The Passage of Legislation Discrimination of Women in Society - Research Paper Example

Introduction The subjugation of women has for a long time been in existence, with men being the main oppressors. With this of affairs, women have consistently tried to defy any form of subordination. The feminist movement arose out of the need for women to make a concerted effort to have their plight heard. Within the last couple of years, these movements were seen to take shape and be more vocal. The economic and political developments in Europe also led to a more organized movement as a result of the changes in society (Jagger 1983). This is the period when the liberal feminist movement started. Over time, various feminist movements have been formed according to the unique problems women were facing. In this paper we take a look at the liberal feminist movement which started around 300 years ago and the radical feminist movement which is viewed as a contemporary movement having started in the 1960s (Bank 1981). The issue in discussion is the differences between these two types of movements. In my writing I discuss the various characteristics of these movements which will serve to show their differences. Liberal feminism In order for one to fully understand and appreciate what liberal feminism entails, focus is on the liberal movement because liberal feminists promoted their ideals on the basic foundation of the liberal movement. Liberalism was proposed for the treatment of all those individuals who possessed the capability of reasoning and acting independently as equals (Carter 1988). This being the case, they should be allowed the opportunity to engage freely in societal matters. However, the liberalist ideals were not all inclusionary and open to all members of society, certain segment of men and women were omitted from the applicability of this form of thought as they were seen as less capable to reason. The liberalist suggested the equality of all individuals which they viewed as a collective principle encompassing all humanity (Coole 1996). The paradox of their ideal was that while they sought to advocate for everyone’s freedom and equity rights, they still chose to discriminate against certain groups. The liberalist sought to preclude women from participation in public life as they were viewed as having deficiency in their reasoning capacity. The liberalist principle while having some intrinsic good fell short especially in women rights that it led to the emergence of liberal feminist proponents who sought to have women be included in the liberalist’s agenda. Liberal feminists saw this exclusion of women as narrowing the scope of the liberalist ideals only to men’s mission. Feminists argued this concept was all wrong and ever since strived to correct this anomaly in the liberalist principle. Liberal feminists have had to advocate for the reformation of liberal ideals and where possible, they have sought to be assimilated into the missions developed for men. Wollstonecraft (1792) who was one of the earliest liberal feminist advocates for women to be given access to education as well as a chance to participate in public matters. The liberal theorists have advocated for people’s rights on the foundation of their ability to reason. Under this fact it followed that feminists had to demonstrate women’s capability of reasoning (Okin 1979). This notion that women can not be rational individuals bears its roots from as far back as Aristotle’s time who together with other philosophers believed that women should be subjugated because they lacked the full faculty (Aristotle and Jowett 2000). Philosophers who followed also held similar views; Hegel (1967) held that women and men were as different as plants were from animals due to their lack of faculty. This notion of women being deficient in their mental faculty therefore lacking the capacity to reason has been sought to be challenged by liberal feminists who concentrated on this issue of rationality. Wollstonecraft (1792) stressed that on the issue of rationality, women could as well possess it like men and the reason that they lacked it could be attributed to lack of education. Mills (1970) reiterated this point by arguing that women’s inferior intellect could be attributed to the fact that they had not been given the same chance to mould their intellect. The views of these two feminists can point to the concerted attempt to explain why women were treated differently. According to liberal feminists, the issue of biology should not factor in showing the differences individuals possess due to their gender. Individual’s procreative differences should not foreshadow the universal humanity. However, what is without question is our physical differences but as liberals focused on the ability of humans to be rational, then the issue of our physicality as a capacity to reason should not factor in (Jagger 1983). It therefore follows that women and men should be treated equally under the law as we are not different. Feminist proponents are then seen to view individual’s sex as being extraneous to ones rights and what is important is our human nature. Liberal feminists also took up the issue of gender characterisation and sought to correct the misconceptions that were found (Coole 1993). An example was in the biological explanation given to women’s parenting abilities, feminists sought to show that this was not the case and that parenting skills were a social product and something which could be learnt. They pointed to the fact that men who have taken up the responsibility of looking after kids fare just as well as women. This is a major fact for feminist in highlighting the discrepancies in gender pay which employers implement because they believe mothers can not be committed in their work as fathers. Modern liberal feminism advocates have picked up from earlier liberal theorists and continued calling for the uniform use of liberal principles to both women and men on an equal basis. Most notably has been on the various legislations that sought to limit women’s rights. This has been in matters to do with women’s right to own property and on matters to do with women suffrage. Apart from challenging existing legislation that limited women’s rights, liberal feminists have promoted laws that stopped discrimination against women (Kanowitz 1969). These proposed legislations have touched on the equal eligibility of women for credit as men, equality in job positions, equal educational opportunities and having the same rights as men when it comes to training courses in the workplace (Jaggar 1983). Benefits for pregnant mothers who are working and maternity leaves are some of the modern issues modern liberal feminists have demanded for women. Liberal feminist also advances patriarchy as being a main factor that has contributed to the subjugation of women. Einsentein (1981) alludes to patriarchy as being a political structure meant to suppress women with an aim of curbing their ability to make decisions on matters to do with their sexuality, childrearing, mothering, loving and labouring. This author adds that this is so because the system knows of the potential ability of women as compared to that of men. Therefore, as Figes (1986) explains, there is a need to wipe out women’s consciousness. The major task of patriarchy is to limit the choices available to women so as to ensure that they concentrate on their main role as mothers (Rich 1976). Men sought to create distinct roles for individuals thereby restricting women to their natural role of home keepers. The law according to Einstentein (1993) was not fully addressing the issue of patriarchy and recognized the fact that if the definition of patriarchy was not included in the law, then changes in the legal system would not change how men got their power from sexual hierarchy. She was of the view that such changes would reflect the evolution within patriarchy as a way of preserving itself. The constant championing of this fact by liberal feminists has led to a change in the legal system whereby patriarchy is no longer protected. Radical feminism Whereas the liberal feminist movement was rooted about 300 years ago, the radical feminism movement is a women’s liberation of the late 1960. While radical feminism has adopted some feminist notions which were formulated by earlier feminist theorist, it has also developed its own ideals capturing women’s present situation. Jagger (1983) explains that radical feminism started from the experiences by white college-educated middle-class American women who while working, were exposed to instances where they were undermined due to their sex. They conceptualised the radical movement as an avenue to fight for the oppression of women after realising their experiences in their respective jobs were a common thing to most women. Jagger (1983) has noted that the principles forming the basic foundation of radical feminism challenge both the liberal and Marxist ways of viewing human nature and social reality. A radical feminist like Firestone (1993) concurs with liberal feminists reasoning that women procreation role has been a cause for subordination in society. This childrearing ability has been used as an excuse to deny women some rights especially in the work set up. She has however moved from this idea and stated that technology can serve to remove this subordination role. In the current society, women can opt to use contraceptives and other modes of controlling gestation to manage their biological ability. If women chose to adopt these technological means, discrimination due to their sex will not happen in the workplace. Firestones views can be seen to shift the discrimination blame in the workplace and the societal imbalance from male domination to the biological attributes of females. This is in stark contrast to what liberal feminist were claiming. Radical feminists do not believe that the reason for women subordination can be attributed to a shortcoming in women’s mental faculty as earlier liberal feminist believed. This belief necessitated the calling for provision of educational chances for women because they viewed the lack of education as contributing to the hindrance to women to develop full capacity for rationality (Mills 1970). This contrast to radical feminist who hold the view that the oppression of women by men is what has necessitated the constant discrimination of women by men. They never agreed that the psychological nature of women was a reason for discrimination. Instead, some radical feminists have focused the blame on male biology. One of the differences between liberal and radical feminist is the way radical feminist have chosen to examine female subjugation. Liberal feminist have concentrated on law and employment as areas where women were being subjected to unequal treatment but as Firestone (1993) points out, liberal feminism moves from these areas into matters touching on the relationship of women in the home, bed and also how women view themselves. Radical feminists have moved on to show how the issue of gender is now playing an important role in matters touching on women because it now serves to configure their whole lives. Liberal feminist tried to show that women are made rather than born, but radical feminist have probed much further to try and get a wider scope of the issue of women oppression. The radical feminists are also confronted by the issue of patriarchy. They however take a different avenue in trying to overcome it. Whereas the liberal feminists sought to use legislation as a means to try and eliminate the prevailing patriarchal system, radical feminist have chosen to recognize nature as being part of them rather than distinct from it (Daly 1990). They accept that there is a level of connection between each and everything. Consequently, they sum up that women’s natural abilities should not be used to their disadvantage. Radical feminist view nature as complementing them rather than limiting them, therefore, they oppose the patriarchal hierarchy imposed on them due to their natural abilities. Radical feminists have accepted childbirth as being natural and as a means of tuning in to nature. However, not all radical feminists accept this proposition. Witting (1973), views the process of giving birth as being forced. She views the fact that societies are planned and that women are meant to give birth as removing the option of choice in women, that these factors makes it compulsory for women to reproduce. She therefore does not see anything natural or biological about giving birth. Dworkin (1974) supports Witting views. She takes issue with how people are viewed as either man or woman. She says that because of this, human beings can not be said to have traits which are found in the opposite sex. Dworkin (1974) concludes that the biology theory is a means by men who are the dominant ones in society to perpetuate their ideals. In liberal feminist theories, it was rationalised that women were treated unequally in the work and public places as a means of subjugating them. However, in radical feminist theory the issue of subjugation is even seen in sexual matters. Sherfey (1970) advances the notion that men oppressed women as a means of taming their sexual drive. She held the view that women had a big sexual drive and if they were to pursue satisfaction, the family setting would suffer. It followed that for there to be a semblance of proper order in the family, women’s sexual needs had to be curbed. Sherfeys theory has some element of originality when viewed with the current perception which is also synonymous with Victorian thinking which views women as having low sex drive. It is important to note that Sherfey even though a feminist, called for the subjugation of women for the family good. In review of this topic, we can see the differences in the manner the advocates for these two theories chose to put forward their case. The liberal feminist movement has to be understood with regard to the times their theorists were living. What hugely distinguishes the liberal feminist theory is acceptance of the liberal theory which proclaimed that equality would only encompass those who had the capability to reason. The liberal feminist sought to have the liberal theory apply to them whereby with consistent campaigning, reforms were implemented to cater for women. The pioneer liberal feminist wanted women to have access to education because this ensured that they would be accorded equal treatment and have opportunities available to them. Contemporary liberal feminists have moved on to different issues still based on the liberal ideology. Modern liberal feminist have been seen advocating for reform in legislation to create equal opportunities to both men and women. They have also proposed the passage of legislation to stop discrimination of women in various spheres of society. The radical feminist ideology is a shift from what liberal feminists viewed as hampering the development of the women folk. Radical feminists developed theories where they view women troubles stem ultimately from male oppression. They are seen coming up with new theories to explain women woes like viewing acts such as procreation as being an oppressive role for women and that women can counter this by using technology around them. They shift from liberal feminist reasoning such as women psychology being a factor in explaining their subjugation, to opine that women subordination can be attributed to male oppression. They also take a different way of fighting patriarchy, whereas liberal feminists chose to use the legal route to counter patriarchy, radical feminist are seen to embrace what the patriarchal society said limited their capability. In this summary, what can be gathered from the two forms of feminist movements is the common goal of advocating for women rights. What usually changes is the different ways that women are subjugated. 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