Feminist Thought
The Body Politic:  Nature, Sex and Biological Difference

 

Lexicon of the Debates:  Introduction and Bodies, in K and B, pp. 42-45;   

     Women have tended to be over-identified with their bodies, the bodily

 

Feminist Critique of Functionalism

Okin, Susan  Excerpt from “Women’s Place and Nature in a Functionalist World,” pp. 73-84.  (Under Course Documents in Blackboard);

Okin: Aristotle as a functionalist

Conservative = things are as they should be

Things are defined by what they do, their purpose, their function; this is their essence

You are what you do, what you can do

For women, what does this mean? (83-85)

 

 

 

 

 

Women as breeders, reproducers

 

 

What does it mean for men?

 

 

 

 

Men as creators, thinkers, citizens

Man’s purpose: his own happiness

 

Natural order/hierarchy

Man over nature, man over women and children

The family as natural, necessary for the satisfaction of basic needs

 

The polis, prior to (superior to) the family, not because it always existed but because it is where man can enjoy the self-sufficiency (not) that enables him to live a rational life, the good life (80)

i.e. it is the division of labor/functions that enables the good life for the citizen in the polis

 

with slaves attending to daily needs of subsistence

 

women to reproduction (81)

 

Functionalism:

the function of everything determines its social worth, meaning

often views society, political community, family as

holistic, integrated systems

where different groups or individuals or professions each play their parts

to create the whole, maintain equilibrium or health of the whole

 

 

 

III.   “biodeterminism”  “sociobiology”

Biodeterminism explains individual behavior and characteristics of society in terms of biological functions
 
The theorist “observes” a biological difference and then attributes psychological or social meaning to it

 E.O. Wilson
 A sociobiologist discussing the evolution of sex – why it evolved

 

A.  Social Darwinism – purpose of human reproduction to create diversity, adaptability in the human species

Note: not for the expression of mutual affection – MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF SEX:  perpetuation of the species.

What does the Church say is the purpose of sex?
 
     B.  Functionalism (essentialism):

The quintessential female – specialized for making eggs
     The quintessential male – spreading the seed

C. His argument:  Because of differences in the number and size of eggs/sperm there is an inherent conflict of interest between the sexes in all animal species

D.  These biological differences result in specific “male” and “female” behaviors

Males – aggressive, competitive, hasty, undiscriminating
Females – coy, selective, looking for mate who will stay and raise the young

(Is this possible according to Wilson’s description of male behavior?  Aren’t all men programmed to fly the coop, be polygamous?  If so, why have a social institution like marriage?  Isn’t he arguing that monogamy and co-parenting are contrary to male nature? If so, why do we have marriage?)

E.  Wilson supports his theory with the following observations:
 1. more societies allow polygamy than polyandry
 2. men heavier, stronger “hunter gatherers”
 3. temperamental differences – women sociable, less aggressive
 4.  137 – women never have controlled the political/economic lives of men

(could this be the source of the differences???)
 5.  lineage – patrilineal more common – but not always the case!

 

Conclusion: 

Functionalism, biodeterminism socio-biology are ESSENTIALIST arguments

Public Policy Ramifications of socio-biology

What would Wilson say about “dead beat dads”?

Rape/sexual assault?

 

II.  Feminist Critiques of Functionalism

Ortner, Sherry B., “Is Female to Male as Nature Is to Culture?” Chpt. 54 in K and B;

Begins with two premises:

1)       Female subordination universal yet

2)       Take specific forms in each culture, time

 

Nature vs. Culture

Why are women associated with nature, according to Ortner?

 

Why are men associated with culture?

 

How does she break down this dichotomy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By showing that women are in fact primary agents of culture, participants in it

Responsible for transmitting cultural standards to next generation

 

Women are no more separate from culture than men are separate from nature (their bodies)