PHL 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 30: Gender Inequality, Chauvinism, Domestic Violence
Document Summary
Contemporary feminist ethics and political theory are diverse in premises and conclusion common ground: each theory is grounded in a commitment to ending the oppression, subordination, abuse and exploitation of women and girls. Until recently, most male theorists accepted biological determinism, the idea that there is a foundation in nature for the confinement of women to the family, and for restricting their legal and political rights. There are gender inequalities, which are built into the very definitions of certain positions. For example: so called gender neutral rules like minimum height and weight for certain jobs. Since men are on average taller and heavier than women these rules operate to screen out most women from being able to apply fro the position. Response: the height requirements are based on equipment constraints. Counter response: the equipment is designed by men for men. This is apparently gender neutral", but it systematically excludes women who are the primary caretakers of young children.
