Feminism is a diverse collection of social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerning the experiences of women.

As a social movement, feminism large focuses on limiting or eradicating gender inequality and promoting women’s rights, interest, and issues in society.

Traditional ethics shows less concern for women’s issues and interests. It implies women are not as morally mature as men.

Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)

Argued women are not naturally inferior to men, and only appear to be due to lack of education

She suggests that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and imagines a social order founded on reason.

She was a radical in the sense that she desired to bridge the gap between mankind’s present circumstances and ultimate perfection.

John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill

One of the first male feminists

Wrote The Subjection of Women

Talks about the role of women in marriage and how he felt it needed to be changed

John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Millcon’tcon’t

Mill comments on three major parts of women’s lives that he felt are hindering them:› Society and gender construction› Education› Marriage

He believed that gender construction and society in general started the domino effect of what women were to become at that time and the time to come

Some critics find that Feminists are effectively preaching hate against males

Critics say that if you replace ‘male and female’ with ‘black and white’ it could be viewed at racist

Some argue that because of feminism males are becoming oppressed› Those who make this claim argue that

males die from suicide four times more frequently From 1980 to the early 1990’s, 72% of

suicides were white males

When the feminist movement began, women were expected to stay at home and do household tasks

Today, women are obtaining equal jobs and doing just as much in workplace as men

Review Question #1Review Question #1

When did the idea of Feminism first begin, and who had this idea?

Review Question #2

What is the Feminist’s main objective? Ex: What are they trying to rid our society of

Today, women pursue careers that once were never thought could be obtained.

Women are well educated, and are making a big impact on our competitive society.

As mother’s, women still take on the task of caring and nurturing for a child.

A child’s primal attachment is its’ mother, and it is hard to steer a woman away from this responsibility.› Some mother’s today attend school or

work full-time, and care for a child.› Their hard work and dedication should be

appreciated, for our children our are future.

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-ethics/ http://cco.cambridge.org/extract?

id=ccol0521624517_CCOL0521624517A013 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wollstonecraft http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stuart_Mill A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox

› By Anthony Weston (2008)