14.3.7 Kate Millett

Background

Historical Context: Millett's work emerged during the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time of significant social upheaval, including the civil rights movement, anti-war protests, and the rise of second-wave feminism. Her work is rooted in this context of radical activism and critique of established power structures.

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The Nuclear Family

Reproduction of Gender Roles

Kate Millett argued that the traditional family structure is one of the central institutions through which patriarchy is maintained and reproduced. She believed that within the family, children are socialized into rigid gender roles that reinforce male dominance and female subordination.

Enforcement of Male Authority

In the traditional family, Millett saw the father or male figure as the authority figure, often exerting control over the lives of women and children. This power dynamic, according to Millett, mirrors and reinforces the broader patriarchal structures in society.

Control of Women's Sexuality

Millett argued that the family is a key site where women's sexuality is controlled and regulated. Through norms around marriage, monogamy, and sexual behaviour, the family enforces expectations that restrict women's sexual autonomy and freedom.

Marriage as a Tool of Oppression

Millett critiqued marriage as an institution that often perpetuates women's economic dependence on men and enforces their subservience. She believed that marriage, in its traditional form, binds women to roles that limit their personal and sexual freedom.

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Views on Society

Patriarchy as a Social System

Millett defined patriarchy as a social system where male dominance is institutionalized and perpetuated through various societal norms, practices, and institutions. She argued that patriarchy shapes all aspects of society, from the family to politics to culture.

Critique of Cultural Norms

In "Sexual Politics," Millett critiqued how literature, media, and cultural norms reinforce patriarchal values by portraying women in subordinate roles and perpetuating stereotypes about gender and sexuality. She called for a reimagining of cultural narratives to reflect and promote gender equality.

The Family as a Microcosm of Society

Millett saw the traditional family structure as a key site where patriarchy is reproduced and maintained. She argued that the family teaches and enforces gender roles, preparing individuals to accept and perpetuate patriarchal values in broader society.

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Revolution

Cultural Revolution

Millett argued for a cultural revolution that would dismantle the patriarchal values and norms deeply embedded in society. She believed that political and economic changes must be accompanied by a profound transformation in cultural attitudes towards gender and sexuality.

Gender Politics as Revolutionary

Millett saw the struggle for women's rights as inherently revolutionary, as it challenges the very foundation of social, political, and economic systems built on male supremacy. She called for a radical rethinking of power dynamics in all aspects of life.

A Sexual Revolution

Sexual Freedom as Central to Liberation

Millett believed that true liberation for women required not just political and economic equality, but also sexual freedom. She argued that the sexual revolution must include the dismantling of the traditional family, which she saw as a key institution in controlling and suppressing women's sexuality.

Alternative Family Structures

Millett supported the exploration of alternative family structures, such as communal living or non-monogamous relationships, as ways to break free from the constraints of traditional marriage and family life. She believed these alternatives could foster greater equality and personal freedom.

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The State

Patriarchal Institution

Millett viewed the state as a key enforcer of patriarchy. She argued that the state, through its laws, policies, and institutions, perpetuates male dominance by controlling and regulating women's bodies and lives.

Legal Reform vs. Systemic Change

While acknowledging the importance of legal reforms (e.g., laws against discrimination and gender-based violence), Millett believed that these alone were insufficient. She argued that the state itself is deeply patriarchal, and therefore true liberation requires challenging the fundamental structures and ideologies that uphold state power.

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Views on Human Nature

Rejection of Biological Determinism

Millett strongly rejected the notion that gender roles are biologically determined. She argued that differences in behaviour and social roles between men and women are the result of cultural conditioning rather than innate characteristics.

Potential for Equality

Millett believed that human nature is malleable and that with the right social and cultural conditions, true equality between men and women is achievable. She argued that society's structures and norms, not human nature, are what perpetuate gender inequality.