family - feminist view Flashcards
name the four types of feminism
liberal feminism
marxist feminism
radical feminism
difference feminism
what is liberal feminism?
liberal feminists are concerned with campaigning against sex discrimination and for equal rights and opportunities for women.
they believe that women’s oppression is being gradually overcome and that we are moving towards greater equality.
what do liberal feminists say about the family?
- they don’t believe that full gender equality has been achieved but there has been a gradual progress.
- some studies suggest that men are doing more domestic labour.
- the way that parents now socialise their children is more equal than in the past.
criticisms of liberal feminism
other feminists say they fail to challenge the underlying causes of women’s oppression and for believing that changes in law or attitudes will be enough to bring equality.
what is marxist feminism?
marxist feminists argue that the main cause of women’s oppression in the family is not men, but capitalism.
what do marxist feminists say about the family?
- they believe that women reproduce the labour force through their unpaid domestic labour and socialising the next generation of workers.
- they also say that women absorb anger that would otherwise be directed at capitalism - fran ansley (1972) says that wives are “takers of shit” as they take in the frustration their husbands feels because of the exploitation and alienation form the bourgeoisie.
- they believe that women are a reserve army of cheap labour that can be taken on when extra workers are needed. they are then let go when not needed anymore to carry on their unpaid domestic labour.
what is radical feminism?
radical feminists argue that all societies have been founded on patriarchy and believe that men are the enemy and are the source of women’s oppression and exploitation.
what do radical feminists say about the family?
- they see the family and marriage as the key institutions in patriarchal society - men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic work and their sexual services.
- they argue that the only way to abolish patriarchy in the family is through ‘separatism’, which is women organising themselves to live independently from men.
- many radical feminists argue for ‘political lesbianism’ - the idea that heterosexual relationships are oppressive as they involve ‘sleeping with the enemy’.
criticisms of radical feminism
liberal feminist jenny somerville (2000) says that radical feminists fail to recognise that women’s position has improved considerably e.g. better access to divorce, better job opportunities, control over their fertility and they ability to choose to marry or cohabit.
somerville also argues that separatism will not work due to heterosexual attraction.
however, she does recognise that women have not gained full equality but says that there is a need for ‘family friendly’ policies, such as more flexible working, to promote equality between partners.
what is difference feminism and their view of the family?
difference feminists argue that we cannot generalise about women’s experiences. they argue that white and black women, middle class and working class women etc. have very different experiences of the family from one another.
- e.g. by regarding the family purely negatively, white feminists neglect black women’s experience of racial oppression. instead, black feminists view the black family positively as a source of support and resistance against racism.
criticisms of difference feminism
other feminists argue that difference feminism neglects the fact that all women share many of the same experiences e.g. they all face a risk of domestic violence and sexual assault, low pay etc.
