Theoretical Perspectives on Feminism and Gender Equality

Running head: PROJECT REPORT
PROJECT REPORT
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1
PROJECT REPORT
The aim of this paper is to shed light on the theoretical perspectives on feminism from
two course books to explain gender equality. The paper will follow a systematic approach
explaining various theories and concepts while highlighting the contents of the annotated
bibliography from assignment one. In addition, the paper will use several other concepts from the
two books that demonstrate feminism and gender equality. Symbolic interactionism and Conflict
theory from Katie Coleman’s book while multiracial feminism and Socialist feminism from the
Feminist theory handout will be analyzed.
Developed by Karl Marx, the Conflict theory explains that the struggle of the poor
masses against the dominant elite group defines society. In terms of gender, the struggle is
between the powerful male genders against the ‘subordinate’ female gender. According to this
theory, “gender is best understood as men attempting to maintain power and privilege to the
detriment of women” (Coleman, 2017 p. 6). The theory holds that men have always misused the
privileges given to them to dominate women. It defines gender inequality in terms of division in
labor and status in the society, which created social conflict. Further, the theory explains the
‘glass-ceiling’ metaphor – the unseen but unbreakable ceiling preventing women from
developing – and the breadwinner being traditionally associated to being men.
The fight for equality by AAUW could be explained by this theory as the association
fights for giving the power enjoyed by men to the women through education, research and
advocacy.
As opposed to conflict theory, symbolic interactionism focuses on the ways people
influence and are influenced by others and the ways they interpret these influences. Further, the
theory also highlights the ways people “make sense of the world”. In the context of gender