Final answer:
The statement is true; liberal feminist ideology claims that women and men should have equal rights based on the inherent belief in their equality in all important respects. This ideology grew from broader liberal principles of equality and has been advanced through various feminist movements and theories emphasizing education, workplace equality, and state policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, the liberal feminist ideology indeed posits that women and men are equal in all important respects and should have equal rights. This belief follows the expansion of liberalism which branched from the notion that 'all men are equal' to encompass 'all people are equal', as advocated by early feminists concurrent with the political movements such as the French Revolution. With the advent of liberal legal codes and the suffrage movement extending into Britain, France, and Germany after World War I, the inclusion of women as voters became a straightforward extension of the growing democratic norms.
The feminist theory further underscores the aim for equality in various domains including education, workplace, and in challenging traditional international relations perspectives which foucsed primarily on 'hard policy' issues. This comprehensive approach to achieving rights has been evident in the increase of women in power who have brought attention to social programs and policies that address the welfare of women and children. Notably, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, feminists have used logical, rhetorical, and scientific methods to refute claims of inherent gender inequality and advocate for educational and professional equality.
It is important to recognize varying perspectives within feminism; while some aimed to dismantle traditional gender roles entirely, others sought empowerment within existing societal structures. Despite these internal debates, feminism's central fight has been for the freedom and equality of all women, as highlighted by activists such as Barbara Smith, and involved in widespread movements, including labor rights and anti-discrimination against gender and race as demonstrated in the work of figures like Betty Friedan.