1. The Functions of families; Feminist theories of the family

Question 1

Feminist theories of the family

what do the feminists belive about the family?

Answer 1

• take a critical view of the family saying that it exploits and oppresses women
• they believe that gender inequality is not natural but is something created by society (socially constructed)
• gender (social construction) is different to your sex (biological/physical)

Question 2

Radical feminism

information of radical feminism

Answer 2

• emerged in the 1960s
• sex discrimination act was brought to light by radical feminists

Question 3

Radical feminism

what are the key ideas of radical feminism?

Answer 3

• men are the enemy - they are the source of women’s exploitation and suppression
• The family and marriage are the key institutions in patriarchal society which enable men to retain their power and dominance by forcing women into the housewife/mother role so that they cannot break free and become equal.

Question 4

Radical feminism - Germain Greer (2000)

explain women as wives

Answer 4

• Greer argues that being a wife is seen as the most important role for women, often portrayed as subservient, especially for wives of prominent men like presidents or prime ministers.
• Marriage reinforces patriarchal inequality, with brides symbolizing traditional femininity and marriages often settling into gendered roles.
• Husbands spend more time outside the home, do less housework, and benefit more from the relationship, while wives focus on keeping their husbands happy.
• Although society claims women need marriage for happiness, married men report higher satisfaction than single men, while single women are happier than married women.
• Notably, 75% of divorces are initiated by women, which Greer sees as a positive rejection of traditional family roles and the suffering they impose on women

Question 5

Radical feminism - Germain Greer (2000)

explain women as mothers

Answer 5

• Greer acknowledges that while motherhood can be satisfying, society imposes significant physical and emotional burdens on mothers with little recognition or support.
• During childbirth, the focus is on the baby rather than the mother’s health, and mothers often face exclusion from public spaces.
• Women are expected to return to work quickly while managing childcare, and societal pressure demands they regain a slim figure after childbirth, as the maternal body is deemed undesirable.
• Mothers, particularly single mothers, are frequently blamed if their children have problems.

Question 6

Radical feminism - Germain Greer (2000)

explain women as daughters

Answer 6

• Greer argues that men seek control over women, including daughters, who may face sexual abuse from fathers, stepfathers, or male relatives—an extension of patriarchy and male heterosexuality.
• This abuse is more common than society admits, which also normalizes the sexualization of youth through terms like “babes,” reflecting male desire for youth.

Question 7

Radical feminism - Firestone

what does Firetone argue?

Answer 7

• pregnancy and childbirth are the main reasons for the inequality between men and women
• women are/were forced to rely on a man during pregnancy/whilst caring for babies. this is when men take control
• her solution to give birth is to use an artificial woumb, however it would still cause for the same treatment at home as women would still be expected to take cate of the child rather then the father

Question 8

Radical Feminist solutions to female exploitation

what are the solutions to female exploitation?

Answer 8

• they argue that the partiarchal system needs to be abolished
• the family must be abolished as this is the root of women’s oppression
• the only way to achieve this is through ‘separatism’, which is when women must organise themselves to live independently of men

Question 9

what do some radical feminists believe in?

Answer 9

• Political lesbianism - meaning to make a political choice to only have a relationship with women
• Greer (2000) matrifocal - meaning that a family is headed by women

Question 10

what are the weaknesses of radical feminism?

Answer 10

• don’t choose our sexuality
• many women are heterosexual and are attracted to men, ‘political lesbianism’ would make heterosexual women feel oppressed
• creates inequality between sexes

Question 11

what are the critisms of radical feminists?

Answer 11

liberal feminist critique
Sommerville (2000) argues that radical feminists fail to recognise that women’s position in society has improved considerbly - through better job and educational opportunities, control over their own fertility etc

Question 12

Radical feminism

what has given women greater control over their fertility?

Answer 12

• abortion is legalised up to 24 weeks
• more access to birth control (for free) became available in 1960s

Question 13

Radical feminism

why are many not in favour of political lesbianism?

Answer 13

• some women are heterosexual and are attracted to men
• women wouldn’t want to be forced to be lesbian
• women may feel more oppressed

Question 14

Liberal feminism

what do the liberal feminists believe?

Answer 14

• society is patriarchal
• do not see the need for a poltical or social revolution
• they see change as gradual over time
• women are oppressed due to: socialisation into tradtional gender roles
• liberal feminists want to change the ways we social children

Question 15

Liberal feminism

what are examples of reinforced masculine characteristics?

Answer 15

• to be tough
• boys were supposed to be noisy, boistrous
• boys are brave
• boys don’t fall in love with other boys
• boys are not virgins
• be physical
• be practical

Question 16

Liberal feminism

what are examples of reinforced feminine characteristics?

Answer 16

• focus on jobs in the home
• focus on being a good mum
• don’t be aggressive
• don’t be too physical/sporty
• focus on your appearance
• be neat and tidy
• be gentle

Question 17

Liberal feminist view on the family

what improvements for women have liberal feminists recognise?

Answer 17

Legal chnages:
- sex discrimination act 1975
- abortion legalised 1967
- rape within marriage becomes a criminal act 1991
- shared parental leave 2015

Social changes:
- more men help with housework and childcare
- women succeeding in education and in the workplace
- domestic abuse is how discussed and there are places to get support

Question 18

what negatives do liberal feminists still belive about society towards women?

Answer 18

• the ‘triple shift’ exists: women have to paid work, emotional work, and house work
• a ‘cultural lag’ still exists: this means that culture, norms and values do not change at the same time as the law, they take longer to change

Question 19

what is a weakness of liberal feminism?

Answer 19

• even though changes in the laws have occurred - domestic violence and rape within marriage still exists
• even though some men are helping with the domestic chores and childcare - studies have shown that women still do the vast majority of this work
• 60% of divources are petitioned for by women showing that they are likely to be dissatisfied in marriage than man
• even though more men are helping

Question 20

Marxist feminism

what do marxist feminists argue?

Answer 20

• argue that females are exploited within the family
• the underlying cause of exploitation of women is capitalism
• it is society’s economic structure which needs to be changed in order for women to gain equality, not simply a change in the family structure

Question 21

Marxist feminism

how does female exploitation in the family help capitalism?

Answer 21

• women reproduce the labour force (wokers)
• through their unpaid domestic labour
• by socialising the next generation of workers and maintianing and servicing the current one

Question 22

Marxist feminism

what does Benston (1972) say about women in unpaid labour?

Answer 22

Benston (1972) argues that women perform significant unpaid labor, which benefits those who control production. Paying women even minimum wages for this work would require a ‘massive redistribution of wealth’. Currently, the mans income effectively funds the labor of two people, acting as a hidden tax

Question 23

Marxist feminists

what does Michelle Barret say about familism (prioritises family over indivudual interests)?

Answer 23

• this ideology paints the nuclear family and gender roles as natural/biological
• it makes us think that this is the only way we can live together, however it just keeps women subordinated
• it makes women think that in order to feel fulfilled as a women you must have motherhood, provide for your husband, sexual satisfaction etc.

Question 24

Marxist feminists

what does Fran Ansley argue?

Answer 24

• belives women are the ‘takers of shit’
• women absorb their husbands legitimate anger and frustration at their own powerlessness and oppression.
• women are a ‘reserve army’ (used only when needed) of cheap labour
• when no longer needed, employers can ‘let them go’ to return to what is seen as their primary role, which is being a mother and engaging in the domestic labour

Question 25

Marxist feminists

what are some solutions to female exploitation according to marxist feminists?

Answer 25

• see the oppression of women as being linked to the exploitation of the proletariat
• the family must be abolished at the same time as there is a communist/socialist revolution against capitalism
• under communism child care would be a social issue not simply one for just the parents and society would work together to share out childcare amongst everyone rather than leaving it predominantly to mothers

Question 26

Marxist feminists

critisms of marxist feminists

Answer 26

• radical feminist critism - female oppression is based upon society being patriarchal, this will not stop with a revolution against capitalism. Even today, in non capitalist societies, women are still exploited by men
• liberal feminists - focus’ to much on capitalism rather than on gender stereotypes. Ignores the positive changes that can and have been made. Do not realise the power that protest, the political system and law have in changing things for women for the better. Women can use capitalism to gain more independence, power, and money

Question 27

Post Structuralist feminism

what do post Structuralist feminist argue?

Answer 27

• we cannot generalise the experiences of women in the family, as not all women live in a nuclear family
• the type of exploitation and experiences that women face can be affected by their class, ethnicity, and sexuality

Question 28

Post Structuralist feminism

what are arguements against the Post Structuralist feminist agrument?

Answer 28

other feminists argue that despite such differences, women as a whole, do share similar experiences in terms of facing a greater risk then men of domestic violence and sexual assault, low pay, and being responsible for doing the domestic chores etc.