...Patriarchy and Women’s Reproduction The systems of male domination and female subordination have been a part of the history but these systems still continue to exist even today. The purpose of this paper is to explore how patriarchy controls women’s reproduction resulting in oppression and subordination of women. The paper argues that patriarchy controls women’s lives and their freedom by controlling their reproduction. The paper discusses the following aspects of this social issue: 1) why and how this social problem occurs, 2) the social process by which it is normalized or legitimized in our society, 3) analysis of new reproductive technologies from feminist perspective, and 4) some suggested solutions that would help to resolve this issue. Patriarchy has been defined as the system of male domination or the power relationships by which men dominate women or it is simply, the rule of men (Omvedt, ). It controls women and treats them as inferior to men. Shulamith Firestone argues that reproduction plays a central role in women’s subordination and it is the basis of women’s subordination by men (Walby, 1990). The conventional patriarchal notion of a family is composed of a husband as the bread-winner and the wife as the homemaker and this notion still runs in this contemporary society (Walby, 1990). In other words, women are associated with childbirths and child-rearing whereas men are the ones who financially support the family, meaning they are the ones who have authority...
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...This paper will cover topics such as Intersectionality, The Matrix of Domination, Oppression, The Hegemonic Domain of Power, Resisting Power, and Subjugated Knowledge. I will also...
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...In the mid to late 1900s, Black women were heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the Black Power Movement. These two movements, which spanned from the 1950s to the late 1970s, displayed the constant battle Black people had to fight against their local and national government. As Black women all across the country gained positions of leadership, whether they organized boycotts protesting racial discrimination or led a group of individuals fighting against police brutality, they frequently encountered sexism and racism from both white men and black men. Within the public and private sector of the Civil Rights Movements and the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, black women often had to adopt the strategy of performing...
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...The history of women striving to earn equality in society hasn’t been an easy task because men have been historically dominating and ruling the society in their own way. Women have been through many discrimination regardless their race, class, and color just because men believes women has less ability to take charge of the society. Both Collins in the “Matrix of domination” and Beauvoir by “Woman as other” presents us the history of gender discrimination from a feminist perspective. These two authors present theories on how men dominate women for their own benefit. Moreover, Collins theorized that there are many forms of discrimination in our society and each is interconnected with the other. On the other hand, Beauvoir shows us many tactics...
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...Assess the contribution of feminist perspectives to our understanding of society (33 marks) Feminists see society as patriarchal. They seek to describe, explain and change the position of women within society. The first ‘wave’ of feminism appeared in the late 19th century with the suffragette’s campaign for the right for women to vote. Even though all feminists oppose women’s subordination, there are disagreements on its causes and how to overcome it. Liberal or reformist feminists believe that traditional prejudices and stereotypes about gender differences are a barrier to equality. They believe all human beings should have equal rights. Since both men and women are human beings, both should have the same opportunities. Liberal Feminists argue that laws and policies against sex discrimination in employment and education can secure equal opportunities for women. Campaigning for changes in law can bring about change and we can bring about change through a cultural shift within society. They reject the idea that biological differences make women less competent or rational than men or that men are biologically less emotional or nurturing than women. To bring about change we must shift society’s socialisation patterns. For example society must seek to promote appropriate role models in education and the family by doing this we will benefit from a cultural shift and gender equality will become the norm. Liberal Feminists believe that changes in socialisation and culture are gradually...
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...Feminism is a conflict theory that sees religion as an instrument of patriarchy - a set of beliefs and practices responsible for women’s subordination. There are different types of feminism and the types I will be evaluating in this essay are Liberal, Radical, Marxist and Difference/poststructuralist feminist. Feminists criticise mainstream sociology for being ‘malestream’. By contrast, feminists examine society from the viewpoint of women, they see their work as part of the struggle against women’s subordination. However, although all feminists oppose women’s subordination, there are disagreements among feminist’s theories about its causes and how to overcome them. Liberal feminist are concerned with the human and civil rights and freedoms of the individual, they believe that all human beings should have equal rights. In liberal feminism, the concept of society changing itself to adapt to women does not occur. Liberal feminists insist that all that is needed to change the status of women is to change existing laws that are unfavourable for women and that will open up more opportunities for women to prove themselves as equal to the opposite sex. Oakley (1972) distinguishes between sex and gender. She claims sex differences are seen as fixed and gender differences vary between cultures and over time. Therefore what is considered a proper role for women in one society or at one time may be disapproved of or forbidden in another. Sexist attitudes and stereotypical beliefs about gender...
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...The notion of sexism is a very recent idea in our society. The idea that men were superior to and different from women was so deeply integrated into much thinking that most people never thought to question it. Throughout the history of ideas, female inferiority has been seen as the natural order of things. This is where feminism comes into place... feminism is the view which examines the world from the viewpoint of women, hence this 'traditional' view that men dominate women is challenged by feminists, as feminism believes that women are disadvantaged relative to men and that female interests are ignored or devalued by society. Feminism is therefore the movement which essentially campaigns for equality for women in society; examples of feminist groups which have campaigned for equal rights are the suffragettes and suffragists who protested for the right to vote for women in the 20th century. As Paula Trelchler herself put it... feminism is the radical notion that women are people. Liberal feminist Gavron suggested that women are trapped by the traditional roles within the family and that they should have more choice with regards to marriage and family life. Oakly further argued that the mother housewife role has been responsible for the subordination of women in the workforce. Female professional workers are three times less likely to be married than their fellow male workers. Oakly criticized Young and Wilmott, who in their 1972 study suggested that men were doing more in...
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...main component in the perpetuation of patriarchy in contemporary society, it perpetuates oppressive gender roles, marginalises women and ensures male domination is retained. In terms of the structure of religious organisations, feminists point to the fact that they are male dominated, even though women often make up more of the attendees, often men will occupy the more central and sacred positions in places of worship. This reinforces the subordination of women, and their exclusion from sacred practices mirrors their continued exclusion from high ranking careers, specifically in politics, via the glass ceiling effect. Armstrong identifies women’s exclusion from priesthood in most traditional religions as undeniable evidence of marginalisation, such as in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church. This argument is credible, the marginalisation of women is rife in religion, Islam for example, in which female Muslims are not allowed to touch the Quran whilst on their period. Holm describes this as the devaluation of women in contemporary religion. Disregarding the blatant sexism in religious structures, feminists point to the patriarchy reinforced by monotheistic religious texts, Judaism and Islam for example. The sacred texts, The Bible, Torah and Koran for example, are all written by men, featuring male gods and male prophets. On top of this male domination, the female sex is often represented consistently negatively, often referred to as nothing more than temptresses and tools for...
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...and Elsewhere, Assess the View That Women Are No Longer Oppressed by Religion. Using Material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the view that women are no longer oppressed by religion. Compared to men, women are more likely to express a greater interest in religion, to have stronger personal faith and belief in live after death, and have a stronger personal religious commitment. Also to involve themselves more in religious rituals and worship e.g. they are more likely to attend religious services and they participate more in religious life generally. Bruce also found that women join or involve themselves with new religious movements and new age movements. Religion and religious ideology plays a part in maintaining the male domination over women that is found in many aspects of social life, achieved by religious ideas which seek to control women’s’ sexuality, and emphasise their once-traditional roles as partners of men, mothers, and carers. Most mainstream religions and religious organisations tend to be patriarchal and women and men are rarely treated equally. This is shown in religious scriptures for example in the new testament it says “wives be subject to your husband’s for the husband is head of the wife and Christ is head of the church”. In Christianity the creation story shows how eve was created from Adam’s rib and how eve is the basis of original sin. Another example is shown in the Koran which says that men are in charge of women. ItemA mentions “Feminists see religion...
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...Structures in Greco-Roman Mythology: The Power and the Powerless of Women Introduction Greco-Roman mythology is rich in names, characters, and events. Dozens of gods, goddesses, and mortal women and men participate in a variety of activities that reflect or exemplify behaviors and power relations in Greek and Roman societies. A wealth of literature was written about the relationships between mortals and immortals in Greco-Roman mythology. Much was written and said about the place humans occupy in the complex mythical hierarchies. However, the role and place of women remain the topic of the hot literary debate. In Greco-Roman mythology, the image of woman is always accompanied by the image of slave. Slavery connotations reflect the basic norms of patriarchy that dominated Greek and Roman societies. Like slaves, women were often excluded from the public life and were destined to carry the burden of male discrimination on their shoulders. It would be fair to say, that in Greco-Roman mythology, women (both mortal and immortal) reflect and exemplify the two radical sides of femininity – female subordination and submissiveness to male power, and female rage and monstrousness as a rebel against the existing power and social order in their society. Greco-Roman mythology is an excellent source of knowledge about power relations between men and women. Greek and Roman myths provide abundant information about the place women occupied in their society and the methods they used to rebel against...
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... Jewish Rabbis in the first century were encouraged not to teach or even to speak with women. Jewish wisdom literature tells us that "he that talks much with womankind brings evil upon himself and neglects the study of the Law and at the last will inherit Gehenna [hell]."[3] One reason for the avoidance of women was the belief that they could lead men astray: "From garments cometh a moth and from a woman the iniquities of a man" (Ecclus. 42:13). Indeed, men were often viewed as intrinsically better than women, for "better is the iniquity of a man than a woman doing a good turn" (Ecclus. 42:14).[4] In view of this low status of women, it is not surprising that they enjoyed few legal rights in Jewish society. Women were not even allowed to give evidence in a court of law. Moreover, according to the rabbinic school that followed Rabbi Hillel, a man could legally divorce his wife if she burned his dinner. It was in this oppressive context that Christianity was born. Many people - both men and women - have hailed Jesus as a feminist because of His elevation of women in a male-chauvinist society. Moreover, Paul's statement in Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (NIV) - has been called "the Magna Carta of humanity."[5] Because of the Christian's standing in Christ, it is argued, the subordination of women that was (allegedly) caused by the Fall (Gen. 3) has been replaced with total equality of...
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...patriarchal- based on male domination.• Many feminists regard religion as also patriarchal that reflects and perpetuates this inequality.• Religious beliefs function as a patriarchal ideology that legitimates female subordination. 3. EVIDENCE OF PATRIARCHYRELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS• They are mainly male dominated despite the fact that women often participate more than men in organisations. For example, Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism forbid women to become priests. Armstrong sees women’s exclusion from the priesthood of most religions as evidence of marginalisation. View slide 4. PLACES OF WORSHIP• They often separate the sexes and marginalise women, e.g. seating them behind screens while the men occupy the central and more sacred spaces.• Women’s participation may be restricted, for example, not being able to preach or to read from sacred texts. Taboos that regard menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth as polluting may also prevent participation. For example, in Islam, menstruating women are not allowed to touch the Qur’an. Holm describes this as the devaluation of women in contemporary religion. View slide 5. SACRED TEXTS• They largely feature the doings of male gods, prophets ect, and are usually written and interpreted by men. Stories often reflect anti-female stereotypes, such as that of Eve who in the Judaeo-Christian story of Genesis, caused by humanity’s fall from grace and expulsion from the Garden of Eden. 6. RELIGIOUS LAWS AND CUSTOMS• These may give women fewer rights than...
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...patterns of disinvestment in non-privileged groups are major contributors to the low social and economic position of those groups; Intersectional analysis provides an important lens for reframing and creating new knowledge because it asserts new ways of studying power and inequality and challenges conventional understandings of oppressed and excluded groups and individuals. Collins (2000) in her discussion of Black feminist thought as critical social theory states: For African American women, the knowledge gained at intersecting oppressions of race, class and gender, provides the stimulus for crafting and passing on the subjugated knowledge of Black women's critical social theory. As a historically oppressed group, U.S. Black women have produced social thought designed to oppose oppression (215)....
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...participation in child rearing allows more time for church related activities, plus participation at home, for example Hindu women look after the family shrine, Jewish women pass on the laws of Sabbath to their children * Many feminists’ theories of religion follow Marxist theories arguing that religion is a n instrument of domination and oppression, but unlike Marxism they also see it as a form of patriarchal control – religion reinforces traditional gender roles and legitimises gender inequalities, advocating traditional family structures and therefore acting as an agent of social control. Religious ideology presents women’s subordinate place within the family as normal and natural. * Jean Holm – she says that the basis for women’s subordination is their sexuality. Menstruation makes women unclean thus polluting holy places for example they cannot touch the Qur’an or enter the Mosques when menstruating. Another reason for gender inequality is that women are seen as a distraction – their presence may distract men from their more important role of worship. Holm goes on to describe some of the inequalities within different religions ( Japanese folk religions says that women are responsible for organising public rituals but only men can take part in public performances). * This is a form of sexual apartheid – separating women from men for example women are often confined to the balcony or behind a screen in synagogues. * Stained glass ceiling – a term used to describe...
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...approach Considers power with control over resources or with hierarchical status Symbolical approach Views power as a product of communicative interactions and relationships * Ideology Refers to the taken-for-granted assumptions about reality that influence perception of situations and events. Shapes our understanding about what exists, what is good, and what is possible. Involves assumptions that are rarely questioned: hierarchy is necessary & useful. Can influence our behaviors. Tied to systems of power and domination * Hegemony Process in which dominant group leads another group to accept subordination as the norm * Workers support hierarchical structures because that’s the right way to go * Shapes ideology to achieve acceptance and participation of the subordinated group in the control process Process in which dominant group leads another group to accept subordination as the norm * Workers support hierarchical structures because that’s the right way to go * Shapes ideology to achieve acceptance and participation of the subordinated group in the control process * Emancipation * Is the goal of the critical model * Liberation of people from unnecessarily restrictive traditions, ideologies,...
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