Feminist Theory and Practice

Matthew Ponsford
2013 Social Science Research Network  
of 38 Feminist Theory and Practice Articles written by Desrosiers 1 and Lewis 2 focused on the feminist movement from different demographic and jurisdictional standpoints in the United States and Britain, respectively. The authors emphasized the blatant politically centered misogyny of the United States in contrast to the subtler, but equally pervasive, objectification of women in Britain. In Canada, Linda Kealey's writing offers further insight into the historical basis for the oppression of
more » ... men by men through the deceptive use of new scientific "knowledge." 3 In analyzing this theory, it made me realize that women's bodies have not only been used politically to suppress freedom of choice and independence, but biological assumptions and sociological rationales have also been utilized to fabricate particular, private roles for women in society. Kealey's reference to the sociology of Herbert Spencer and biology of Patrick Geddes reminded me of the dangerous dichotomy created during the 1800s and early 1900s feminist movement relating to a woman's private role in the home compared to the male-dominated public arena. Similar to the oppression of women in patriarchal societies,
doi:10.2139/ssrn.2255829 fatcat:5qxoi6u7yndi7ep2hxhbui3i3e