Difference feminism holds that there are differences between men and women but that no value judgment can be placed upon them and both sexes have equal moral status as persons.[1]
The term "difference feminism" developed during the "equality-versus-difference debate" in American feminism in the 1980s and 1990s,[2] but subsequently fell out of favor and use. In the 1990s, feminists addressed the binary logic of "difference" versus "equality" and moved on from it, notably with postmodern and/or deconstructionist approaches that either dismantled or did not depend on that dichotomy.[2][3][4]
Difference feminism did not require a commitment to essentialism. Most strains of difference feminism did not argue that there was a biological, inherent, ahistorical, or otherwise "essential" link between womanhood and traditionally feminine values, habits of mind (often called "ways of knowing"[5]), or personality traits.[6] These feminists simply sought to recognize that, in the present, women and men are significantly different and to explore the devalued "feminine" characteristics.[7] This variety of difference feminism is also called gender feminism.[8][9]
Some strains of difference feminism, for example Mary Daly's, argue not just that women and men were different, and had different values or different ways of knowing, but that women and their values were superior to men's.[7] This viewpoint does not require essentialism, although there is ongoing debate about whether Daly's feminism is essentialist.[10][11]
Difference feminism was developed by feminists in the 1980s, in part as a reaction to popular liberal feminism (also known as "equality feminism"), which emphasized the similarities between women and men in order to argue for equal treatment for women. Difference feminism, although it still aimed at equality between men and women, emphasized the differences between men and women and argued that identicality or sameness are not necessary in order for men and women, and masculine and feminine values, to be treated equally.[12] Liberal feminism aimed to make society and law gender-neutral, since it saw recognition of gender difference as a barrier to rights and participation within liberal democracy, while difference feminism held that gender-neutrality harmed women "whether by impelling them to imitate men, by depriving society of their distinctive contributions, or by letting them participate in society only on terms that favor men".[13]
Difference feminism drew on earlier nineteenth-century strains of thought, for example the work of German writer Elise Oelsner, which held that not only should women be allowed into formerly male-only spheres and institutions (e.g. public life, science) but that those institutions should also be expected to change in a way that recognizes the value of traditionally devalued feminine ethics (like care [see ethics of care]). On the latter point, many feminists have re-read the phrase "difference feminism" in a way that asks "what difference does feminism make?" (e.g. to the practice of science) rather than "what differences are there between men and women"?[5]
Essentialism and difference feminismedit
Some have argued that the thought of certain prominent second-wave feminists, like psychologist Carol Gilligan and radical feminist theologian Mary Daly, is "essentialist". In philosophy essentialism is the belief that "(at least some) objects have (at least some) essential properties".[14] In the case of sexual politics essentialism is taken to mean that "women" and "men" have fixed essences or essential properties (e.g. behavioral or personality traits) that cannot be changed. However, essentialist interpretations of Daly and Gilligan have been questioned by some feminist scholars, who argue that charges of "essentialism" are often used more as terms of abuse than as theoretical critiques based on evidence,[15][16] and do not accurately reflect Gilligan or Daly's views.[15][17]
^. Psychology's Feminist Voices. Archived from the original on 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
^ abScott, Joan (1988). "Deconstructing Equality-Versus-Difference: Or, the Uses of Post-structuralist Theory for Feminism". Feminist Studies. 14 (1): 33–50. doi:10.2307/3177997. JSTOR 3177997.
^Bock, Gisela; James, Susan (1992). Beyond Equality and Difference. Routledge. ISBN9780415079891.
^Grande Jensen, Pamela. Finding a New Feminism: Rethinking the Woman Question for Liberal Democracy. p. 2 footnote 4.
^ abTandon, Neeru. Feminism: A Paradigm Shift. p. 68.
^Fowler, Robert Booth (1999). Enduring Liberalism: American Political Thought Since the 1960s. University Press of Kansas. p. 133. ISBN978-0-70-060974-1.
^Ford, Lynne E. (2008). Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics. New York: Facts on File. p. 187. ISBN978-0-81-605491-6.
^Hoagland, Sarah Lucia; Frye, Marilyn. "Feminist Interpretations of Mary Daly". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Sandilands, Catriona (1999). The Good-Natured Feminist Ecofeminism and the Quest for Democracy. pp. chapter 5: "Cyborgs and Queers".
^Voet, Rian (1998). Feminism and Citizenship. SAGE Publications Ltd.
^Grande Jensen, Pamela. Finding a New Feminism: Rethinking the Woman Question for Liberal Democracy. p. 3.
^"Accidental vs Essential Properties". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
^ abHeyes, Cressida J. (1997). "Anti-Essentialism in Practice: Carol Gilligan and Feminist Philosophy". Hypatia. 13 (3): 142–163. doi:10.1111/j.1527-2001.1997.tb00009.x. S2CID 143747304.
^Braidotti, Rosi (1992). "Essentialism" in Feminism and Psychoanalysis: A Critical Dictionary.
^Suhonen, Marja (2000). "Toward Biophilic Be-ing: Mary Daly's Feminist Metaethics and the Question of Essentialism" in Feminist Interpretations of Mary Daly. Penn State University Press. p. 112.
December 29, 2023
difference, feminism, holds, that, there, differences, between, women, that, value, judgment, placed, upon, them, both, sexes, have, equal, moral, status, persons, term, difference, feminism, developed, during, equality, versus, difference, debate, american, f. Difference feminism holds that there are differences between men and women but that no value judgment can be placed upon them and both sexes have equal moral status as persons 1 The term difference feminism developed during the equality versus difference debate in American feminism in the 1980s and 1990s 2 but subsequently fell out of favor and use In the 1990s feminists addressed the binary logic of difference versus equality and moved on from it notably with postmodern and or deconstructionist approaches that either dismantled or did not depend on that dichotomy 2 3 4 Difference feminism did not require a commitment to essentialism Most strains of difference feminism did not argue that there was a biological inherent ahistorical or otherwise essential link between womanhood and traditionally feminine values habits of mind often called ways of knowing 5 or personality traits 6 These feminists simply sought to recognize that in the present women and men are significantly different and to explore the devalued feminine characteristics 7 This variety of difference feminism is also called gender feminism 8 9 Some strains of difference feminism for example Mary Daly s argue not just that women and men were different and had different values or different ways of knowing but that women and their values were superior to men s 7 This viewpoint does not require essentialism although there is ongoing debate about whether Daly s feminism is essentialist 10 11 Contents 1 History 2 Essentialism and difference feminism 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editDifference feminism was developed by feminists in the 1980s in part as a reaction to popular liberal feminism also known as equality feminism which emphasized the similarities between women and men in order to argue for equal treatment for women Difference feminism although it still aimed at equality between men and women emphasized the differences between men and women and argued that identicality or sameness are not necessary in order for men and women and masculine and feminine values to be treated equally 12 Liberal feminism aimed to make society and law gender neutral since it saw recognition of gender difference as a barrier to rights and participation within liberal democracy while difference feminism held that gender neutrality harmed women whether by impelling them to imitate men by depriving society of their distinctive contributions or by letting them participate in society only on terms that favor men 13 Difference feminism drew on earlier nineteenth century strains of thought for example the work of German writer Elise Oelsner which held that not only should women be allowed into formerly male only spheres and institutions e g public life science but that those institutions should also be expected to change in a way that recognizes the value of traditionally devalued feminine ethics like care see ethics of care On the latter point many feminists have re read the phrase difference feminism in a way that asks what difference does feminism make e g to the practice of science rather than what differences are there between men and women 5 Essentialism and difference feminism editSome have argued that the thought of certain prominent second wave feminists like psychologist Carol Gilligan and radical feminist theologian Mary Daly is essentialist In philosophy essentialism is the belief that at least some objects have at least some essential properties 14 In the case of sexual politics essentialism is taken to mean that women and men have fixed essences or essential properties e g behavioral or personality traits that cannot be changed However essentialist interpretations of Daly and Gilligan have been questioned by some feminist scholars who argue that charges of essentialism are often used more as terms of abuse than as theoretical critiques based on evidence 15 16 and do not accurately reflect Gilligan or Daly s views 15 17 See also editCultural feminism Equality feminism Ethics of care Individualist feminism New feminismReferences edit Carol Gilligan Psychology s Feminist Voices Archived from the original on 2020 02 22 Retrieved 2017 05 10 a b Scott Joan 1988 Deconstructing Equality Versus Difference Or the Uses of Post structuralist Theory for Feminism Feminist Studies 14 1 33 50 doi 10 2307 3177997 JSTOR 3177997 Bock Gisela James Susan 1992 Beyond Equality and Difference Routledge ISBN 9780415079891 Voet Rian 1998 Feminism and Citizenship London SAGE Publications Ltd ISBN 9781446228043 a b Schiebinger Londa 2000 Has Feminism Changed Science Signs 25 4 1171 1175 doi 10 1086 495540 PMID 17089478 S2CID 225088475 Grande Jensen Pamela Finding a New Feminism Rethinking the Woman Question for Liberal Democracy p 2 footnote 4 a b Tandon Neeru Feminism A Paradigm Shift p 68 Fowler Robert Booth 1999 Enduring Liberalism American Political Thought Since the 1960s University Press of Kansas p 133 ISBN 978 0 70 060974 1 Ford Lynne E 2008 Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics New York Facts on File p 187 ISBN 978 0 81 605491 6 Hoagland Sarah Lucia Frye Marilyn Feminist Interpretations of Mary Daly a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Sandilands Catriona 1999 The Good Natured Feminist Ecofeminism and the Quest for Democracy pp chapter 5 Cyborgs and Queers Voet Rian 1998 Feminism and Citizenship SAGE Publications Ltd Grande Jensen Pamela Finding a New Feminism Rethinking the Woman Question for Liberal Democracy p 3 Accidental vs Essential Properties Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Retrieved 21 March 2017 a b Heyes Cressida J 1997 Anti Essentialism in Practice Carol Gilligan and Feminist Philosophy Hypatia 13 3 142 163 doi 10 1111 j 1527 2001 1997 tb00009 x S2CID 143747304 Braidotti Rosi 1992 Essentialism in Feminism and Psychoanalysis A Critical Dictionary Suhonen Marja 2000 Toward Biophilic Be ing Mary Daly s Feminist Metaethics and the Question of Essentialism in Feminist Interpretations of Mary Daly Penn State University Press p 112 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Difference feminism amp oldid 1130950121, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
