Compare and contrast radical feminism, liberal feminism, and socialist feminism. What are the fundamental arguments of each?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Socialist feminism builds on Marx's theories on oppression in social class in a different context by suggesting that the best way to understand gender relations is to see women as an oppressed social class. However, social inequality and gender inequality are different in that women live with or among their oppressors, whereas social class inequality is usually created by class segregation. In contrast, radical feminism views patriarchy, or male dominance, as being the root of the problem. Furthermore, in patriarchal societies, men are explicitly favored over women. As such patriarchal societies are often characterized by androcentrism, which is the belief that masculinity is superior to femininity. Lastly, liberal feminism is based on the notion that there is inequality in the ways in which institutions such as the government treat men and women. Liberal feminists propose that we should all be provided with equal basic human rights because we are all essentially the same.