From Marxism they view capitalism as hostile towards women and having a negative impact on the freedom of women as a whole. Catherine MacKinnon, belonging to this group, begins her detail of feminism with the difference approach and the dominance approach; two radically different models to attain the same goal of legal sexual equality (McCullough). .
According to Catherine MacKinnon, the difference approach (sometimes referred to as the, "the sameness approach ") states that there are a variety of fundamental characteristics shared between men and women. Where these common characteristics end, sexual inequalities begin. By the sameness/difference approach these sexual inequalities should not be ignored by the law; however, they should be taken into account. Taking into account these basic sexual inequalities would allow men and women to be treated different legally, in such a way that would render the legal process equal for men and women on account of their differences. However, Catherine MacKinnon attempts to distance herself from this model in stating that "the very notion of difference is but a function of men's interests and power. And difference in turn gives rise to apparent sex inequality. Hence, from men's interest and power derive sex inequality (McCullough).
On a more practical level, the difference approach is visible in the creation of jobs in our society. Jobs that are open to people of both sexes may seem gender neutral; however upon inspection it is evident that they are not. Though both men and women have equal opportunity, many jobs (i.e., firefighter, police officer, soldier, etc) are created with the physiology of men in mind and therefore fail to be gender neutral because of their basic definition (McCullough).
A different, and preferred, approach to legal equality by Catherine MacKinnon is the dominance approach. The dominance approach states that whatever differences exist between men and women should not be interpreted as inequalities in order for male dominance.
