Feminist Critique of Justice – Beyond Liberal Neutrality
UPSC PSIR | Political Theory | Gender & Justice Debate
1️⃣ INTRODUCTION
Traditional theories of justice (Rawls, Nozick, Marx) were developed largely by male thinkers.
Feminist political theory argues that these frameworks ignore gendered power relations.
Justice must address not only class and property, but patriarchy, unpaid care work, and structural gender inequality.
2️⃣ CRITIQUE OF LIBERAL JUSTICE
- Liberalism assumes abstract, gender-neutral individuals.
- Ignores family as a site of power.
- Separation of public and private spheres hides oppression.
Carole Pateman calls this the “sexual contract” — beneath the social contract lies male dominance.
3️⃣ RAWLS UNDER FEMINIST LENS
Rawls treats family as just institution without deep analysis.
Feminists argue:
- Family reproduces gender hierarchy.
- Care work is unpaid and invisible.
- Difference principle ignores domestic labour.
Susan Moller Okin: Justice must begin inside the family.
4️⃣ MARXISM & FEMINISM
Marx focuses on class exploitation.
Feminists argue:
- Women are exploited not only as workers, but as reproducers of labour power.
- Domestic labour sustains capitalism.
Thus, capitalism + patriarchy operate together.
5️⃣ DIFFERENT FEMINIST APPROACHES
🔹 Liberal Feminism
- Equal rights
- Anti-discrimination laws
- Political representation
🔹 Radical Feminism
- Patriarchy is primary oppression
- Family structure is hierarchical
- Gender roles are socially constructed
🔹 Marxist / Socialist Feminism
- Capitalism + patriarchy interconnected
- Economic restructuring needed
🔹 Intersectional Feminism
- Gender + caste + race + class intersect
- Justice must be multidimensional
6️⃣ CARE ETHICS – ALTERNATIVE MODEL
Justice should not only be about rights and contracts.
Carol Gilligan & Joan Tronto propose:
- Ethics of care
- Relational autonomy
- Interdependence instead of individualism
Justice = sustaining relationships.
7️⃣ INDIAN CONTEXT
- Women’s unpaid domestic labour
- Gender wage gap
- Political reservation debate
- Triple talaq judgment
- Uniform Civil Code debates
- Care economy recognition
8️⃣ MAINS QUESTIONS
- Critically examine feminist critique of Rawls.
- Is liberal justice gender neutral?
- Discuss care ethics as alternative to rights-based justice.
- Examine intersectionality in contemporary political theory.
📌 QUICK REVISION MAP
- Sexual contract
- Public-private divide
- Unpaid care work
- Intersectionality
- Ethics of care
- Patriarchy + capitalism
“Justice without gender justice is incomplete.”
Shaktimatha Learning – PSIR Political Theory Expansion Series
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