Key Features of Socialist and Radical Feminism

When addressing the key features of socialist and radical feminism, the view that women are oppressed by patriarchy and capitalism must be discussed. To understand these key features, one must first define feminism.

Feminism is the theory that men and women should be equal socially, psychologically, economically and politically. A feminist is one who believes in this theory. There are many different branches of feminism such as Amazon, cultural, eco feminism, socialist, separatists, radical, liberal, material, moderate and gender feminism.

The basis of each of the different branches of feminist theory is equality in some or all areas of society, psychology, economy and politics. However, not all feminists share the same ideological belief system with some groups placing a greater emphasis on certain variables as the causes of women’s oppression. Furthermore, different branches of feminism hold differing views as to the possible solutions to achieving the shared outcome of total equality.

The two feminist theories that this paper discusses in further detail are radical feminism and socialist feminism. The radical feminist movement reached its pinnacle in the

Working class women have continued to campaign for rights inside and outside of the workplace, winning many, but by no means enough. For example, rights such as access to abortion, in 1967. Socialist feminists have fought for the demands of working class women and for women’s struggles to be linked with workers struggles. Although the tradition of socialist feminists is proud the Left and labor movement, many socialist groups have rejected feminism claiming it hinders unity. As socialists, the socialist feminist believes in worker solidarity – working class people standing together to fight the bosses and the ruling class. The struggles of working class women and working class men are not separate – they are all part of the struggle against the system that breeds oppressive conditions; capitalism.

The social construction of femininity and female sexuality is dominated by society’s view that women are soft and subordinate. As a consequence of this ideal, male dominated institutions such as the church and traditional models of the family, perceive women as being unable to fulfill roles traditionally viewed as being in the male domain. In the workforce, women are predominantly found in jobs that can easily be viewed as an extension of the types of work they carry out within the domestic environment and as a consequence of this, patriarchal relations remain unchanged (Hartman, 1981).

Socialist feminism movement is seen as the marriage of Marxism and radical feminism. This theory argues that patriarchy is closely connected with capitalism and the equality for women cannot be achieved without also making major political/economic changes in capitalism as a system. The term capitalism denotes an economic system in which the greater proportion of economic life, particularly ownership of and investment in production goods, is carried on under private (i.e., non-governmental) auspices through the process of economic competition and the incentive of profit. Hence, socialist feminists believe that men maintain patriarchy by their dominant influence in the corporate sector and political arena. To win equality, women must stand in solidarity with each other if they are going to overcome inequality.

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