Gender and Politics

1POL415 Introduction to Political Theory

Lecturer: Dr. Bridget Cotter
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Lecture Structure
Meanings of Feminism(s) History of Feminism Sex and gender distinction Are women still oppressed or disadvantaged? Feminism and Liberalism Equality and Difference
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What is Feminism?
a set of political beliefs a type of political and social theory a political movement Feminisms beliefs, theories, movements
A theoretical or political position that is feminist:
recognises the distinction between males and females argues that females are subordinated or disadvantaged in a

system where males are dominant and advantaged.

advocates against the subordination and disadvantaging of women. (from Halley, 2004, Taking a Break from Feminism)
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Waves of Feminism
First Wave Feminism
- Mary Wollstonecraft 1791 - John Stuart Mill 1869

- Suffragettes early 20th C

- Equality feminism

Second Wave Feminism

- Structural Analysis - Socialist Feminists - Radical Feminists - Equality AND Liberation - Equality: state, market, home
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One is not born but rather becomes a woman

(de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, Beginning of Part II)

What is a woman?
Sex and Gender Distinction Sex is Biological Gender is Socially Constructed Anti-essentialism
Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex 1949 (Le Deuxieme Sex)
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The Social Construction of Gender

Little Princess Think of some adjectives to describe this child.

Little Man And this child.

This is the same child as in both pictures

Sex and Gender Categories

Sex
Male Female

Gender
[Androgyny]

Masculinity

Femininity
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Afghan Girls who Live as Boys

FILM: 6min/48secs: http://www.nytimes.com/video/2010/09/20 /world/asia/1248069063442/excerpt-fromdan-rather-reports.html ARTICLES:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/world/asia/21gende r.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15262680

Third Wave Feminism

- Poststructuralist Feminism - Diversity Feminism - Difference Feminism - Post-Colonial Feminisms - The Cultural Turn - Masculinities - Sexualities
Judith Butler, 1990 Gender Trouble

Sex and Gender Sex is a Spectrum, too

Sex
Hermaphrodite Male Female

Gender
Androgyny Masculinity Femininity
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Sex, Gender, Sexuality

Sex
Hermaphrodite Male Female

Gender
Androgyny Masculinity Femininity

Sexuality (sexual orientation)

Bisexual

Homosexual

Heterosexual
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 Video: This is What a Feminist Looks Like by the Feminist Majority Foundation http://feminist.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YA13 GNT8Mc

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Are Women Still Oppressed?

ECONOMIC INEQUALITY: Unequal Pay/Pensions, glass ceiling POLITICAL INEQUALITY: Participation in decision-making VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: domestic violence and others INEQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW: treatment in rape cases

DOMESTIC ROLES AND STEREOTYPES: women as primary carers

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: contraception and abortion Pro-Choice march in Washington DC, April 2004

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Are Women Still Oppressed?

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Feminism and Liberalism?

1) Extension Liberalism
- First wave, Second Wave, Liberal Feminism - Equality and Anti-Discrimination Laws - Economic and Development Approaches

2) Critique of Liberalism
- Second Wave, Socialist Feminism, Radical Feminism - Structural Changes

3) Adapting or Altering Liberalism

- Positive Discrimination - Disadvantaged Minority Rights - Restricting Hate Speech and Displays of Misongyny
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Feminism as Extension of Liberalism

1) Rights-based arguments:
Womens Rights are Human Rights!

2) Utility-based arguments:
Gender equality is essential to:
- Modernisation (development theory) - Economic efficiency (economic liberalism)
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Feminism as Critique of Liberalism

1) A sexual contract (Pateman)

2) Liberalism leaves patriarchy intact

3) Public / Private Division The personal is political! 3) The liberal subject is unembodied and abstract (or: the liberal subject is really a man!)
See Carole Pateman, 1989, The Fraternal Social Contract in The Disorder of Women (also in Keane, 1988, Civil Society and the State; and Pateman,1988, The Sexual Contract 17

Adapting and Altering Liberalism Gendering the Debate:

Gendering the Debate or Gender-framing: inserting a gendered perspective into policy making or advocating the aims of feminism from inside the state.
(see Lovenduski, 2005, Taking a Break from Feminism, pp.6-8)

State Feminism Gender Mainstreaming Womens Policy Agencies (WPAs)

Women-friendly policies
Positive Discrimination
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Altering Liberalism: Differentiated Citizenship

We are not abstract rights-bearing subjects
We are embodied subjects (IM Young) Gender-neutral policy and standard political representation ignores the problems and experiences that come with having a particular body (and the social position that is attached to that body). Disadvantaged groups need to be given special representation to have equal opportunities
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More Reading
Do the biological differences between men and women have any social or political significance? Should policy-makers take these differences into account?
Judith Squires, 2007, The New Politics of Gender Equality, Palgrave
(includes discussions of state feminism, gender mainstreaming, quotas)

Iris Marion Young writes on difference and democracy (adjusting

democracy for disadvantaged groups; and also on gender stereotypes). Useful books include: 1990, Throwing Like a Girl and Other Essays 1990, Justice and the Politics of Difference 2002, Inclusion and Democracy (ebook)

See Module Handbook for:

Lovenduski and Baudino, 2005 Young, I. M. 1989 20

Sources for Statistical Information

Inter-parliamentary Union www.ipu.org
Social Watch:
See their Gender Equity Index under Poverty Eradication and Gender Justice:

www.socialwatch.org

Human Development Reports: www.hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/gii

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Recommended Audio/Video:
Michael Kimmel, 2012, Mens Studies: Peril or Promise This lecture on actually on why men need
feminism, too, given at the Gender Institute, LSE. 1.5 hours (but worth hearing the whole thing, including the discussion after the lecture)
PODCAST:
http://www2.lse.ac.uk/genderInstitute/events/eventsProfiles/201112/micha elKimmel.aspx

Julia Gillard, PM of Australia, gives angry speech

in Parliament about the misogyny of Tony Abbott (opposition leader), 2012. Especially first 5-10 minutes. VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihd7ofrwQX0
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Feminists of Westminster Unite!

a newly-formed UWSU Society with over 50 members; their mission is to provide a friendly and unintimidating place to discuss issues of concern to (men and women) with an interest in gender equality
Blog: http://feministsofwestminster.wordpress.com/ (you can follow the blog to get emailed updates)
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/feministsofwestmin sterunite/

Email address: Feminist.soc@su.westminster.ac.uk 23