FAMILY: feminist theory

Question 1

What do feminists believe about the construction of gender inequality?

Answer 1

Not natural but created by society.

It is created by men to benefit men.

Question 2

What are the key radical feminist ideas?

Answer 2

Men are the enemy as they are the source of female oppression
The family & marriage are key institutions of oppression in a patriarchal society

Question 3

How do radical feminists believe female exploitation can be solved in reference to the family?

Answer 3

The family must be abolished.

Question 4

What did Greer believe about matrilocal families?

Answer 4

They can provide an effective alternative to the heterosexual household.

Question 5

Give a liberal feminist critique of radical feminism?

Answer 5

Somerville: Radical feminist fail to recognise women’s position in society has improved considerably through better job and education opportunities and control over fertility.

Question 6

Give a criticism of the matrilocal family?

Answer 6

Cannot ignore heterosexual attraction

Question 7

How do liberal feminist approach the change in women’s position in society?

Answer 7

It is gradual and evolutionary.

Change comes about through political and social revolution.

Question 8

According to liberal feminist how does socialisation play a role in the oppression of women?

Answer 8

We are socialised into gender roles.

For example women are raised to be polite, caring, emotionally controlled and focused on appearance.

Question 9

What did Sue Lee’s study uncover about attitudes towards different genders?

Answer 9

The Studs and the Slags
Boys were praised for being promiscuous whereas girls were harshly controlled and judged by their sexual behaviour.
This suggest a cultural lag.

Question 10

Give 3 examples of legal changes that have helped change the position of women in society

Answer 10

Marriage and divorce laws (marital rape is now illegal)
Legalisation of abortion and the contraceptive pill
Equal Pay Act 1970

Question 11

What do liberal feminists mean by ‘the triple shift’ ?

Answer 11

Women are breadwinners, do the house work and care for children simultaneously

Question 12

what do liberal feminists mean by a ‘cultural lag’ still existing ?

Answer 12

Outdated beliefs about the behaviour and roles of men and women in society.

Question 13

Give 2 weaknesses of the liberal feminist approach

Answer 13

Changes in the law have occurred but this does not prevent hidden abuse that occurs in the home
Despite men now having a more dominant role in housework studies have shown women still do a majority of the work.

Question 14

What do marxist feminists believe about female exploitation?

Answer 14

The underlying cause of female exploitation is the family.

Therefore it’s societies economic structure that needs to be changed.

Question 15

What 3 oppressive roles did Zaretsky identify that women perform?

Answer 15

1) Mothers-reproduce & raise subservient workers
2) Wives-absorb the anger of men
3) Reserve army of labour-can be pulled in as reserve workers cheaply

Question 16

What did Anslet say about wives’ roles?

Answer 16

They are the ‘takers of shit’

They soak up the frustration and exploitation their husbands suffer at work.

Question 17

How do marxist feminists believe opression of women can be abolished?

Answer 17

Through communism and the abolishment of capitalism

Question 18

Give a criticism of patriarchy being socially constructed

Answer 18

Patriarchy exists in many many societies.

e.g. in the Afar tribe (Ethiopia)

Question 19

What is difference feminism?

Answer 19

Not being able to generalise the experiences of women in the family as not all women live in the nuclear family
The type of exploitation women may face can be affected by other factors such as class, ethnicity and sexuality.