What does Feminism (and its different parts) say about society?

Generally speaking, Feminist theory describes society as being controlled by the patriarchy - meaning that men are in charge. This is characterised by unequal distribution of and access to power, status, and resources - in favour of men.There are lots of waves and categories of Feminism, such as Marxist Feminism, which also incorporates social class. For example, it's suggested that the role of women in society is to serve both men and the ruling class, by absorbing the anger of the wage slave, so that he is neutralised and doesn't revolt or express anger to the ruling class.Within Feminism, there is a divide - Liberal Feminists and Radical Feminists argue different things about the status of women in society, what should be changed, and how. As their names suggest, Radical Feminists aim for change on a large scale, in a way which is often described as extreme. Conversely, Liberal Feminists don't call for revolution, but argue that equal opportunities will lead to equality between men and women. Radical Feminists argue for women-only spaces, and some even argue for the segregation of men and women.Additionally, Intersectional Feminism incorporates elements of Marxism, Black Feminism, Postmodernism and other theories and viewpoints. Intersectional Feminists see society as discriminatory to a broad range of individuals, and argues beyond traditional aspects of Feminism. While the first wave of Feminism focused on gaining the right to vote, modern (or postmodern) women face different types of inequality.This is just an introduction to the many forms of Feminism and their theories!

Answered by Seraphina S. Sociology tutor

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