Feminist sociology

Feminist sociology is a conflict theory and theoretical perspective which observes gender in its relation to power, both at the level of face-to-face interaction and reflexivity within a social structure at large. Focuses include sexual orientation, race, economic status, and nationality.

At the core of feminist sociology is the idea of the systematic oppression[note 1] of women and the historical dominance of men within most societies: 'patriarchy'. Feminist thought has a rich history, however, which may be categorized into three 'waves'. The current, 'third wave', emphasizes the concepts of globalization, postcolonialism, post-structuralism and postmodernism. Contemporary feminist thought has frequently tended to do-away with all generalizations regarding sex and gender, closely linked with antihumanism, posthumanism, queer theory and the work of Michel Foucault.

Heterosexism

Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favour of male-female sexuality and relationships. Heterosexism describes a set of paradigms and institutionalized beliefs that systematically disadvantage anyone other than heterosexual, which can stem from personal beliefs, societal institutions and or a country's government. For example, heterosexual marriage has been or is the only lawful union between two people that was or is fully recognized and subsequently given full benefits in many countries. This has acted to greatly disadvantage people in same-sex relationships within society as compared with those in different-sex relationships.

Feminism and race

Women who suffer from oppression due to race may find themselves in a double bind. The relationship between feminism and race was largely overlooked until the second wave of feminists produced greater literature on the topic of 'black feminism'.[1]

Anna Julia Cooper and Ida Bell Wells-Barnett are African American women who were instrumental in conducting much research and making valuable contributions in the field of black feminism. "Cooper and Wells-Barnett both consciously drew on their lived experiences as African American women to develop a "systematic consciousness of society and social relations." As such, these women foreshadow the development of a feminist sociological theory based in the interests of women of colour."[2]

Feminist critiques of multiculturalism

Debates within ethnic relations, particularly regarding the opposing perspectives of assimilationism and multiculturalism, have led to the accusation that feminism is incompatible with multiculturalist policy. The remit of multiculturalism is to allow distinct cultures to reside in Western societies, or separate societies in general, and one possible consequence is that certain religious or traditional practices may negate Western feminist ideals. Central debates include the topics of arranged marriage and female genital mutilation. Others have argued that these debates stem from Western orientalism and general political reluctance to accept foreign migrants.

Types of Feminism

References

  1. ↑ Mahony, Pat, and Christine Zmroczek. Class matters: 'working-class' women's perspectives on social class. London: Taylor & Francis, 1997. Print.
  2. ↑ Ritzer George and Goodman Douglas (2004) Classical Sociological Theory, Fourth Ed. p.294

Notes

  1. ↑ A phenomenon derived from prehistoric-human social- behavioral patterns, specifically regarding the (Fe)Male relationship; as well as significant gender differentiation in terms of physical and mental attributes. This Idea of origin is Key to the progression of 'equalist' ideals, which have grown to engulf a number of socially important injustices, yet is often not realized in the Psyche of the individual and thus not beheld, conceptually by public; possibly due to the absence of a cross-conceptual, analytical thinking pattern.

Further reading

  • Abbott, Pamela; Wallace, Claire (1990). An Introduction to Sociology: Feminist Perspectives. London, UK; New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN 9780415010368. OCLC 19887117. 
  • Chafetz, Janet Saltzman (1990). Gender Equity: An Integrated Theory of Stability and Change. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 0-8039-3401-7. OCLC 20131005. 
  • Chambers, Clare (2008). Sex, Culture, and Justice: The Limits of Choice. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press. ISBN 978-0-271-03301-3. OCLC 153772741. 
  • Cudworth, Erika (2005). Developing Ecofeminist Theory: The Complexity of Difference. Basingstoke, England; New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1-4039-4115-7. OCLC 59098859. 
  • Enns, Carolyn Zerbe and Ada L. Sinacore (2005). Teaching and Social Justice: Integrating Multicultural and Feminist Theories in the Classroom. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN 1-59147-167-2. OCLC 55625673. 
  • Frye, Marilyn (1983). The Politics of Reality: Essays in Feminist Theory. Trumansburg, NY: Crossing Press. ISBN 0-89594-100-7. OCLC 9323470. 
  • Gottfried, Heidi (1996). Feminism and Social Change: Bridging Theory and Practice. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-02198-3. OCLC 32049514. 
  • Hackett, Elizabeth and Sally Anne Haslanger (2006). Theorizing Feminisms: A Reader. New York, NY; Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515009-0. OCLC 61703851. 
  • Harlan, Judith (1998). Feminism: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 0-87436-894-4. OCLC 38438969. 
  • Harnois, Catherine (2013). Feminist Measures in Survey Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN 1412988357. OCLC 754105745. 
  • Hekman, Susan J. (1996). Feminist Interpretations of Michel Foucault. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press. ISBN 978-0-271-01584-2. OCLC 33665193. 
  • Hekman, Susan J. (1992, 1990). Gender and Knowledge: Elements of a Postmodern Feminism. Boston, MA: Northeastern University Press. ISBN 1-55553-129-6. OCLC 26683085.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Hekman, Susan J. (1995). Moral Voices, Moral Selves: Carol Gilligan and Feminist Moral Theory. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press. ISBN 0-271-01483-0. OCLC 32167823. 
  • hooks, bell (2001). "Black Women: Shaping Feminist Theory". In Kum-Kum Bhavnani. Feminism and "Race". Oxford, England; New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-878236-5. OCLC 45136543. 
  • hooks, bell (1984). Feminist Theory from Margin to Center. Boston, MA: South End Press. ISBN 0-89608-222-9. OCLC 10923867. 
  • Kafer, Alison (2005). "Hiking Boots and Wheelchairs: Ecofeminism, the Body, and Physical Disability". In Barbara S. Andrew; Jean Keller; Lisa H. Schwartzman (editors). Feminist Interventions in Ethics and Politics: Feminist Ethics and Social Theory. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 0-7425-4268-8. OCLC 56840300. 
  • Laslett, Barbara and Barrie Thorne (1997). Feminist Sociology: Life Histories of a Movement. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0-8135-2428-8. OCLC 42329296. 
  • Lengermann, Patricia Madoo and Jill Niebrugge (1996). Ritzer, George, ed. Sociological Theory (See Chapter 12: Contemporary Feminist Theory). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-114660-1. OCLC 9536204. 
  • Marshall, Barbara L. and Anne Witz (2004). Engendering the Social: Feminist Encounters with Sociological Theory. Maidenhead, England; New York, NY: Open University Press. ISBN 0-335-21270-0. OCLC 56527256. 
  • Meagher, Sharon M. and Patrice DiQuinzio (2005). Women and Children First: Feminism, Rhetoric, and Public Policy. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-6539-X. OCLC 56903738. 
  • Millett, Kate (2000, 1970). Sexual Politics. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-06889-0. OCLC 43207076.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Nason-Clark, Nancy and Mary Jo Neitz (2001). Feminist Narratives and the Sociology of Religion. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press. ISBN 0-7591-0198-1. OCLC 47718005. 
  • Okin, Susan Moller, Joshua Cohen, Matthew Howard, and Martha Craven Nussbaum (1999). Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-00431-5. OCLC 40869793. 
  • Rege, Sharmila (2003). Sociology of Gender: The Challenge of Feminist Sociological Knowledge. New Delhi, India; Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 0-7619-9704-0. OCLC 51203874. 
  • Scales, Ann (2006). Legal Feminism: Activism, Lawyering, and Legal Theory. New York, NY: New York University Press. ISBN 0-8147-9845-4. OCLC 62766074. 
  • Smart, Carol (1989). Feminism and the Power of Law. London, UK; New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-03881-2. OCLC 19126063. 
  • Wallace, Ruth A. (1989). Feminism and Sociological Theory. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 0-8039-3397-5. OCLC 19777800. 
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