All feminists are radical and none is conservative. To what extent is this true?

To begin with, all feminists are radical. This is because radical feminists are fundamental, revolutionary and want change to the nature of society. Radical feminists believe that all relations between men and women are inevitably oppressive and the solution to the problems of women in society cannot be achieved by a simple reform, but must involve a radical transformation of the structure of society. In addition, Kate Millett was one of the most radical feminists. She recognized the consciousness of women themselves as an agent of oppression and the family as the origin of inferiority consciousness. She also she described patriarchy as a social constant running through all political, social and economic structures and found in every historical and contemporary society, as well as in all major religions. Radical feminists came to argue for separation from patriarchy on the basis that gender was the primary social and political division within society. As a consequences they founded the slogan that the personal is the political thus rejecting the liberal feminist argument that the public and private spheres are distinct. They believe that patriarchy does not recognize the boundary between private and public sphere. Additionally, radical feminists insisted that the most important political contests are fought out between men and women in their own personal relations and that this political control operated elsewhere, in all classes and in all societies. Radical feminists believed that their task was to encourage all women to become women-centered and to turn away from class, ethnic or religious identities. Sisterhood was the objective, as it was the only means towards liberation for women, and womens consciousness had to be raised to achieve this. They also support the idea of firm rejection of the validity of gender differences while accepting that biological differences are important. Moreover radical feminists believe that in order to liberate women, a new society must emerge in which consciousness of gender difference is eliminated. This indicates the fact that all feminists are radical.

On the other hand, not all feminists are radical. For example, liberal feminists support the idea of reforming than being revolutionary. Liberal feminists do not propose a revolutionary transformation of society. Rather, they would reform some aspects of society in order to achieve their aims. Liberal feminists reject the insistence of the radicals and the socialists that there must be a revolution but a peaceful one if women are to achieve equality. The fundamental structures of modern Western societies, capitalism, pluralist democracy, multiculturalism do not need to be changed significantly. They believe that within these structures women can win equality. Liberal feminists seek equality of opportunity for women and legal, political and economic equality of women. Moreover, liberal feminism has concentrated on reform through the law and changing public attitudes to the position of women. In addition, liberal feminists are promoting the belief that women have exactly equal capabilities to men, except in purely physical work. There must not be in rational basis discrimination in employment. Women should have complete control over their own bodies. This includes control over contraception and sexual health. They also accept that women may choose their own lifestyles and relationships. Liberal feminists pursued a number of issues that affect women in general such as abortion rights and violence in the family. They campaigned to change the attitudes to women which suggest they are inferior. Furthermore, another strand of feminism that is not radical is the social/Marxist feminism. They believe that the oppression of women is economically based and women are used and abused as a source of cheap labour. Many socialist feminists have adapted Marxist analysis in their attempt to understand the subjugation/suppression of women. The main focus of their critique concerns inequality, both in the public sphere and private sphere. Juliet Mitchell wanted to link the psychological causes of womens inferior status in the home to their economic position. By adopting a sense of inferiority in the home, men are able to exploit women in the workplace. They also believe that the exploitation of women in the family is a model of the wider economically exploitation of women. Therefore they support the idea that capitalism relies upon the exploitation of women in order to guarantee the superior position of men. Moreover, the social/Marxist feminists believe that the equality of women

relies upon the destruction of capitalist exploitation in general. This again highlights the fact that not all feminists are radical.

Furthermore, feminists in general are not conservative. This can be shown from the fact that feminists are against patriarchy. Patriarchy is the rule of fathers and the male is a primary authority figure. Fathers have authority over women, children and property and it is the dominance of men and subordination of women. Feminists describe patriarchy as a system of discrimination of women by men. They support that this system includes discrimination in various areas of life e.g. legal inequalities, exclusion from certain activities such as politics and business and unequal rights in marriage. They also believe that the dominance of the father within the family symbolizes male supremacy in all other institutions. Kate Millett supported that patriarchal government is an institution whereby that half of the populace which is female is controlled by that half which is male. Radical feminists have concentrated on sexual and psychological forms of exploitation, particularly emphasizing how the role of the father in a typical family is a model for the dominance of men in wider society. Moreover, modern feminists however believe that politics is an activity that takes place within all social groups and is not merely confined to the affairs of government or other public bodies. Politics exists whenever and wherever social conflict is found. Kate Millett defined politics as power-structured relationships, arrangements whereby one group of persons is controlled by another. This designates the fact that feminists are not conservative.

On the other hand, feminists can be sometimes conservative. It is certainly reasonable for a conservative to believe that society can embrace female equality and the reduction of gender differences without risking fragmentation. It is even conceivable that a conservative could accept that there are valid forms of family other than the standard nuclear model. Conservative feminists wish to restore to womens ability to choose a traditional role for themselves. They admit that it might be reasonable to propose that women may be more appropriate

homemakers than men, given their biological status. Conservative feminists insist that women should have free and informed choices, the resources and opportunities to choose for themselves and must not allow themselves to be governed by patriarchy. This illustrates the fact that feminists can be conservative.

To conclude, there is radical feminism which is a strand of feminism in general but not all of feminists are radical. Moreover, feminists are not conservative although there are some feminists that believe in the idea of conservatism.