Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology Online

Extract

Women's movements arise from the gendered social constructions that have accompanied the biological differences between male and female. Because social distinctions based on gender are the most basic forms of human differentiation, they pervade social life. Throughout history, across classes, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, and religious groupings, the gendered division of labor has been associated with differential roles, rewards, and with an associated politics. That is, the political processes by which rules are made and valued objects and services are distributed have institutionalized gender differences since the beginning of human history. In only rare circumstances have these differences not been associated with the subordination of women. Traditional systems of political thought, supported by most religions, have relegated women to a secondary status. Thus, the potential beneficiaries of “women's movements” conceivably encompass more than half of humanity throughout history.Yet women are also divided by all of the other social distinctions and sources of subordination to which the human experience gives rise. These distinctions are characterized variously in terms of “multiculturalism,” “intersectionality,” and, for the last few years, the all-embracing language of “human rights.” Women's differences present both obstacles to mobilization and a multiplicity of competing ... log in or subscribe to read full text