Feminist Theory

Running head: FEMINIST THEORY
Feminist Theory
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FEMINIST THEORY1
Feminist theory refers to extension of the feminism into the theoretical along with the
philosophical discourse. It helps in understanding nature in relation to gender inequality and
it proves to be useful in examining the social role of the men along with the women
(Pateman, 2018). It helps in the analysis of the gender inequality present in the society. The
term “feminism” is used for describing the political along with the economic movement that
can help in the establishment of the equal rights for the women. Feminism consists of the
sociological theories that can help in dealing with the issues in relation to gender difference.
This essay discusses about the history of the feminist theory. The essay also discusses about
the masculinism theory and how it is opposed to the theory of feminism. The essay also talks
about the limitations of the feminism theory and that of masculinism theory.
Feminist theory can be said to be a branch of the theory that shifts the assumptions
away from male viewpoint towards the women in the society. Feminist theory helps in
throwing light on the social problems along with the trends that are experienced by the people
in the society. The feminist theory talks about discrimination along with the exclusion that is
based on sex along with the gender. It talks about the structural along with the economic
inequality prevalent in the society. Feminist theory helps in viewing social world that helps in
illuminating forces that supports the inequality and the oppression in the society (Asch,
2017). It helps in the promotion of pursuit of the equality and the justice in the society.
Previously the perspectives of the women were excluded from that of social theory and the
feminist theories in the present age helps in ensuring that the women in the society get the
opportunities that are got by the men in the society. The feminist theory helps in providing
the analytic framework that helps in understanding the experiences and the social situations
of the women and how they are different from the men in the society. The feminist theorists
hold the belief that different roles are assigned to the men along with the women in the
society on the basis of the general beliefs in the society. The women are marginalised and

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they are called “other” within the patriarchal societies. The feminist theorists state how the
masculinity within the society is developed with the help of socialization. Structural
oppression theory in relation to feminism points forward to the idea that inequality exists in
the society on account of capitalism along with patriarchy. It talks about the fact that all the
women in the society have to face the same kind of oppression that also suppresses people
belonging to the marginalised groups. Cultural feminism talks about the fact that there are
personality differences in between the men and the women and that the differences of the
women should be celebrated in the society. Cultural feminism wants to overcome the aspect
of sexism by the celebration of the special qualities of the women (Pateman, 2018). Eco
feminsim is indicative of the theory that is dependent on the basic principal that the
patriarchal philosophies proves to be harmful for the women and the children. Patriarchal
philosophy stresses on the need of dominating the females so that they are subjugated in the
society.
Power can be said to be the main variable in relation to the two theories of gender:
psychoanalytic feminism along with the radical feminism. The psychoanalytical feminist
explains the power relations in between the men and the women by the reformulation of
Freud’s theories pertaining to human emotions along with the childhood development. They
hold the belief that the conscious calculation cannot help in explaining production along with
the reproduction of the patriarchy (Robinson, 2015). The radical feminists think that the
women can be stated to be a positive thing which is however not acknowledged within the
patriarchal societies. They think that the physical violence is at base of the patriarchy. They
think that the defeating of the patriarchy can take place in the event of women recognizing
their inner strength.
History of the feminism has been derived with the help of narratives of movements
along with the ideologies that can help the women in getting the equal rights. It is indicative