Question 1: Define the term 'feminism' in your own words and explain its main goal.

Answer: Feminism is a movement and belief system that advocates for equal rights and opportunities for women and challenges gender inequalities. Its main goal is to achieve gender equality in all aspects of society.

Question 2: Describe two ways in which feminists argue that gender roles are socially constructed.

Answer: Feminists believe gender roles are socially constructed because society teaches individuals what behaviors, expectations, and responsibilities are appropriate for men and women, often through family, media, and education. For example, girls may be encouraged to play with dolls, while boys are encouraged to play with cars, reinforcing stereotypes.

Question 3: Explain the concept of patriarchy and how it relates to feminist theory.

Answer: Patriarchy is a social system where men hold primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control over resources. Feminist theory critiques patriarchy as the root cause of gender inequalities and seeks to challenge and dismantle this system.

Question 4: List and briefly explain two feminist perspectives (e.g., Liberal Feminism, Radical Feminism).

Answer: Liberal Feminism focuses on achieving gender equality through legal reforms and equal rights within the existing society structure. Radical Feminism argues that patriarchy is deeply embedded and calls for a radical restructuring of society to eliminate male dominance entirely.

Question 5: Identify and describe one criticism that opponents might have of feminist theories.

Answer: One criticism is that feminist theories can be seen as promoting division between genders or ignoring the experiences of men. Opponents argue that these theories may overlook the progress made and focus too much on gender conflict.

Question 6: Draw a simple diagram that represents the idea of 'gender socialization.' Include symbols or labels to show how society influences individuals from childhood.

Answer: A correct sketch would include a central figure (child), with arrows pointing from symbols representing family, media, school, and peers, indicating these are sources influencing gender roles. Labels would specify each source.

Question 7: Explain how the concept of 'glass ceiling' relates to feminist ideas about gender inequality in the workplace.

Answer: The 'glass ceiling' refers to an invisible barrier that prevents women from advancing to the highest levels of management or leadership positions in organizations, despite having the qualifications. Feminists see this as evidence of ongoing gender discrimination and inequality.

Question 8: Identify one way that feminist theory has influenced changes in society or policy.

Answer: Feminist theory has contributed to laws such as equal pay legislation, anti-discrimination policies, and initiatives promoting gender equality in education and employment.

Question 9: Describe how intersectionality expands feminist theory to include other social categories such as race, class, or sexuality.

Answer: Intersectionality recognizes that people's experiences of inequality are shaped by multiple social identities like race, class, and sexuality, in addition to gender. It argues that feminist theory should consider these overlapping systems of oppression to fully understand and address inequality.