Study guide Comm. 120 exam 1

By Carlos R Molina

Introduction: woods’ definition of feminism

Feminism is not one single position. Wood defines it as “an active commitment to equality and respect for all forms of life’ p4. “Being “against oppression, be it the oppression of women, men, people with disabilities, specific sexual identities, particular race-ethnicities elderly people, children, animals, or our planet” p4

Ch 1

Sex: is a designation based on biology.

Gender: is a socially constructed and expressed. It is learned and it changes. There are not 2 distinct genders.

(biology influences how we develop but it does not absolutely determine behavior and personality.)

Definition of culture: Culture refers to “structures…and practices that uphold a particular social order” p31 (our culture directly influences how we feel about gender.)

Communication: is a dynamic process; is systemic (occurs within particular situation or situations); has 2 levels of meaning: content (literal) and relationship.

Ch2

Biological Theories of gender: these types of theories offer on explanation for differences between women and men: biological characteristics. These theories say that differences between men and women are based on differences in chromosomes, hormones, and brain structure.

Interpersonal theories of gender: These types of theories assume that interpersonal factors influence the development of femininity and masculinity.

Psychodynamic Theories: the first relationship an infant has fundamentally influences how an infant comes to define his/her identity.

Psychological Theories:

Social learning: individuals learn how to masculine and feminine by imitation of other and getting positive or negative responses from others to their behaviors.

Cognitive development: assumes children play active roles in developing their gender identities. Children pick models to teach them competency.

Cultural theories

Symbolic Interactions: We learn who we are through communication.

Critical Theories:

Standpoint theory: membership in groups shape what individuals experience, know, feel and do. This theory claims that marginalized groups can generate unique insights into how a society works.

• Queer performative theory: argues that identities are not fixed. Argues that humans generate identities through performance (expression).

Ch3

Liberal Feminism: women and men are alike and equal in most respects.

Cultural Feminism: women and men are fundamentally different and should have different right.

Rhetorical Movement “A collective persuasive effort to challenge and change existing attitudes, laws and policies” p66

First wave of Women’s movements in the US

1840-1925 Included liberal and cultural feminist branches. The women’s rights movements 1918-1920, nonviolent protesting for women’s

suffrage (Alice Paul, Lucy Burns)

August 26, 1920: women were granted the right to vote.

The cult of Domesticity; believed women were more moral, nurturing and concerned about others than men. They believed in “true womanhood” and focused on good homes, families and communities.

Second Wave of Women’s Movements in the US

• Radical Feminism: Women’s liberation movement. Basic principle was that oppression of women is the fundamental form of oppression on which all others are modeled.

Lesbian Feminism: They define themselves as women identified to distinguish themselves from heterosexual women whom they see as male-identified.

Separatism: build communities in which women live independently in mutual respect and harmony.

Revalorism: focus on appreciating women’s traditional activities and contributions and increasing society’s appreciation of women and there contribution to society.

EcoFeminism: 1974. As long as oppression is culturally valued, it will be imposed on anyone and anything that cannot or does not resist.

Radical, lesbian, separatism, revalorism and eco-feminism are all cultural feminist movements because they share the idea that women and men are different in important ways.

Liberal Feminism: identifies and challenges institutional practices, policies, and laws that exclude women form positions of influence in public and professional life.

Womanism: Many African American women see womanism as addressing both their racial and gender identities.

Multiracial Feminism: insist that gender does not have universal meaning instead, what gender means and how it affects our lives varies as a result of race, economic class, sexual orientation and so forth.

Power Feminism: society doesn’t oppress women, because women have the power to control what happens to them.

Third Wave of Women’s movements in the US

This wave includes women of different ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, classes, appearances and sexual orientations. Recognizes that women differ in many ways.

The 5 features of the third wave feminists

Remaking solidarity to incorporate differences among women;

Building coalitions; Integrating theory in to everyday

practice; Insisting that political is personal; and Being media savvy.

*6. Embracing aesthetics and consumerism.

Ch4

Profeminist Men’s Movements A profeminist refers to a male feminist. Profeminists believe men and women are

alike in most ways. Profeminists support women’s battles for

equal treatment in society.

NOMAS:

National Organization for Men against Sexism. profeminist men’s movement

Condemns most conventional masculine qualities such as aggression, violence and emotional insensitivity.

White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) profeminist men’s movement

Formed in ’91, it is now the largest men’s antiviolence group in the word.

Masculinist Men’s Movements

Masculinists, or promasculine men, believe men suffer from discrimination because of their sex and that men need to reclaim their manliness.

The main rhetorical strategy of masculinists is to verbally disparage men who define themselves as feminists or who believe that women are entitled to the same rights as men.

Fathers’ Rights Groups

Angry and hurt that men don’t have at least 50% custody of their children after divorce. (fathers 4 justice, American Coalition for fathers, fathers and Families, ect)

Mythopoetic Men

Want men to rediscover their roots of masculine thinking and feeling.

Argue that the traditional masculine ideal was positive.

Men need to reclaim courage and aggression.

Promise Keepers

View reconnection to God’s commandments as the path.

Based on evangelical Christianity. Value strong families and communities. Most are white and middle- or upper

class.

Million Man March

Occurred in Washington, DC on October 16, 1995

Movement for African American men to register to vote, fight drugs, recommit themselves to their children and families and stand against unemployment and violence.

References Dr. Niles study guide Wood J. T. (2009) Gendered lives:

communication, gender, and culture (8th ed.) Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning