Types of Feminism and Other Important Terms

Structuralism: The idea that everything can be confined within a structure. This idea was inspired from Saussure’s linguistic structure and the main proponent of this idea is Claude Levi-Strauss. Binary opposites and hierarchy are two main features of this ideology. This is a scientific approach.

Post-Structuralism: The main proponents were Foucault and Derrida and they talked about a decentered universe and deconstruction, meaning that there cannot be a hierarchal order. There is no absolute truth.

Post-modernism: It basically dealt with parody and pastiche. It is a cultural movement which used flashy and festive colors and exaggerated forms of expression.

Colonialism: The idea which leads a state to obtain authority of another state partially, initiating with the aim of trading. Generally, this enables the colonizing country to gain benefits bereaving the colonized country of its powers.

Post-colonialism: This is the aftermath of a state becoming free from colonization. The effects and results of colonization on a state are studied under this category.

Post-Development: The proponents of this ideology states that the conceptualization of development is done by the Western-Northern standards. Basically, we define “development” that aligns with what the Western-Northern philosophy means by “development”.

Feminism: The ideology that states that all people should have the same rights and opportunities irrespective of gender. A person should be able to pursue how he or she lives his or her life without the societal pressure imposed on him or her due to gender.

Liberal Feminism: The main idea of this is that women should have the right to choose and make decisions for themselves instead of letting other impose their ideas on them. It is individualistic in nature without any fixed set of principles.

Black Feminism: It is the idea that sexism is not a stand-alone notion. Sexism is connected with class inequality, racism and gender-based identity. Basically, sexism cannot be addressed on its own without connecting it to class orientation and other topics.

Post-Modern Feminism: The ideology stems around the notion that gender is constructed on the basis of language. The idea for this is heavily connected to postmodernism and post-structuralism. Judith Butler is one of the main proponents of this idea.

Radical Feminism: Radical feminists take a strong stance against male dominance and patriarchy and they are adamant to remove all sorts and form of male domination from the society.

Marxist Feminism: The sub-category of feminism which tries to understand oppression of women under the influence of capitalism and ownership of private property.  

Socialist Feminism: It borrows ideas from Marxist and Radical Feminism and argues that freedom can only be achieved if the economy- based patriarchy is addressed and eradicated.

Eco-Feminism: In the very basic sense, it deals with the connection between feminism and the influence of natural world on it.

Post-Colonial Feminism: A feminist approach which discusses effects of colonization on women outside of the West. Third World Feminism is part of this.