The Seven Schools of Feminist Ideology

1. Liberal Feminism: Also known as mainstream feminism. Believes women’s oppression is rooted in legal structures. Strives to attain gender equality through legal and political reforms. Notable figure: Mary Wollstonecraft.

2. Radical Feminism: Believes women's oppression is rooted in patriarchal gender relations. Strives to attain gender equality by destroying patriarchy and revolting against social norms and institutions that ensconce male privilege. Notable figure: Shulamith Firestone.

3. Socialist Feminism: Believes women’s oppression is rooted in class conflicts imposed by capitalism. Disagree with radical feminists about patriarchy as the cause of women’s oppression. They blame wealth disparity and financial dependence on males. Notable figure: Heather Booth

4. Cultural feminism: Believes there are essential differences between men and women in terms of biology, personality and behavior. Women are seen to have different and superior virtues that provide the foundation for a shared identity, solidarity and sisterhood.

Cultural feminists view women as naturally kinder and gentler than men, and argue that if women were in power, the world would be a better place. In the 1960s and 70s, some cultural feminists supported the idea of forming separate women-only cultures. Notable figure: Mary Daly