liberal feminism
Equality through institutions
Liberal feminism is a variety of feminism that works within existing political and economic systems rather than seeking to overturn them.
It emphasizes legal equality, workplace opportunity, and individual rights—securing women the same access to education, employment, and political participation that men enjoy.
Critics from the left argue it neglects structural inequalities of class and race; critics from the right see it as unnecessary.
She advocated liberal feminism's agenda of equal pay and reproductive rights.
Identical legal protections
- gender equalityEqual treatment regardless sex
- equal payMatching compensation regardless of identity
- equal opportunityUnbiased chance for all
- parityState of being equal
fairness · egalitarianism · non-discrimination · civil rights · Title IX · pay gap · glass ceiling · level playing field
Doctrine of personal independence
- rights-basedGrounded in inherent claims
- reformistAdvocate for gradual change
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- centristOne favoring middle positions
establishment · institutionalized · critique · Sandberg · lean in · postfeminism
Power to act
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- independenceFreedom from external control
- choiceAct of selecting
personal freedom · self-reliance · assertiveness · confidence · career advancement · leadership · professional development · self-actualization
Adopted principle of action
- legal reformSystematic change to laws
- Title VIIEmployment discrimination prohibition statute
- ERAPitcher effectiveness statistic
- Equal Rights AmendmentProposed constitutional sex-equality guarantee
Betty Friedan · Gloria Steinem · reproductive rights · Roe v Wade · family leave · workplace policy · affirmative action · quota
Pleading for a cause
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- rallyGathering for a cause
- marchRhythmic group walk
petition · protest · grassroots · coalition · organizing · NOW · consciousness-raising · legislation
equal rights
Identical legal protections
- gender equalityEqual treatment regardless sex
- equal payMatching compensation regardless of identity
- equal opportunityUnbiased chance for all
parity · fairness · egalitarianism · non-discrimination · civil rights · Title IX · pay gap · glass ceiling · level playing field · meritocracy
individualism
Doctrine of personal independence
- rights-basedGrounded in inherent claims
- reformistAdvocate for gradual change
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
centrist · establishment · institutionalized · critique · Sandberg · lean in · postfeminism
agency
Power to act
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- independenceFreedom from external control
choice · personal freedom · self-reliance · assertiveness · confidence · career advancement · leadership · professional development · self-actualization · ambition
policy
Adopted principle of action
- legal reformSystematic change to laws
- Title VIIEmployment discrimination prohibition statute
- ERAPitcher effectiveness statistic
Equal Rights Amendment · Betty Friedan · Gloria Steinem · reproductive rights · Roe v Wade · family leave · workplace policy · affirmative action · quota · amendment
advocacy
Pleading for a cause
march · petition · protest · grassroots · coalition · organizing · NOW · consciousness-raising · legislation · policy reform
liberal feminismradical feminism
Movement targeting patriarchy's foundations
liberal feminismmisogyny
Hostility toward women
patriarchy · male supremacy · male chauvinism · complementarianism · anti-feminism
liberal feminismrevolutionary politics
Advocacy for fundamental governmental change
liberal, feminism, liberalism, liberality, liberally, liberalize, liberalization, illiberal, neoliberal