A Critique Of Radical Feminism, Multicultural Feminism And Global Feminism

Feminism questions the legitimacy of the patriarchal gender system and challenges the male supremacy of human society. There are many forms of feminism, such as liberal feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism, multicultural feminism, and global feminism. All feminisms share the determination and courage to identify and challenge the male domination although they differ in focus and approach.The thesis starts with radical feminism, which expresses the core meaning of feminism. Radical feminism is characterized by the identification of male domination and a determined struggle for a human status for women. Although it has been widely criticized for its revolutionary views on male and female sexuality and radical means to undo the male supremacy, it remains central to the feminist spirit.The second part of the thesis shows how multicultural feminism and global feminism have challenged the dominant feminist ideas, including radical feminism. Both point out that the dominant feminist theories have been developed mostly by First World, white, middle-class women and ignore women of color and Third World women. Therefore, dominant feminisms do not and cannot speak for other women as they claim to do. Both multicultural and global feminism strive for visibility of other women's voices and more communication between white feminists and feminists of color. How to deal with women's difference becomes essential for the feminist theory making and even survival of feminism.The aim of this thesis therefore, is to critique radical feminism, multicultural feminism, and global feminism, acknowledging their intelligence and determination to struggle for a human status for women, and at the same time pointing out each one's theoretical disadvantages. In this way, the thesis provides an analysis of current feminist ideas as well as presents a clear view of the current development of feminism and its future trend. Furthermore, this thesis can perhaps add to the collection of academic research on Western feminism in China.