To what extent do feminists agree that patriarchy is based on human nature? (24m) - 2019 Q
Argument: Feminists largely disagree that patriarchy us based on human nature.
Para 1: Human Nature
Human nature of men promotes and maintains the patriarchy (SdB and SR).
"One is not born but rather becomes a woman" (SdB). She says in ‘The Second Sex’ 1949
that women are relegates to a secondary role ‘the other’ and have passively accepted
patriarchal society’s role for them. Women don’t achieve self-actualisation through work
and creativity but instead are forced into monotonous existences of having children, tending
house and being the sexual receptacles of the male libido.
"personal is political" (SR) - men uphold the patriarchy within the home.
Human nature needs to be changed in order to bring about an end to the patriarchy.
"a revolution within a revolution" (SR) - even with a socialist revolution, the human nature of
men would need to be addressed, they would need to be educated on the patriarchy and
how to avoid creating a new one even after Capitalism is overthrown.
KM says revolution would need to involve separation from men (communes) due to their
human nature.
BUT SdB says that its not entirely men’s fault and that some women are complicit (still
human nature).
Para 2: Economy
Patriarchy relies on the male domination of the economy. Capitalism vs socialism.
SB (socialist) said the capitalist system serves as an instrument of control over women BUT
notes that the origins of sexism predate capitalism. Marxist perspective and sees women as
a low-paid reserve army of labour.
SdB said men’s domination of economic life restricts the life choices open to women. To
achieve equality, society must change in order to provide universal childcare, equal
education, contraception, abortion, and woman’s economic freedom and independence
from man via non-alienating, non-exploitative productive labour to some degree.
CPG believes that the key to female emancipation was economic independence, says sex
and domestic economics go hand in hand as women relied on their sexual assets to please
their husbands for their survival. “The female…is economically dependent on the male.”.
Para 3: State
The state causes patriarchy not human nature.
bh says the state is dominated by white males. She is concerned about intersectionality.
Argues that women can’t be made equal to men as not all men are equal. “women in lower
class and poorer groups, particularly those who are non-white, would not have defined
women’s liberation as women gaining social equality with men since they are continually
reminded on their everyday lives that all women so not share a common social status.”. She
believes a solution to these problems is a form of communion and community.
KM says the state is an agent of the patriarchy. She says that patriarchy demands a
revolution in the domestic division of labour with radical changes towards personal and
family lifestyles.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman: 1st wave, between liberal and socialist.
Simone de Beauvoir: 2nd wave, socialist feminist.
Kate Millet : 2nd wave, radical feminist.
Sheila Rowbotham: 2nd wave, socialist feminist.
bell hooks: 2nd wave, intersectionality feminist.
Argument: Feminists largely disagree that patriarchy us based on human nature.
Para 1: Human Nature
Human nature of men promotes and maintains the patriarchy (SdB and SR).
"One is not born but rather becomes a woman" (SdB). She says in ‘The Second Sex’ 1949
that women are relegates to a secondary role ‘the other’ and have passively accepted
patriarchal society’s role for them. Women don’t achieve self-actualisation through work
and creativity but instead are forced into monotonous existences of having children, tending
house and being the sexual receptacles of the male libido.
"personal is political" (SR) - men uphold the patriarchy within the home.
Human nature needs to be changed in order to bring about an end to the patriarchy.
"a revolution within a revolution" (SR) - even with a socialist revolution, the human nature of
men would need to be addressed, they would need to be educated on the patriarchy and
how to avoid creating a new one even after Capitalism is overthrown.
KM says revolution would need to involve separation from men (communes) due to their
human nature.
BUT SdB says that its not entirely men’s fault and that some women are complicit (still
human nature).
Para 2: Economy
Patriarchy relies on the male domination of the economy. Capitalism vs socialism.
SB (socialist) said the capitalist system serves as an instrument of control over women BUT
notes that the origins of sexism predate capitalism. Marxist perspective and sees women as
a low-paid reserve army of labour.
SdB said men’s domination of economic life restricts the life choices open to women. To
achieve equality, society must change in order to provide universal childcare, equal
education, contraception, abortion, and woman’s economic freedom and independence
from man via non-alienating, non-exploitative productive labour to some degree.
CPG believes that the key to female emancipation was economic independence, says sex
and domestic economics go hand in hand as women relied on their sexual assets to please
their husbands for their survival. “The female…is economically dependent on the male.”.
Para 3: State
The state causes patriarchy not human nature.
bh says the state is dominated by white males. She is concerned about intersectionality.
Argues that women can’t be made equal to men as not all men are equal. “women in lower
class and poorer groups, particularly those who are non-white, would not have defined
women’s liberation as women gaining social equality with men since they are continually
reminded on their everyday lives that all women so not share a common social status.”. She
believes a solution to these problems is a form of communion and community.
KM says the state is an agent of the patriarchy. She says that patriarchy demands a
revolution in the domestic division of labour with radical changes towards personal and
family lifestyles.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman: 1st wave, between liberal and socialist.
Simone de Beauvoir: 2nd wave, socialist feminist.
Kate Millet : 2nd wave, radical feminist.
Sheila Rowbotham: 2nd wave, socialist feminist.
bell hooks: 2nd wave, intersectionality feminist.
