – Identity given to us ; Object, Sartre- Religion responsible for Essentialism, Simone – “One is not born woman but one becomes women”, Acc to Simone –Women is provisional, Criticised Sigmund Freud for creating myths –Penis Envy and Castration, Complex, Rejects Eternal Feminism, Women kept in imminence ,not allowing to achieve transcendence, Exploded myth that Motherhood is enjoyable, 3rd Wave, Early 1990s, Emergence of intersectionality (internal debate within feminism), 4th Wave, starts 2012, Focus on using social media to expose sexual harassment, Eg : MeToo movement, , 188