Question 2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of intersectional feminism?

QUESTION ADVICE:

Question 2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of intersectional feminism?
There are two distinct routes you could take to answering this question but both will start the same.

First, you need a brief definition of feminism. You do not need a history of feminist thought!
What problem(s) did feminism aim to address? Presumably you will talk about forms of oppression. So you’ll need a definition of oppression too. Use a philosophical source, not a dictionary.
Why was intersectional feminism introduced? What problem(s) does intersectional feminism address that previous theories of justice (feminist or otherwise) missed?
Try to give your own examples to explain what is meant by ‘single-axis oppression’ and ‘muti-dimensional oppression’. Use authors such as Crenshaw/Nash for your definitions.

Route 1 – Thinking about Crenshaw and her critics/supporters
What objections must intersectional feminism overcome?
For evaluation, assess whether the benefits of intersectional feminism are greater than the weaknesses.
To strengthen your assessment, tell your reader why you make that judgement.

Route 2 – Thinking about multiculturalism, traditional feminist responses, and intersectional responses.
Start as before. Next…
What is the goal of multiculturalism?
Explain the early feminist objections to multiculturalism (think Okin, Shachar)
What might these objections ignore?
Look at the writing from Mookherjee and the response to her on the reading list (it’s a practical rather than a critical response, I would suggest).

Readings for both routes:
Again, see the reading list. In addition, try this:
Section 3.4 of Allen’s SEP: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminist-power/ (understanding 3.3 will give you a more rounded understanding of 3.4).
MARKING ADVICE:

Choose one title from the questions below. Your essay should be between 1700 and 2000 words. This limit includes your title (do give a title!), your footnotes and your essay. Your bibliography is not included. Words over 2000 will not count towards your grade.

Citations take this format: (Newey, 2020, 211).

Note: this is an argumentative, critical essay. You must display the following skills and qualities to do well:

Scholarship. This means you should provide accurate referencing, with page numbers. I will deduct serious marks for failing to include page numbers, since everyone has been advised on this many times. Also, write well. Edit carefully. Eliminate typos.

Knowledge and understanding of academic texts: This means you must have accurate descriptive content from philosophical sources: this means journal articles and books. Don’t use blogs, newspapers, disctionaries, thesaurus.

Critical thinking: This means you must evaluate what you read. Compare responses from authors who disagree with the main view. Offer your answers and reasons for accepting one view over another.

Originality: use your own examples to explain a point or a view. Give your own opinion about the strengths and weaknesses of a view or theory.

Integrity: your work must be your own research. Give credit to any texts you use. IF you take a point from a lecture slide, go and read the original (best) or at the least, credit the slide.

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