MDSA01H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Essentialism, Postfeminism, Michel Foucault
Document Summary
Feminist scholars concentrate on how biological categories like male and female become conflated with cultural expectations, resulting in discriminatory social systems that privilege men over women . Feminism is marked by a political commitment to deconstruct those oppressive systems in order to transform society into a fairer, more equitable place for diverse peoples . Categories: male/female: gender the culturally constructed differences between men and women: tastes, roles, activities, etc. Categories: masculine/feminine: essentialism the belief that gender distinctions are innate and natural (e. g. women are more emotional, patriarchy a system of power relations in which women"s interests are subordinated to those of men. Patriarchal systems empower men and disempower women by making constructed, gendered power imbalances seem natural and innate (naturalisation: considering the sexist self. While we may not consciously discriminate against people, engaging in social systems that are inherently sexist makes us complicit in its perpetuation as well. Rejecting sexist social conventions makes one a feminist.
