AO1 All feminists recognise that the state does serve some useful purpose for women AO2 Feminists agree that the state protects women's interests to an extent by outlawing discrimination and banning some practices that are harmful to women [IJ] Therefore this unifying belief draws the strands together in accepting the useful purpose of the state AO1 Feminists believe that the state could do more to enhance women's position in society. AO2 Feminists agree that the state could be useful by enhancing women's position, showing that an improved role for women is at the heart of all feminism [IJ] This is a significant belief and shows agreement within feminism AO1 Socialist and radical feminists agree that the state does not primarily have the interests of women at heart (Rowbotham) AO2 Socialist and radical feminists agree that, although the state serves some useful purpose for women, it is not structured to eradicate patriarchy from society, seeing it instead as providing minimal protection for women while allowing their unequal position to be maintained (Millet) [IJ] This clearly shows agreement between two strands of feminism that the state does not serve the interests of women but instead serves patriarchy.

AO1 Liberal feminists believe that the state can play a role in promoting female emancipation, which sets them at odds with other feminists AO2 Liberal feminists believe the state is key to female emancipation, whereas radical feminists believe that the state creating an equal, legal framework is insufficient to remove patriarchy (Millett). [IJ] This shows that there are clear differences between liberal and radical feminists over the role of the state in society, which does not seem to lend itself to any likely agreement in the future. AO1 Postmodern feminism argues that the state ignores women of colour (bell hooks) AO2 [IJ] AO1 Radical feminists disagree with socialist feminists over the state, arguing that it is patriarchal at its heart AO2 Radical feminists believe that primarily the state promotes patriarchy (Millett), whereas socialist feminists believe it serves capitalism first and then patriarchy (Rowbotham) [IJ] Therefore there are clear differences in socialist and radical feminists' views of the primary focus of the state, these differences are fundamental. AO1 Radical feminists disagree with liberal feminists over where the limits are to the role of the state in protecting women AO2 Radical feminists disagree with liberal feminists, believing that the state has a role to play in both public and private spheres by outlawing pornography, ensuring harsher punishment for crimes against women (Millett), whereas liberal feminists believe the state should concern itself only outlawing discrimination in the public sphere. [IJ] This shows that this level of disagreement is fundamental and that it is an important distinction between the two about the way they see the role of the state.