Amazon Feminism

 

Amazon feminism is dedicated to the image of the female hero in Greek mythology, as it is expressed in art and literature, in the physiques and feats of female athletes, and in sexual values and practices.

 

Amazon feminism focuses on physical equality and is opposed to gender role stereotypes and discrimination against women based on assumptions that women are supposed to be, look, or behave as if they are passive, weak and physically helpless. Amazon feminism rejects the idea that certain characteristics or interests are inherently masculine (or feminine), and upholds and explores a vision of heroic womanhood.

 

An Amazon feminist, for example, would argue that some people are not cut out physically to be a fire fighter, serve in combat, or work in construction. Whereas some people are physically capable of doing such jobs. No mention of gender is made, as the jobs should be open to all people regardless of gender. Those men and women who are physically capable and want to, should pursue such jobs. Amazon feminists tend to view that all women are as physically capable as all men. (Source: Feminist Utopia)

 

Cultural Feminism

 

The theory that there are fundamental personality differences between men and women, and that women's differences are special and should be celebrated. This theory of feminism supports the notion that there are biological differences between men and women. For example, "women are kinder and more gentle then men," leading to the mentality that if women ruled the world there would be no wars. Cultural feminism is the theory that wants to overcome sexism by celebrating women's special qualities, women's ways, and women's experiences, often believing that the "woman's way" is the better way.  (Source: Feminist Utopia)

 

Ecofeminism

 

Ecofeminism is a theory that rests on the basic principal that patriarchal philosophies are harmful to women, children, and other living things. Parallels are drawn between society's treatment of the environment, animals, or resources and its treatment of women. In resisting patriarchal culture, eco-feminists believe they are also resisting plundering and destroying of the Earth. They feel that the patriarchal philosophy emphasizes the need to dominate and control unruly females and the unruly wilderness. (Source: Feminist Utopia)

 

Individualist or Libertarian Feminism

 

Individualist feminism is based upon individualism or libertarian (minimum government or anarcho-capitalist) philosophies. The primary focus is individual autonomy, rights, liberty, independence and diversity. Individualist Feminism tends to widely encompass men and focuses on barriers that men and women face due to their gender. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

Moderate Feminism

 

This branch of feminism tends to be populated mostly by younger women or women who have not directly experienced discrimination. They tend to question the need for further effort, and think that feminism is no longer viable. They often view feminism as embarrassing (it's thought that this is the group most likely to espouse feminist ideas and thoughts while denying being "feminist"). (Source: Wikipedia)

 

Pop-Feminism

 

Pop-feminism is often mistaken by people to be feminism in general... the negative stereotypical man hating ideology. There is no proof that such feminists exist. But, if such a category of feminists exist, they should be referred to as 'pop-feminists.' This would be the type of feminism that degrades men in all manners and glorifies women. Under pop feminism, beauty is a form of power, and careful attention to one's appearance yields control over men. This contrasts with other forms of feminism that view the quest for beauty as an artifact of a patriarch cal society. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

Radical Feminism

 

Radical feminism is the breeding ground for many of the ideas arising from feminism. Radical feminism was the cutting edge of feminist theory from approximately 1967-1975. It is no longer as universally accepted as it was then, and no longer serves to solely define the term, "feminism."

 

This group views the oppression of women as the most fundamental form of oppression, one that cuts across boundaries of race, culture, and economic class. This is a movement intent on social change, change of rather revolutionary proportions.

 

Radical feminism questions why women must adopt certain roles based on their biology, just as it questions why men adopt certain other roles based on theirs. Radical feminism attempts to draw lines between biologically-determined behavior and culturally-determined behavior in order to free both men and women as much as possible from their previous narrow gender roles. (Source: Feminist Utopia)

 

Separatists

 

Separatists are often wrongly depicted as lesbians. These are the feminists who advocate separation from men; sometimes total, sometimes partial. Women who organize women-only events are often dubbed separatist.

 

The core idea is that "separating" (by various means) from men enables women to see themselves in a different context. Many feminists, whether or not separatist, think this is a necessary "first step," for personal growth. However, they do not necessarily endorse permanent separation. Separatist feminists generally do not believe men can participate in the feminist movement, believing that even if they are well-meaning, men will only create trouble with their masculine perspective and behavior.

 

It is inaccurate to consider all lesbians as separatist. While it is true that they do not interact with men for sexual fulfillment, it is not true that they automatically shun all interaction with men.  (Source: Feminist Utopia)

 

Male Feminism

 

Male feminism calls for different classroom, research, and personal practices on the part of the men who practice it than those undertaken by women. Male feminism seeks to unearned privilege as it has been afforded to men and defines and understands it as unjust, acknowledge just how harmful men (include male feminist) oppressive actions have been to others, and try to envision non-oppressive ways of being in the world. Male feminism seeks to teach ways to perform equality in relation to others. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

Marxist Feminism or Social Feminism

 

A sub-type of feminist theory which focuses on the dismantling of capitalism as a way to liberate women and states that capitalism, which gives rise to economic inequality, dependence, political confusion and ultimately unhealthy social relations between men and women, is the root of women's oppression.

 

According to Marxist theory, in capitalist societies the individual is shaped by class relations; that is, people's capacities, needs and interests are seen to be determined by the mode of production that characterizes the society they inhabit.

 

Marxist feminists see gender inequality as determined ultimately by the capitalist mode of production and the major social divisions as class related. Women's subordination is seen as a form of oppression (rather than an illiberal discrimination) which is maintained (like racism) because it serves the interests of capital and the ruling class. Marxist feminists have also extended traditional Marxist analysis by looking at domestic labor as well as waged work. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

Postmodern Feminism

 

Postmodern feminists argue that there is no single cause for a woman's subordination because sociological gender is itself constructed through language. Because the meaning behind this gender is not universal, there is no single approach towards dealing with the issue.

 

Postmodernism attempts to deconstruct many of the categories that feminists have placed at the center of their theories and activism. Postmodernism claims that terms such as "oppression" are simply constructs that actually inhibit women's freedom because making claims of oppression strengthens the dichotomy of "oppressor and oppressed." Postmodernism unveils the oppressive structures that are built into feminist theories. It reveals not only feminists' role in continuing the dichotomies of oppression, but also the failure of feminist terms such as "woman” to include the diffuse perspectives of various women. (Source: Heather-Noël Schwartz)

 

Postcolonial Feminism

 

Postcolonial feminism often criticizes Western forms of feminism, notably radical feminism and its universalization of female experience. Many postcolonial feminists argue that oppressions relating to the colonial experience, particularly racial, class, and ethnic oppressions, have marginalized women in postcolonial societies. They challenge the assumption that gender oppression is the primary force of patriarchy. Also, they argue that oppressions cannot be ranked at all, as to do so would be to misrepresent their lived experiences. While challenging gender oppression within their own culture, postcolonial feminists also fight charges of being Western as some within their cultures would contend. (Source: Wikipedia)