Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur

Radical feminism

Submitted by

Anshita

Ugj23-28

B.A.L.L.B. (Hons. In adjudication and justicing)

Semester 1

Academic session 2023-2028

Submitted to

Prof. Aditya Satpute

Radical feminism is a set of feminist ideologies that emerged in the late 1960s and early
1970s in response to the restrictive policies of liberal feminism. It is characterized by its
focus on the power structures that maintain oppression, in order to combat and eliminate the
root causes of inequality between women and men. This theory recognizes that patriarchy is a
systemic form of oppression that is pervasive in society, rather than a mere social construct. It
is believed that society is inherently patriarchal, and that women are subject to disadvantages
and are more likely to experience discrimination. To achieve genuine gender equality, radical
feminism examines power dynamics and advocates for radical social transformation. This
hypothesis is based on the idea that the relationship between the conflicting factions (gender)
within a society is determined by the imbalance between the sexes and the way in which
different tribes view this problem. Consequently, this hypothesis can be classified as conflict
theory. The radical feminist movement is based on the Marxist theory, which is also
considered to be the most significant conflict theory. Therefore, it is necessary to compare the
Marxist and feminist schools of thought. The primary aim of this research is to identify
similarities among feminists.

INTRODUCTION

Radical Feminism draws attention to the fact that male dominance is present in all aspects of
female life, both in public and in private. Reproduction, marriage, mandatory heterosexuality,
and maternity are the primary targets of this movement, which seeks to bring about positive
change. Feminism is founded on the principle that women are created for women, and that
they are no longer able to handle the mental or physical hardship they are subjected to.
Women are aware of their rights, and are empowered to make their voices heard. They are
now challenging existing norms and advocating for what they truly want to achieve in life.
This movement is driven by the individual and collective experiences of women. Though
feminism is frequently seen as a singular ideology, there are actually many different feminist
approaches to addressing the issues that the female population faces, depending on the
historical and cultural context of the city, the legal status of women in certain nations, or
other factors. Although there are a variety of paths that may be taken, the primary distinctions
between them can be boiled down to how much patriarchal society's relationships are thought
to be the root of all types of discrimination against women. The foundation of radical
feminism is the notion that gender inequality is a fundamental conflict and that patriarchy
directly results in the oppression of women. Radical Feminism draws attention to the fact that
male dominance is present in all aspects of female life, both in public and in private.
Reproduction, marriage, mandatory heterosexuality, and maternity are the primary targets of
this movement, which seeks to bring about positive change. Feminism is founded on the
principle that women are created for women, and that they are no longer able to handle the
mental or physical hardship they are subjected to. Women are aware of their rights, and are
empowered to make their voices heard. They are now challenging existing norms and
advocating for what they truly want to achieve in life.(Mackay, 2015) Radical feminism is a
school of thought that holds gender inequality to be the primary source of all other forms of
oppression and injustice. This belief is rooted in the recognition that patriarchal systems
perpetrate and sustain gender-specific discrimination, resulting in a variety of forms of
oppression. By examining the fundamental power structures and challenging the
predominance of men within society, radical feminism strives to deconstruct the structures
that maintain inequality. By utilizing gender as a primary axis of analysis, radical feminism is
able to gain a comprehensive comprehension of how various forms of oppression interact and
intersect.

Radical feminism is a strong and well-known part of the feminist movement. It is based on the
idea that gender oppression is deeply embedded in social structures. Unlike some other feminist
schools of thought, radical feminism does not accept biological essentialism, or the idea that
gender roles are set by nature. Instead, radical feminists argue that these ideas are cultural
constructs designed to maintain patriarchal power structures. Radical feminism emerged as a
response to the shortcomings of liberal feminism, which focused on judicial and political change.
It seeks to challenge and demolish the underlying social structures that sustain gender-based
oppression, in order to create a truly egalitarian society free from gender discrimination and
violence.

Radical feminism was founded on the theory that several interrelated elements, such as race, class
and sexuality, influence women’s lives. According to this theory, women’s continued
marginalization and subservience within the patriarchal society results in their oppression in
various spheres of life. Radical feminists challenge traditional gender roles and advocate for a
radical transformation of society where male dominance is eliminated. They seek to dismantle the
systems that maintain gender inequality through fundamental socio-economic changes. For
instance, radical feminists might support policies that address the pay gap and workplace
discrimination in order to create an egalitarian society where women are equal to men in terms of
employment and are rewarded for their labor. They might also advocate for reproductive rights
and oppose legislation that restricts women’s autonomy over their reproductive decisions, with
the aim of creating a society in which women have power over their reproductive decisions.

In one study, radical feminism is emphasized as a discourse within the philosophy of conflict.
It highlights the way patriarchal structures marginalize women and fuel societal injustices.
According to the thesis, conflict results from these structural injustices and acts as a driver of
social change.

One study highlights radical feminism as a part of the philosophy of conflict, emphasizing how
patriarchy marginalizes women and fuels social injustice. According to this thesis, conflict arises
from these structural inequities and acts as a catalyst for social change. To sum up, radical
feminism provides a critical lens through which to look at and confront the complex relationships
between social systems, sex, and power. By challenging the status quo and contributing to
ongoing conversations about gender equality and justice, radical feminism rejects biological
determinism and advocates for radical social change. However, some counterarguments to radical
feminism may be that it overlooks individual agency and choice, as well as the possibility of
progress within existing systems that can impede effective social change. One such argument
may be that radical feminism overlooks the individual choices and ambitions of women who may
accept traditional gender roles. According to this perspective, empowering women to choose
whether to conform or challenge social norms can lead to positive social change .1

1
Brokes, A. J. (2002). Radical Feminism: A Documentary Reader, and: Dear Sisters:
Dispatches from the Women’s Liberation Movement, and: The Politics of Women’s Studies:
Testimony from Thirty Founding Mothers, and: Why Feminism?: Gender, Psychology,
Politics (review). NWSA Journal, 14(1), 212–217. https://doi.org/10.1353/nwsa.2002.0005
BASIC CONCEPTS OF RADICAL FEMINISM: POWER, PATRIARCHY, AND
OPPRESSION

The theoretical foundations of radical feminism often consist of these three intertwined
concepts: patriarchy, power and oppression. Both in radical and mainstream feminist theory,
patriarchal culture plays an important role. Where, how and why does this fundamental battle
between the sexes take place? Patriarchy, which encourages tyranny and maintains control,
necessitates power systems that depend on them.

Once the patriarchal system is in place, it has its own equilibrium. Without the influence of
social processes, women live their entire lives without the ability to make their own decisions
about many things that influence them; this is normal, and even intuitive women struggle
with its interpretation. Patriarchy, on the other hand, has its own set of rules and values that
allow it to use physical violence and other forms of violence against anyone who breaks the
conceptual rules and rules of behavior. Patriarchy, as a control-driven response to certain
kinds of stress, has a particular social analogy of reality in that it limits interaction to remove
individual perception, which allows the repressive system to operate smoothly; however, the
loosening or loosening of these restrictions would result in a loss of control and unpredictable
responses of individuals whose reactions would be based on perception rather than strict
standards, which would threaten the continued operation of the entire system. 2 (Lancaster,
1982)

The question to be asked is: If patriarchy is the result of men whose goals of self-
empowerment and self-sufficiency can only be achieved through the suppression of women,
then why do feminists spend so much time trying to teach boys specific behavioral habits
when these behaviors should come naturally when there are no constraints or checks? The
idea of power being desirable, or that many feminists (even though they are often accused of
“wishing to be like men,” never expressed any jealousies towards men for their oppressive
roles, and never believed that these oppressive roles were desirable or worth fighting for), is
another essential part of feminist research about power. Even though radical feminism sees
the need to dominate others as a necessary part of patriarchy, the need to dominate is often
not seen as a natural human need but rather as an inherent part of human relations or a
fundamental principle of social structure.(Dauletova & Rahimova, 2022)

Anne Wilson Schaf argues that the idea that patriarchy is a good thing and that power works in a
way that everyone has more, everyone else has less, is just one of many myths about patriarchy.
As Marilyn French points out, it takes time to establish power over others, and it takes just as
much energy to do it as other ways to get people to work together. That's why it's so hard to argue
that oppression is in the "short-term interest" of the person doing it. Plus, feminists blame
patriarchy for a lot of social issues, like the intentional destruction of nature, bad systemic
responses to people's problems, and policies that lead to constant conflict at the global level. The
third major concept of radical feminism is the concept of repression, which is presented using a
particular set of concepts and beliefs that are associated with the definition of patriarchal society.
According to radical feminism, all human conduct is the result of social restrictions and coercion,

2
ÜSTÜN, K., & SÜREN, A. (2022, July 5). Feminism, Historical Origins Of Feminism And
Basic Concepts. Dünya İnsan Bilimleri Dergisi, 2022(2), 151–169.
https://doi.org/10.55543/insan.1127334
and while each social system has its own unique set of interacting restrictions, these restrictions
do not necessarily lead to repression. Rather, the rigidities that are perceived as repression are the
result of the restrictions on communication and connection that the patriarchal system imposes . 3

Patriarchy is primarily concerned with sexuality, and is based on the notion that assertive or
passive behaviour is directly linked to the level of sexual intensity imposed by predetermined
boundaries. The ideologies of patriarchy for men and women are shaped by the cultural context in
which emotions are experienced. Women emphasize diverse sexual acts in order to reduce the
requirement to demonstrate sexuality, which includes controversial ideas of sexual prohibition. [7]

CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN”S RIGHTS MOVEMENTS

Women belonging to various communities have played an important part in movements for
justice. Not only white women but also black women have played a key role in these
movements, not only as participants but also as leaders. Women have played a variety of
roles, and now they are challenging the roles played by men and going beyond the
boundaries. Throughout history, it has been seen that it is normal for women to make
sacrifices. There are many examples in history where women have sacrificed themselves,
such as “The Montgomery Bus Boycott” in 1955, where women were not just participants but
also leaders. Another important event have been Rosa Parks, who defied the bus segregation
ordinances when she refused to give her place to white men. Rosa Parks was fired from her
job, and had to relocate to find employment. In India, the Government of Delhi abruptly
terminated 884 Angadwadi Workers just for taking part in the strike and demanding an
increase in their honorarium. Single mothers, preganant women are in a state of darkness as
their salaries have not been received since January.

Anita is a single mom who was laid off from her job on March 16. She is trying to find a job
to support her children's studies.4 (Delhi Govt Allegedly Terminates Services of 884
Anganwadi Workers Who Went on Strike, n.d.)

DOES BEING RADICAL REPRESENT US?

3
O’Connor, J. (1982). A New American Justice: Ending the White Male Monopolies. By
Daniel C. Maguire. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1980. xii + 218 pages $9.95 [Minneapolis:
Winston Press, 1982. $7.95 (paper)]. Horizons, 9(1), 169–170.
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0360966900022398

4
Delhi Govt Allegedly Terminates Services of 884 Anganwadi Workers Who Went on Strike.
(n.d.). The Wire. https://thewire.in/rights/delhi-govt-allegedly-terminates-884-anganwadi-
workers-who-went-on-strike
In order for women to grow more autonomous, today's empowered women work to empower
other women.However, sometimes people misunderstand empowerment because some
feminists misrepresent the goals of feminism. Women have a powerful instrument, but if it's
utilized improperly, it hurts everyone. Realizing radical feminism and feminism. I have the
option to choose a job in law, engineering, medicine, etc. because of feminism. Instead of
being a one-way street, feminism was created to allow women more freedom to pursue their
own interests and to resist the patriarchal forces that still dominate society. Radical feminism
is concerned with the word “radical itself”. There is no meeting point of cooperation . Second
biggest problem is men hate . Feminists now-a days waste a lot of time speaking against men
and thinking that every men is a victimizer and every women is a victim. The idea that men
do not care about feminism , gender equality is a big myth. Many men have shown great
concern for women . Feminism is a legitimate cause.Gender equality is the fight for human
rights of women . Instead of publicing this hate , women to show that we are better. It is
better to cooperate on issues and achieve greater goals.

Men’s roles are important because men make up a larger percentage of the population than
women. One of the biggest issues with radical feminism lies in the idea that women are all the
same and face the same issues. Black women in America don’t face the same issues that women
in Pakistan and Zimbabwe do. Black women in Namibia, where men think all women are just like
their mothers in every way, are very subdued. A woman who has grown up in a culture that she is
always ready to defend herself and exact revenge might find herself in a situation where she is
seen as a bully. A woman gets killed by a jealous boyfriend in Portugal every time a case of
domestic violence is reported. Specific solutions are needed for specific problems. People already
know that women should have equal rights as men, and they don’t need us to march around naked
in the streets to prove it. It doesn’t take a monument showing a woman’s private area to prove it.
We use several techniques to prove it. In the end, we don’t want a war between men and women.
Feminists now advocate for things that were once anathema to them. Our society’s inequalities
hold us back from progress. Priorities such as burning women in public or unequal wages are no
longer a priority. feminism isn’t about discrimination; it’s about protecting the rights of everyone,
regardless of sex. For example, women still receive less than men in the workplace for doing the
same work. Women’s financial security is affected by this inequality, which reinforces the notion
that their work is inferior.

The need for equality between men and women and the protection of basic human rights cannot
be overstated. Public harassment and violence, such as burning women in public, are just the tip
of the iceberg. Men also face discrimination in other ways, such as in child custody disputes in
family courts where they are often seen as less competent caregivers. This unequal treatment
undermines the notion that both men and women should be treated equally and reinforces
traditional gender stereotypes. Domestic abuse against men is often overlooked and there are
limited resources and support available to male victims. To address gender disparity, a
comprehensive strategy must be developed that acknowledges the experiences and challenges
faced by everyone.

CRITICISM OF RADICAL FEMINISM

In recent years, radical feminism has become increasingly controversial, with both supporters and
critics of the movement. Some argue that radical feminism is essential for dismantling patriarchal
systems and achieving gender equality. Others argue that radical feminism's extreme views and
exclusionary tactics harm its goals and alienate its supporters. This essay will explore the critique
of radical feminism and its alleged shortcomings, as well as its potential implications for the
broader feminist movement. In recent years, the radical feminism movement has become less
prominent, leading some academics to believe that it is a dying breed of feminism. Other forms of
feminism that compete with radical feminism include cultural feminism, liberal feminism, and
socialist feminism.

However, radical feminism’s decline in visibility doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s becoming less
relevant or influential. Indeed, many claim that its core tenets and critique continue to inform and
shape contemporary feminist thought. Cultural feminism, for example, emphasizes women’s
individual characteristics and their role in shaping society. Libertarian feminism, on the other
hand, emphasizes the role of women in advancing gender equality through political and legal
reforms. Socialist feminism, meanwhile, emphasizes the intersectionality of gender, class and
capitalism, with the aim of promoting a more just society for everyone.

Intersectional feminism is another important part of feminism. It argues that gender cannot be
separated from other social identities like race, sexuality and ability. Radical feminism is
criticized because it argues that different women face oppression in different ways and tries to
challenge the interlocking systems of power that lead to inequality. Intersectional feminism has
played an important role in emphasizing the experiences of marginalised women and challenging
mainstream feminism to be more inclusive in its approach. All in all, the different branches of
feminism offer different perspectives and strategies for gender equality and challenge patriarchal
norms and structures today. Transfeminism, in particular, challenges classic radical feminists for
including in their theory the partial exclusion of transwomen, BIPOCwomen and sex workers.

Radical Feminism: Feminist Activism in the Movement, by Mackay (2015) Radical feminism has
been accused of being inherently aggressive, which has led to some bad publicity. It has also been
accused of being anti-sex, which is an inaccurate but common perception. Transfeminism, for
example, seeks to challenge patriarchy and structures in order to promote gender equality. It
seeks to create an inclusive space where transgender women, bisexual, and transgender queer
women, as well as sex workers, are not marginalised or excluded. It advocates for policies that
safeguard their rights and recognizes their unique experiences in feminist discourse.
Intersectional feminism, on the other hand, seeks to address the multiplicity of forms of
oppression that individuals face based on gender, racial identity, and occupation in order to
promote a more diverse and inclusive movement.

Conclusion

One of the strands of feminist philosophy, known as radical feminism, is founded on the idea
that women are marginalized and subject to discrimination in all areas of society because the
social structure is patriarchal. We are not the first generation who is witnessing enemy of
women working , sleeping peacefully , earning more , having mental peace and impose their
dominance on women.