FEMINISM AND THE NEW RIGHT
No natural link between them, both linked to social and political ideas and movements which expressed unhappiness with post war consumer societies in liberal democracies. They can be used to present opposite political points of view eg. family, poverty questions
FEMINISM
Main Assumptions
- Inequalities of power are the basis for gender relationships. The inequality is based on patriarchy, which is neither natural or functional.
- Power is public and private, in and out the home.
- Women are dominated by cultural beliefs (ideology) and social structures, and may be economically exploited.
Feminism and sociology
- Sociology has seen women as an unusual variant of men, the research has been about men.
- Malestream sociology has been seen as ideologically neutral i.e. value free.
- Soliology puts too much weight on the importance of gender in all areas.
- Feminist sociology has its own principles for doing research.
Types of Feminism
- Radical feminism, focuses of female oppression within feminism. Mother role and males being physically stronger are the sources of patriarchy. Sexuality land violence are forms of oppression.
- Marxist feminism, Focuses on economic oppression. Capitalism and patriarchy work together to subordinate women.
- Liberal feminism, focuses on prejudice and ignorance which can be tackled through the legal and political reform.
Evaluation
Arguments for, previously, inequality was considered natural differences, it's also shown that sociology isn't value free but supports the status quo.
Arguments against
- Marxists say gender has overshadowed class.
- In the past, the focus has been on white middle-class women, not black or in developing countries, and also have disregarded other forms of inequality, such as race, disability and sexuality. masculinity and men have been ignored, though modern feminism has now covered this.
Main applications
- Increasing number of topics.
- Feminism now dominates family topics.
- Methodology debates
NEW RIGHT THEORIES
Two strands:
- Market Liberal View, free market produces freedom, planned socialism produces tyranny and poverty.
- Conservative view, traditional values are threatened by trends and beliefs undermining conventional family, readitional education, nationalism and ethnocentrism.
Evaluation
Arguments for
Useful to critise Marx's ideas. Study of enterprise, affluence and consumerism is encouraged for study, and now also important to Marxists and postmodernists.
Against
Benefits of capitalism are limited to some people in some societies. Free market doesn't necessarily bring political freedom and human rights.
Main applications
- Good for debates over poverty and welfare, and opposition to feminist ideas about the family.
- Brought about market reforms in education.
Extra Information
- Not all criticisms of feminism apply to all feminists, eg. Marxist-feminist writers do consider class.
- The new right has been more important politically than in sociology, but it's still useful in considering the other side in family and welfare questions
- The new right has attacked sociology and a levels itself for focusing on poverty rather than affluence.