Liberal Feminism - Criticisms

Criticisms

Critics of liberal feminism argue that its individualist assumptions make it difficult to see the ways in which they argue that underlying social structures and values disadvantage women. They argue that even if women are no longer dependent upon individual men, they are still dependent upon a patriarchal state. These critics believe that institutional changes like the introduction of women's suffrage are insufficient to emancipate women.

While there are critiques of liberal feminism, one of the more prevalent on is that liberal feminism, as a study, allows too much of its focus to fall on a metamorphosis of women into men, and in doing so, disregards the significance of the traditional role of women. Additionally, liberal feminism has been critiqued on the basis of an over emphasis of the rational above the emotional, while arguably, a human is intrinsically both. Liberal feminism focuses on the individual, and in doing so, discredits the importance of the community. A historical critique of liberal feminism focuses on its racist, classist and heterosexist past. Granted, as a whole, liberal feminists feel that in and of itself, their philosophy has not only responded to, but has overcome any inherent racism, heterosexism, and in doing so, has exemplified the strength of liberal feminism and its ability to adapt. One of the leading scholars who have critiqued Liberal Feminism is Catherine A. MacKinnon. Catherine A. MacKinnon is an American lawyer, writer and social activist. Specializing in issues regarding sex equality, she has been intimately involved in the case regarding the definition of sexual harassment and sex discrimination. She, among other leading scholars, view liberalism and feminism as incompatible due to the fact that liberalism offers women a, “piece of the pie as currently and poisonously baked.”

Other critics such as black feminists and postcolonial feminists assert that mainstream liberal feminism reflects only the values of middle-class white women and has largely ignored women of different races, cultures or classes.