Identities: Applying Feminism

1) What are the five types of feminism outlined on the first page of the Factsheet?

Postmodern Feminism

Liberal Feminism

Marxist Feminism

Radical Feminism

Black Feminism

2) Which category would Judith Butler fit into? What about Angela McRobbie? Laura Bates and Everyday Sexism? Explain your answers.

Bates would fit into post modernism as they talk about past experiences. I believe that Butler would fit into liberal feminism as this suggests that gender roles are not biologically fixed.

3) What was the difference between suffragists and suffragettes? Which approach do you agree with?

The main difference between the suffragists and suffragettes was that suffragists were non-violent. They were more peaceful. Suffragettes were the more radical in term of their protest

4) What was Laura Mulvey's argument regarding Hollywood film? Do you agree with it? Why?

Laura Mulvey said that Hollywood objectifies women so make them look sexy and sexual. This in her opinion was through the cinematography.

5) Watch this YouTube video extract on Jean Kilbourne's Killing Us Softly series and list examples she gives of the media objectifying women:

Beyonce's L'oreal advert
Womens bodies being dismembered in ads
Glamour magazine
Beauty knows no pain advert

6) What is Killbourne's argument regarding the representation of women in advertising?

She states that many women are women are affected by advertising as it produces the right body image for a woman and can often make women feel ashamed.

7) What is Naomi Wolf's argument in The Beauty Myth?

Naomi Wolfs argument is that the influence that the advertisers are having on women is driving unhealthy habits by making them spend money and time on appearance. 

8) Why is the representation of women in music videos a controversial topic for feminists?

I believe that the representation of women in music videos is controversial for feminists because some would feel empowered and encouraged by it, others would say its objectifying women.

9) What is your view of female artists such as Nicki Minaj or Beyonce - do they empower women or reinforce sexist, patriarchal views?

I personally believe that it is influencing women in a negative way as they would feel that it is the ‘ideal’ body shape when some of the women we see on videos and adverts are unnatural and unhealthy.

10) Has new and digital media given women an opportunity to challenge sexist views or is it simply another media platform for women to be oppressed? Explain your view.

I personally believe that it has given a platform to challenge sexist views and ideologies through social media. However, it has also given a platform for negative views to be shared as well.