Vusumuzi Dube
Tatenda Chihota
Talking Sociology
MY previous article focused on what is a sociological perspective and we discussed the basic ideas of functionalism. In this article, we are going to discuss another perspective which is called feminism.
Remember for sociologists to understand society, they use perspectives.
There are various groups in society including old age, the underclass, ruling class ,women and so on.
Therefore, for us to understand the status and the roles of women in society we turn to feminism which I defined as a women’s social movement that is advocating for the rights of women to be heard and tolerated in a Male dominated space.
Feminism was also defined by Magezis (1996) as a broad social movement which allows different points of views that work for women’s rights.
Feminism is a conflict perspective that is of the view that men and women are locked into conflict but women suffer the most from this conflict. For example, women experience discrimination, abuse ,sexual assaults and rape in the hands of men.
There are various types of feminist theories that offer a different explanation of the status of women and what can be done to promote gender equality. The types of feminists include radical feminists, liberal feminists, Marxist feminists, postmodernist feminists and black feminists. In this article, I will focus on radical feminists only.
Radical feminism: I defined radical feminism as a group of women that is too harsh, violent, emotional and disappointed by men. As its name suggests, the theory is radical in nature ,that’s it is violent, so fast, uncompromising and strongly oppose patriarchal systems. Some of the proponents are Kate Millet, Shulamith Firestone and Otner.
Basic ideas: They argue that there is inequality between males and females in society. They reject the functionalist claim that there is basic consensus and order in society. This is because women are experiencing abject and untold suffering. The radicals argue that gender inequality is uprooted from the two following aspects.
Sexuality or Biological make up of men and women
To radical feminists, women are exploited by men and this subordination of women has its origins in biology. According to this theory, men are enemies of women or more correctly they are potentially more harmful, dangerous and toxic.
This is because women can be damaged by men. According to Firestone, the fact that women are impregnated by men means that women are damaged by men.
The assumption is that women are burdened and damaged by men through pregnancy, child labour and breastfeeding, this often weakens women. In this vein, women’s dependency on males increases during pregnancy and breastfeeding for material necessities.
It is this reason why radical feminists see men as dangerous and family as a prison for women. Women are sexually raped by men as a way of exercising power over women. Other radical feminists believe that pornography is a theory and rape is a practice thus women are victims of rape , and their rights are not respected.
Patriarchy: They believe that patriarchy is another factor leading to the oppression of women. Patriarchy was defined by Walby as a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate oppression and exploit women.
According to Kate Millet, politics means power and men derive their power from the patriarchal system that supports and favour males. Patriarchy is an ideology sustained by early socialization in the family and other secondary agents of socialization such as school.
For example, it is a patriarchal system that makes women to believe that men are born leaders and should work for the family, women should not go out at night and what men do women cannot do but in reality, what a man does women can do twice.
In such a view, women are tested positive to oppression.
What can be done to achieve equality?
Since they regard males as enemies, radical feminists hold the view that they can live without men and can do their own things.
Although liberal feminists argue that the situation has changed in today’s society with women gaining some rights, radicals argue that nothing has changed so far in fact the situation has become worse since it is making women to believe in the gender equality myth.
They believe that as long as males are still there, women are in danger.
Women are to struggle on their own for their liberation against their oppressors (men). They reject any assistance from men, in fact, they do not want to see men.
I noted that Ffmily and marriage are seen as oppressive to women as they reduce them women to gender based violence and commodities that can be bought or sold. Thus, family needs to be abolished and replaced by surrogate alternatives.
They also demand the replacement of patriarchy by matriarchal society. Matriarchy is a society dominated by women in all spheres of life such as politics. They want abortion to be legalized especially in the event of rape.
This is because pregnant is really a burden to women.
Applicability of feminism in Zimbabwean society
There are some women’s pressure groups in Zimbabwe that are fighting for equality such as Women’s Action Group (WAG), Affirmative Action Group (AAG) and Women of Zimbabwe Arise( WOZA). Other facilities for women include Girl Child Network, passing of stiffer penalties for rape. Organisations like Msasa Project have protected women from gender domestic violence.
A shelter for such women was set up in Harare. Single sex schools, women’s universities are all efforts for the radicals as they want to live alone. Introduction of birth control mechanics such as female condoms are all efforts of radical feminism.
Criticism of radical feminism: It is criticised as Western, for example abortion is un-African, it touches moral and religious issues. It regarded men as potentially bad and women as good thereby ignoring that women can be bad too.
Although they see Family is as a prison for females , they ignored that it can be also a prison for males. Attempts to end marriage and destroy men is too harsh, as it will delete, erase and end human race.
Although they want to live on their own, they ignore that at some point, women feel good in the presence of their husband.
I also argue that despite their efforts to achieve freedom and equality, males and females are biologically different and they wont be equality between males and females, the two parties shoud just celebrate their differences.
Test your self-questions
Define radical feminism (3). Identify any radical feminists (4). Explain any two basic ideas of feminism (8). Assess the relevance and applicability of feminism in understanding society (10)
n Tatenda Chihota is a Zimbabwean sociology scholar who has authored six sociology books for use in secondary schools.
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