To what extent do feminist theories remain relevant for interpreting gendered patterns of work.

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Since the late nineteenth-century feminists have sought equality amongst members of society, in response specifically to women’s oppression by men. By noticing this, feminists over the world have united to induce a change to this. Only by spreading their word and through the force of these theories, has women’s consciousness about their fate changed. They have been partly responsible for the passing of new laws – for example –to eliminate gender oppression and fundamentally allow women the same rights as men. Although this does not mean that now man and woman are entirely the same or equal, it does however demonstrate that feminism has encouraged some degree of change in societal structure. This has particularly shown in the workplace, with – for example – more women in the labour market and less gendered divisions in jobs.  Throughout the course of this essay, I will aim to demonstrate some of the gendered patterns of work – in both the U.S and Britain - in relation to feminist theory. I will also present some of the problems with interpreting employment with this theory, and to do this, I will make some notes on changing masculinities.

Mainly in response to industrialisation of the late eighteenth-century – particularly in employment, where men were considered mostly applicable for much of this new work in, for example, manual labour – has liberal feminism emerged. It has also sought to justify that just because of women’s natural obligations to childbirth, their opportunities in employment should not be hindered. It emphasised the role of individual freedom and rights, equality of opportunity and freedom and it encouraged alternative living patterns for women. It has been to varying degrees of success been relevant for noticing the changes in employment patterns over the years, which I will soon highlight.

The liberal feminist approach, through its drive for individual liberty, has continued to mould the change in women’s opportunities right up to this present day. This can be seen in its shaping of many equality reports, such as the Sex Discrimination Act (passed 1975) and the Equality Act (passed 2006). If we continue to look at the present twenty-first century - in which feminist theory remains a driving force in societal change – the changes in gendered patterns of work can be explained through this feminist theory. In order to fully document the changes in gendered employment, it is necessary to look at the changes in education, in which feminism had its part. With a more-or-less equal amount of male and female pupils in twentieth and twenty-first centuries compared to few women in the eighteenth-century, a dramatic shift in women’s education rights and opportunities can be seen. Through specifically liberal feminists’ drive in their theories and with their belief that “the truly educated woman will be a major contributor to society’s welfare” (Tong, 2008:14), more and more women were given the opportunity for education. It is from here on the reduction of women’s oppression in the institution of work can be documented.

Further changes have also occurred with regards to gendered divisions in education, as females’ opportunities have become relatively similar to males’, with the disintegration of ‘manly’ classes such as woodwork, and feminine classes such as sewing. (Tong, 2008:14) This has demonstrated a step in moving away from the ties of gendered segregation with the breakdown of gendered stereotypes in educational institutions. This is also relevant in explaining the changing notions of typical ‘masculinities’, which the schooling institution shaped. This particular change in ‘masculinities’ is an idea which I will expand on - in relation to employment - throughout the course of this essay.

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These changes over the past few decades can explain, to some extent, the changing motivations of women in the workplace, as their opportunities from schooling age have remained close to males’. With women’s opportunities similar to men’s in education, this results subsequently in an alteration of traditional gendered roles and refrains – which the woman in society had previously felt.

Through feminist theory, it is possible to understand this move away from a male dominated educational system, hence workforce. This has subsequently shaped much of women’s employment patterns. I will elaborate on this somewhat throughout the course of the ...

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