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Contemporary Feminist Issues - Coggle Diagram
Contemporary Feminist Issues
Context
feminism gaining visibility in academia + activism
gender stereotypes + resistance to feminism still persist
binary gender models often erase gender diversity
feminist scholarship expanded, gender prejudice + stereotypical understandings of femininity remain widespread
feminist academic fields remain necessary because gender inequality persists globally + fem scholarship marginalised in mainstream academia
dedicated feminist programmes provide institutional space for addressing gender issues + producing research that influences social + political change
What is feminism?
pursuit of social, political + economic equality between genders
originated largely in Western contexts but feminist movements now exist worldwide + respond to different cultural + historical conditions
historically women excluded from public life + limited to domestic roles - denied education, property ownership, professional careers + political participation
gender inequality exists globally
core objectives
achieving gender equality
challenging social + institutional discrimination
promoting equal access to rights, education + professional opportunities
plural movement
feminism not a unified or monolithic ideology
consists of multiple strands + theoretical approaches that address different forms of inequality + social experience
diversity of women's experiences across cultures, social classes + identities
intersectionality
recognises that gender does not operate independently but interacts w/ other social categories such as race/class/culture/sexuality
highlights how overlapping systems of inequality shape different lived experiences among women + gender-diverse individuals
Women's Studies
developed during second wave of feminism 1960s-1970s
reaction to male-centered academic knowledge
feminist scholars argued that traditional academic disciplines often treated male experiences as universal + neglected women's contributions + perspectives
wanted to center women's experiences and social realities
expanded in 1980s, creation of undergraduate + postgraduate programmes- later faced funding cuts + declining enrolment
main goals:
challenging androcentric (male dominated) knowledge
producing women-centred academic research
connecting academic work w/ feminist activism
Academic feminism + activism
initially feminist scholars closely connected to political activism + social movements - over time academic feminism became more abstract + theoretical
created tensions between academic research + grassroots activism
despite divide, feminist scholarship continues to influence public policy, social debates + international gender equality initiatives
women's studies vs gender studies
shift reflects broader conceptual + political changes within feminist scholarship
gender studies emerges as a field that examines gender as a social + cultural construct rather than biological fact
gender studies perceived to be more inclusive + less politically confrontational because it studies men, women + non-binary identities
womens studies remain important as it prioritises women's experiences + acknowledges historical roots of feminist movements
women's studies also provided framework for analysing global inequalities affecting women esp when gender as an academic category may not translate easily
comparison:
gender studies
focuses on gender as social construct
includes multiple gender identities
often considered more inclusive + academically neutral
women's studies
focuses specifically on women's lived experiences
maintains historical links w/ feminist activism
highlights global issues affecting women
Origins of Prejudice + bias
prejudice is presented as a result of how the human brain processes information rather than as moral failure
brain simplifies complex social realistic through categorization - can lead to stereotyping + bias
How bias develops:
cognitive efficiency
brain uses mental shortcuts to process large amounts of information - leading to stereotypes
evolutionary survival
humans historically divided people into "in-groups" + "Outgroups"
influences perceptions of difference
social learning
cultural environments such as media, family + social institutions
forms unconscious associations
self-esteem + social identity
people tend to favour their own social groups to reinforce belonging + positive self-image
bias is natural, but individuals can control how they respond to automatic reactions
Stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination
stereotype
cognitive beliefs or assumptions about groups
prejudice
emotional or attitudinal responses towards groups
discrimination
behavioural actions based on prejudice
often connected but can occur independently
formation of social identity plays a key role in bias - people show preference for their own social group while negatively evaluating others
types of prejudice
racism - negative beliefs or attitudes based on race/ethnicity
sexism + gender-based prejudice - discrimination based on biological sex/sexual orientation/gender identity
ageism - prejudice directed toward both elderly + young
classism - bias based on social or economic status
religious prejudice -negative attitudes towards individuals based on religious beliefs or affiliation
understanding stereotypes
stereotypes are simplified + generalized beliefs about groups
can be positive or negative but harmful when applied universally as they ignore individual differences
culturally widespread + can influence social treatment + self-perception - even when social realities change, stereotypes persist
understanding prejudice
negative attituded towards individuals based on group membership
explicit prejudice - openly expressed negative attitudes
implicit prejudice - unconscious + automatic biases
implicit can be measured though Association Test - examines subconscious associations between groups + characteristics
discrimination + social consequences
discrimination occurs when prejudiced attitudes lead to harmful actions toward individuals or groups
interpersonal + institutional levels
institutional - social systems + practices that reinforce inequality - disparities in healthcare, social treatment + resource access
prolonged exposure can negatively affect mental + physical health
gender stereotypes
deeply embedded in social institutions + cultural expectations
rely on binary ideas of femininity + masculinity _ oversimplify human behaviour + identity
gender roles vary historically + culturally - socially constructed rather than biologically fixed
can shape research, technology design + workplace environments - leading to exclusion or ineffective solutions
dominant feminine gender stereotypes
Women as primary caregivers
Women as passive or submissive
Women as defined by motherhood
Women as unreliable workers
Women as naïve or needing protection
Women as dependent on men
Women as physically or emotionally weak
Women as unsuitable for leadership
female stereotypes in media
The damsel in distress
The manic pixie dream girl
The cool girl
The career-focused “ice queen”
The “not like other girls” trope
The femme fatale
The strong female character who becomes secondary to male protagonists
The mean girl
The nurturing or emotionally supportive figure
The transformed “geeky girl”
social impact
Reinforce workplace inequality
Encourage self-objectification
Influence career choices
Sustain gender pay gaps
Shape social divisions of labour
strategies for avoiding stereotypes
research real individuals across diverse social contexts rather than relying on assumptions
examine structural + cultural factors that sustain inequality
identify mismatches between stereotypes + lived realities
use inclusive approaches to improve scientific + technological development
stereotype threat - when individuals fear confirming negative stereotypes about their group - can negatively affect their performance