Identities: applying feminism

Find and read Media Factsheet #86 Applying Feminism. 

1) What are the five types of feminism outlined on the first page of the Factsheet?

Radical Feminism 
This type of feminism believes the cause of women’s oppression is men. It assumes that men deliberately exploit women for their own gain and are seen as 'man haters' (Misandry) . One of the main aims of this is to address violence against women, especially in sexual relationships.

Liberal Feminism 
This type of feminism is mainly concerned with gender socialisation. And to show that gender roles are not biologically determined. The main aim of is to change the ways children are socialised into stereotypical gender roles and to attempt to change social improve the position of women within the family.

Marxist-Feminism 
This feminist approach looks at women’s oppression in relation to capitalism and the class system. One of the aims of this type of feminism is to look at the role of domestic labour within capitalism, namely that women work in the home for ‘free’, and the role women play in producing the next generation of the labour force.

Black Feminism
This feminism is mainly concerned with black and Asian women’s experiences of oppression and exploitation. It combines the  ideas about capitalism, patriarchy and anti-racism.

Postmodern Feminism
This type is associated with third wave feminists. It acknowledges  diversity amongst women and encourages women to find feminist ideas that link with their own experiences of life to create a branch of feminism suitable for them.

2) Which category would Judith Butler fit into? What about Angela McRobbie? Laura Bates and Everyday Sexism? Explain your answers.

Judith Butler would fit into Liberal Feminism as Butler believes that 'traditional feminists are wrong to divide society into ‘men’ and ‘women’ and says gender is not biologically fixed.' and Liberal Feminism focuses on 'change[ing] the ways children are socialised into stereotypical gender roles change the ways children are socialised into stereotypical gender roles'.

Angela McRobbie would fit into the Postmodern Feminism as she 'highlights the empowering nature of magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour, taking a different perspective to traditional feminists.' So like Everyday Sexism, there is the acknowledgement of diversity amongst women (more recently in terms of body image) and allow people to create their own branch of feminism that suits their beliefs and experiences/

Laura Bates and Everyday Sexism would fit into Postmodern Feminism as the sharing of experiences not only allows them to view feminism with regards to their own experiences but encouraged others to view feminist ideas as they are being shown the reality of sexism e.t.c.

3) What was the difference between suffragists and suffragettes? Which approach do you agree with?

Liberal Feminists - Suffragists

The National Union of Womens - Suffrage Society was formed in 1897 to bring together the groups of women who wanted the vote and to expand the rights for all women. They tried to do this peacefully and lawfully.

Radical Feminists - Suffragettes 
They believed that the NUWSS were not making progress quick enough so created a group called the Women's Social and Political Union. They were violent and confrontational and usually broke the law. ' They wanted the same
rights as men and their chosen way to reach this goal was through ‘deeds not words’, most famously chaining themselves to the railings outside Downing Street and the houses of Parliament.'

4) What was Laura Mulvey's argument regarding Hollywood film? Do you agree with it? Why?

Mulvey believes that Classic Hollywood cinematography objectifies women: the camera is representative of a male character/audience member look at a women as if she is a sexual object. I do agree to an extent even in more modern films, just lest subtly, There are usually shots that occasionally seem out of place and unnecessary filming the women in a suggested provocative manner.

5) Watch this YouTube video extract on Jean Kilbourne's Killing Us Softly series and list five examples she gives of the media objectifying women:

Models - Airbrushing to perfection

Oprah Winfreys head put on Anne Margarets body for a TV guide cover in 1989

Lucky Magazine - 4 Images for 1 Image 'pieced together a new girl'

Billboards

Beyoncé having her skinned whitened for the l'oreal advert,

6) What is Killbourne's argument regarding the representation of women in advertising?

The most important thing is looks more specifically the 'ideal female beauty' where women feel ashamed when they fail. Failure is inevitable because you cannot achieve a photoshopped look in reality, you cannot chop other people's body parts that you like and ad it to yourself

7) What is Naomi Wolf's argument in The Beauty Myth?

Naomi Wolf argues that 'beauty' is patriarchal and is a socially constructed notion. Men, regardless of the culture are the ones 'in charge' of the idea of beauty.

8) Why is the representation of women in music videos a controversial topic for feminists?
Representations of women in music videos is a controversial topic for feminists as there are two valid sides. Some believing that women are in control and empowering, while others believe it is a failed attempt because it is simply encouraging the male gaze.

9) What is your view of female artists such as Nicki Minaj or Beyonce - do they empower women or reinforce sexist, patriarchal views?
I think that artists such as Nicki Minaj and Beyonce reinforce sexist and patriarchal views because their lyrics don't empower them, they often contrast with what they are trying to do visually. For example in  Beyonce's video for 'Why don't you love me?' she may be subverting stereotypical gender roles, but the ultimate idea is her lacking in a males approval, she wants their love. Which reinforces patriarchal ideals.

10) Has new and digital media given women an opportunity to challenge sexist views or is it simply another media platform for women to be oppressed? Explain your view.
I do think that NDM has given the opportunity to challenge sexist views whilst giving people to share sexist views at the same time. The only difference is that people are commonly 'called out' for sexist remarks and they are challenged more often that not. There has been a platform created where the general consensus is that sexism, racism e.t.c is not accepted.