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The following are brief definitions of several types of feminisms. This is not an exhaustive list of every type of feminism, nor are the definitions complete or absolute. Additional Resources will provide more information. |
| LIBERAL: Focuses on equality
for women in all areas by working for change within the existing system.
Additional Sources: Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique. Feminist Majority Foundation National Organization Of Women |
| RADICAL: Sees the opression of
women as the worst kind of opression. All opression stems
from patriarchy. The patriarchal system we live in was created by men to oppress women; therefore, we must overthrow the system to achieve equality. Additional Sources: Kate Millet, Sexual Politics Mary Daly, Gyn/Ecology Sexing the Political Bitch Magazine |
| MARXIST: Links women's oppression to the class structure. Women's work is not valued, therefore, women are not valued. |
| PSYCHOANALYTIC: Gender inequality
comes from early childhood experiences which lead to men viewing themselves
as masculine and women viewing themselves as feminine. Inlcudes the view
that masculinity is better than femininity.
Additional Sources: Dorothy Dinnerstein, The Mermaid and the Minotuar Nancy Chodorow, The Reproduction of Mothering |
| POSTMODERN: Focuses on women rather
than singular woman. Emphasis on difference, situated knowledge,
and the absence of meta-narratives to explain experience.
Additional Resources: POSTMODERNISTA: An Online Journal of Online Feminism |
| MULTICULTURAL: Believes that not all women are constructed equally. Each woman experiences oppression differently. Supports diversity, believes that sexism, racism, and classism are not seperable. |
| ECOFEMINISM: Women's opression and
the opression of nature are linked because women have been naturalized
and nature has been feminized.
Additional Sources: ecofeminist.org |
| LESBIAN FEMINISM: Heterosexuality is
fundamental to patriarchy, therefore women should escape heterosexuality,
embrace lesbianism and challenge the social order.
Additional Sources: Jill Johnston, Lesbian Nation Valerie Solanis, SCUM Manifesto Ohio State Women's Studies |