The basic concept I associate differentially with “radical” feminism is that the whole idea of gender is so pernicious and pervasive that I can’t get anywhere worth being as long as I operate in a framework that supports it; a necessary first step is discarding the idea of gender and everything that supports or depends on it.
To use a local comparison, I consider the relationship between ordinary feminism and radical feminism roughly analogous to the relationship between “human brains and institutions are irrational, so if we wish to rid ourselves of irrationality (which we ought to wish, since irrationality causes suffering) we need to do a lot of careful work” and “human brains and institutions are insurmountably irrational, and trying to improve our rationality using those irrational brains and institutions is a waste of time; the only way to significantly reduce irrationality is to eradicate existing brains and institutions and replace them with something better.”
This seems like a fairly good description of that concept, and how it is related to radical feminism. Not that i know: while i’m somewhat interested in radical feminism, i can’t honestly claim to be a radical feminist. (I do claim to have some radical views and some feminist views… but that combination doesn’t necessarily result in the radical feminism.)
I don’t know about your comparison. I believe that (i don’t understand radical feminism well enough) or (i don’t understand the local topic well enough) or (your comparison doesn’t fit well). And i can’t think of more useful criticism now.
The basic concept I associate differentially with “radical” feminism is that the whole idea of gender is so pernicious and pervasive that I can’t get anywhere worth being as long as I operate in a framework that supports it; a necessary first step is discarding the idea of gender and everything that supports or depends on it.
To use a local comparison, I consider the relationship between ordinary feminism and radical feminism roughly analogous to the relationship between “human brains and institutions are irrational, so if we wish to rid ourselves of irrationality (which we ought to wish, since irrationality causes suffering) we need to do a lot of careful work” and “human brains and institutions are insurmountably irrational, and trying to improve our rationality using those irrational brains and institutions is a waste of time; the only way to significantly reduce irrationality is to eradicate existing brains and institutions and replace them with something better.”
This seems like a fairly good description of that concept, and how it is related to radical feminism. Not that i know: while i’m somewhat interested in radical feminism, i can’t honestly claim to be a radical feminist. (I do claim to have some radical views and some feminist views… but that combination doesn’t necessarily result in the radical feminism.)
I don’t know about your comparison. I believe that (i don’t understand radical feminism well enough) or (i don’t understand the local topic well enough) or (your comparison doesn’t fit well). And i can’t think of more useful criticism now.
Just to be clear, I’m not a radical feminist either, nor any kind of expert, I’m just sharing the best model I’ve got.