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Examples Of Liberal Feminism Theory

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1.3 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK The theoretical framework of this study is the Liberal Feminism Theory. Liberalism is a political ideology which emphasizes the following: a) Individualism: The individual takes priority over society. b) Freedom: Individuals have the right to make choices for themselves. This freedom is not absolute. c) Equality: No person is morally or politically superior to others. Hierarchies are rejected. d) Rationalism: Humans are capable of thinking logically and rationally. Logic and reason help us solve problems. e) Progress: Traditions should not be kept unless they have value. New ideas are helpful because they can lead to progress in the sciences, the economy and society. f) Free market: …show more content…

The legitimacy of a state is “weakened if half of the population is under-represented,” which of course is the case when women are significantly left out of political decision-making (Chant and Craske 2003). As argued by Carroll and Fox (2006), “as a matter of simple justice, something seems fundamentally wrong with a democratic system that has a majority of women among its voters but leaves women so dramatically underrepresented”. Liberal feminism argues that individuals are rational actors and should be allowed to develop as such. Liberalism supports the rights of individuals to develop their human capacity for reason and rationality, to become fully functioning and participating members of society (Caldwell, …show more content…

Liberal feminism argues that women should be included in politics because to exclude them weakens the legitimacy of democracy. Democracies must fulfill the promise of full political equality for all citizens, and therefore women, minorities, and any other under-represented group must have the opportunity to participate in politics. Liberal feminism argues that the status of women is a measure of the progress and civilization of any given society. Proponents such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) claimed that women’s participation in public life was a key to advancing the status of women. Women are capable of intellectual development and moral progress. This meant that women, like men, were rational creatures and so had the right to participate in public life – to contribute to debates about political, social and moral issues – rather than to being confined to the private sphere of the home and the family, represented by the male “head of the household” (Steans and Pettiford, 2001). Therefore, liberal feminism is an attempt to ensure that the tenets of liberalism are applied to

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1457 Words | 6 Pages

This is a letter that was sent by Abigail Adams to her husband, John Adams, one of the most influential leaders of the American Revolution, at Braintree in Massachusetts on 31 March 1776, to take women’s rights into consideration when drafting new laws. This letter is part of the collection of missives more than 1,100 that John and Abigail exchanged during his nearly fifty years of married life and have a great historic important role. In them, the dreams of youth's ambitious lawyer, complaints of abandonment of his wife Abigail during the years when her husband was sent to Europe to strengthen the independence of the thirteen American colonies and political issues are recounted.

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1338 Words | 6 Pages

“We are, as a sex, infinitely superior to men, and if we were free and developed, healthy in body and mind, as we should be under natural conditions, our motherhood would be our glory. That function gives women such wisdom and power as no male can possess.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an inspirational abolitionist for the women’s suffrage movement. She was always prominent through her writings, actions, philosophies, reformist ideals and moral obligations to this era.

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813 Words | 4 Pages

Lois W. Banner is the author of the biography entitled, “Elizabeth Cady Stanton: A Rebel for Women’s Rights.” Banner has written other works about women which include a textbook called “Women in Modern America: A Brief History” and a book titled “Clio’s Consciousness Raised: New Perspectives on the History of Women.” She has also written other biographies about Margaret Mean, Ruth Benedict, and Marilyn Monroe (Veteran Feminists of America, n.d.). This biography about Elizabeth Cady Stanton gives us a background to determine the origin of Cady Stanton’s outlook on feminism and the work she did to further the cause.

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1200 Words | 5 Pages

She cites the fact that women make up half of the population, and that they are responsible for much of the nation's work and education. Despite this, she notes, women are excluded from the political process and denied a say in matters that directly affect their lives. By using these statistics, Susan B. Anthony effectively demonstrates the illogical and unjust nature of women's disenfranchisement and creates a compelling case for suffrage. Furthermore, Susan B.

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2005 Words | 9 Pages

"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent." —Madeleine Albright. In the 19th century, women did not have many rights to their name. They could not vote, they could not own property, and even speaking in public was looked down upon. Anti-slavery advocates existed, but women’s rights advocates did not. However, women began to speak out for their beliefs and slowly but surely, a women’s rights movement arose.

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Moreover, it highlights a crucial principle. The First Amendment right is specifically evoked to depict an equal representation to all, and Stanton objectifies this statement in view of the fact that this is not applied to women. Women are excluded from having any political role in society and, during that time, were “housewives”. This can relate to the sexism involved when a woman has a voice in political debates. Usually prejudice causes women to be seen inferior and less capable than compared to men and that is unjust.

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1436 Words | 6 Pages

Her passion for women’s rights led to a division between her and more conservative suffragists, and wasn’t recognized as prominent figure of securing voting rights for all citizens. Nevertheless, Stanton fought to end barriers that denied American citizens the right to voice their opinions purely on the basis of their gender, and historians today consider her as the “Philosophical mother of American feminism” (“Elizabeth Cady Stanton” - DISCovering

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During the 19th century, women did not have rights to own property, citizenship, or vote. Men owned all property, women did not have citizenship rights, and only men were able to vote. At the beginning of the Progressive Era, women’s roles expanded and caused increased participation of women in politics. Due to this, the issue of women’s suffrage became a large part of politics. Although The Solitude of Self is an appeal for women’s rights, it says that everyone is an individual and unique.

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Marianne Hoang Mr. Kamison English Honors 1 May 8, 2023 Research Essay on Elizabeth Cady Stanton In American history, there are moments when noteworthy people have faults. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the leading figures in the women’s suffrage movement is no stranger to this. It was her life’s work, she dedicated 50 years to it so that women could have the same political power as men. She was a seemingly outstanding person but had several controversial beliefs.

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275 Words | 2 Pages

50% of the world’s population include women, however, women continue to be underrepresented as citizens, leaders and elected officials. Despite economic prosperity and political stability as a first world country, Canada’s underrepresentation of women in politics is less than in many underdeveloped countries and thus, brings forth inequality in society as well. Statistics Canada shows that majority of students graduating from post-secondary are women, and this indicates that women should have equal opportunities that men do. Women are accounted for 56.3% of total enrolments in Universities in Canada, which is compared with 43.7% for men. These numbers have remained relatively stable over the past decade with female graduates representing 58% of the total number of graduates in 2012 as well.

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696 Words | 3 Pages

Men should have absolute rule over society. This was the mindset back when women's rights activists were considered rare and unorthodox. In A Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, Elizabeth Cady Stanton rejects the status quo and finds solutions to the overbearing problems she sees within society. A concept that has greatly been dreamt over throughout history has been challenged, by a woman. Elizabeth Cady Stanton exerts repetition, allusion, and pathos to express her opinions in favor of increasing women's rights.

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728 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout American society, Women have been downgraded in the face of men. In america’s past, women were seen purely as housewives, and had no place in a higher position. Today women have many more rights, putting them on much more equal terms as men. With this, women have shown their capabilities and their worth to society, leading its progression, and proving that the arguments of the anti-suffrage movement were initially the opposite of what women could really do. The arguments that women’s place is only at home and that men have the sole job of running government and society has been proven wrong by women in contemporary society.

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934 Words | 4 Pages

Their role in society was believed to be that of wife and mother but our mind was changing. Women started to fight for some rights such as the access to the labour force during World War I, the improvement in education allowing women to attend university, and the equality within the marriage, in order to avoid subordination of women. Probably their greatest achievement was the access to the electoral process in the United States of America. Earning the right to vote meant a recognition of women power and intelligence, as well as their ability to participate in politics. This essay will analyze how women fought for their right through some feminist movements.

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1752 Words | 8 Pages

Liberal feminists were so obsessed with the ‘equality’ that they oppose the protective legislation for women (based on this position they have been severely criticized, it will be discussed later in the paper). Jagger (cited in Acker, 1987) discussed liberal feminism’s opposition to protective legislation, based on its desire to overcome sex based laws and establish formal equality. Liberal feminists seek the repeal of all laws that ascribe different rights, responsibilities and opportunities to women and men. They oppose protective legislation for women, believing that the same standards of health and safety should apply to everyone. Feminists such as Marry Wollstonecraft, Johnstuart Mill, Jagger and Struhl, Eisentein and Scheman rejects the major component of tradional liberalism, and asserted that the value of women as human being is not instrumental to the welfare of men and children and that it is equal to the value of men, and demanded various forms of public and private recognition of it, including respect for women and privacy.

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1027 Words | 5 Pages

In today society Feminists ought to disagree about what sexism consists in, and what exactly to be done about it. In addition, Feminism is the belief that women should be treated as potential equals and as social equals to men. A woman should have the right to vote, when an election is approaching, a women will declare that one thing is certain, they will vote. And not only this, the selected political woman must represent the real female values such as more women in senior positions, support of the poor and marginalized in society and openness and tolerance towards other races and religions.

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