14.2.1 Liberal feminism

Liberal Feminism

Thinkers: Betty Friedan & Mary Wollstonecraft

• Liberal feminists advocate for political equality with men.
• A society governed by liberal feminism enables women and men to maximize personal freedom.
• Liberal feminists aim to dismantle the patriarchy through public institutions, for example feminist legislation.

The First Wave of Feminism

Key Objectives

1. Suffrage: The central goal of the first wave was securing the right to vote for women. In the UK, this culminated in the Representation of the People Act 1918, which granted voting rights to women over 30, and the Equal Franchise Act 1928, which extended the vote to all women over 21, achieving equal voting rights with men.
2. Legal Rights: First-wave feminists also campaigned for broader legal rights, including property rights, educational opportunities, and better working conditions for women. The Married Women's Property Act of 1870 and 1882 allowed women to keep earnings and inherit property.

Key Figures

Methods of Activism

• Peaceful Protests and Petitions: Many first-wave feminists, particularly those in the NUWSS, used peaceful methods such as petitions, lobbying, and public speaking.
• Militancy: Groups like the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), led by Emmeline Pankhurst, adopted more radical methods, including protests, hunger strikes, and civil disobedience, to draw attention to their cause.

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Governance and Policy Should Be Improved by a More Inclusive Attitude Towards Women

• Liberal feminists advocate for constructive engagement in the political and legislative process - sexism can be resolvable via a set of legislation and employing measures to prevent discrimination in the workplace.
• This reflects an emphasis on equality from socialist and radical feminism as liberal feminists advocate for the elimination of the patriarchy through social institutions.

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The Role of Social and Public Institutions in Reforming the Patriarchy

Overview

By challenging and transforming these institutions, liberal feminists seek to create a more equal society where gender does not determine one's opportunities or treatment through social and public institutions.

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Educational Institutions

Challenging Gender Stereotypes

• Schools and universities have the power to challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes by promoting gender equality through curricula and policies. By ensuring that educational content is free from gender bias and that both male and female students are encouraged to pursue a wide range of subjects and careers.

Promoting Equal Opportunities

• Educational institutions are vital in promoting equal opportunities for all genders. This includes ensuring access to education for girls and women, providing scholarships, and creating an inclusive environment that supports the academic and personal development of all students.

Raising Awareness

• Through education, institutions can raise awareness about the effects of patriarchy and the importance of gender equality. Educational campaigns, workshops, and seminars on gender issues can help students and staff to recognise and challenge patriarchal attitudes.

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Legal and Political Institutions

Legislation and Policy Reform

• Legal and political institutions are central to reforming the patriarchy by enacting and enforcing laws that promote gender equality. This includes laws against gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. By creating a legal framework that protects women's rights, these institutions can help dismantle patriarchal structures.
• E.g. the Equality Act of 2010

Representation and Participation

• Ensuring that women are represented in political and legal decision-making bodies is crucial for reforming the patriarchy. Increased female representation in parliaments, courts, and other political institutions can lead to the development and implementation of policies that address gender inequalities.

Access to Justice

• Legal institutions must ensure that women have equal access to justice. This includes making the legal system more responsive to issues like domestic violence and sexual harassment, which are often perpetuated by patriarchal norms.

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Media and Cultural Institutions

Challenging Media Representation

• Media institutions have a significant impact on societal attitudes towards gender.
• Positive and diverse representations of gender in films, television, and advertising can contribute to a more equal society.

Cultural Norms and Values

• By promoting cultural works that challenge traditional gender roles and highlight feminist perspectives, these institutions can contribute to the dismantling of patriarchal structures.

Public Discourse

• By giving a platform to feminist voices and discussions about the impact of patriarchy, these institutions can help to shift societal attitudes and encourage broader support for gender equality reforms.

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Economic Institutions

Workplace Equality

• Economic institutions, including businesses and corporations, play a key role in reforming the patriarchy by promoting gender equality in the workplace. This includes implementing policies for equal pay, parental leave, and against workplace harassment.

Economic Empowerment

• By supporting women's economic empowerment through access to jobs, equal pay, and opportunities for advancement, economic institutions can help to reduce the economic power imbalances that underpin patriarchal structures.

Corporate Social Responsibility

• Businesses can also contribute to gender equality through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that support women's rights and gender equality, both within their organisations and in the broader community.

Economic Policies

• Welfare and Support Services: The state can provide welfare policies, such as maternity leave, childcare, and social security, that enable women to balance work and family life, thereby reducing the patriarchal expectation that women should prioritize domestic roles.

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Religious Institutions

Interpreting Religious Teachings

• Religious institutions have a powerful influence on societal norms and values. By reinterpreting religious teachings to promote gender equality and challenge patriarchal interpretations, these institutions can contribute to the reform of patriarchal structures.

Promoting Gender Equality

• Religious institutions can actively promote gender equality by encouraging female leadership, supporting women's rights, and challenging harmful practices that are justified in the name of religion.

Community Engagement

• Through their role in communities, religious institutions can engage in dialogue and initiatives that challenge patriarchal norms and support gender equality.

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Rationality, Human Nature

Mary Wollstonecraft

• Women are rational beings and are therefore entitled to universal human rights. Mary Wollstonecraft argued that "the mind has no gender."
• By recognising women's rationality, liberal feminists advocate for equal treatment in all aspects of life, including education, employment, and politics.
• Rationality in liberal feminism is closely tied to the concept of autonomy. Women, as rational individuals, should have the freedom to make their own choices about their lives, careers, and bodies. This includes the right to pursue education, engage in political life, and make decisions about marriage and motherhood without societal or legal constraints.

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Betty Friedan's Perspective

• Betty Friedan (1921–2006) was a leading figure in the second wave of feminism, best known for her work that challenged the traditional roles of women in mid-20th century America.
• Friedan emphasised that rationality was central to women's autonomy. She argued that when women are relegated to domestic roles, their intellectual and rational capacities are stifled, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and a sense of fulfilment.

Key Work

Rationality and Autonomy

Friedan argued that women, as rational beings, were being stifled by societal expectations that confined them to domestic roles. She believed that women deserved the same opportunities as men to pursue careers, education, and personal growth. Her work emphasised the need for women to reclaim their autonomy and challenge the cultural norms that limited their potential.

Impact

Friedan's work sparked the second wave of feminism, leading to widespread discussions about gender roles, workplace equality, and reproductive rights. She co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966, which played a crucial role in advocating for women's rights in the United States. Her emphasis on rationality