3. Feminist Perspective

Question 1

1. Liberal Feminism

Answer 1

• Campaign for equal rights and opportunities.
• Argue that women’s oppression is being gradually overcome through changing people’s attitudes and through changes in the law (E.g. Equal Pay Act 1970)
• Believe we are moving towards greater equality
• In terms of the family, they believe there has been gradual progress
• E.g. studies suggest men are doing more domestic labour

• Other Feminists criticise Libs for not challenging causes of oppression.

Question 2

2. Marxist Feminism

Answer 2

• Main cause of women’s oppression in the family is capitalism
• Women’s oppression performs several functions for capitalism

1. Women reproduce the labour force: socialise next generation of workers
2. Women absorb anger: that would otherwise be directed at capitalism. This also explains domestic violence.
   - Ansley: wives are ‘takers of shit’
3. Women are a reserve army of cheap labour: that can be taken on when extra workers are needed.

• Oppression of women in the family is linked to exploitation of WC
• Family must be abolished at the same time as a socialist revolution.

Question 3

3. Radical Feminism

Answer 3

• Argue that all societies have been founded on patriarchy
• Men are the enemy: source of women’s oppression and exploitation
• Family and marriage are key institutions in patriarchal society
• Men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic labour / sexual services
• Men dominate women through violence or the threat of it
• Rad Fems argue only way to end the patriarchal system is separatism
• Many argue for ‘political lesbianism’ because heterosexuality involves sleeping with the enemy (Greer argues for this)
• Somerville (Lib): Rad Fems fail to recognise women’s position has improved with better access to divorce, jobs and control over fertility
• Somerville argues heterosexual attraction makes separatism impractical

Question 4

4. Difference Feminism

Answer 4

• We cannot generalise women’s experience
• Different sexualities, races and classes have different experiences.
• E.g. black family is often a source of support against racism

Question 5

Summary

Answer 5

1. Liberal Feminism
2. Marxist Feminism
3. Radical Feminism
4. Difference Feminism