Feminism Flashcards
How do feminists view the family?
Like marxists, they take a critical view of the family
- oppresses women through the unequal division of domestic labour
- domestic violence
- do not regard gender inequality as natural or inevitable but something created by society for the benefit of men
THE FAMILY IS A PATRIARCHAL INSTITUTION
What are the 4 different types of feminism?
1- liberal
2- marxist
3- radical
4- difference
What do LIBERAL feminists believe?
- campaigning against sex discrimination, equal rights , opportunities for women
= legislation changes and reforms - equal pay, X workplace discrimination
- women’s position in society improving
How do LIBERAL feminists believe they can gradually overcome women’s oppression?
1) Social changes
2) Political/legal changes
3) Economic (social) changes
LIBERAL FEMINISM
1) Social changes
changes in attitudes, raising aspirations of women
Sue Sharpe
LIBERAL FEMINSIM
2) Political/legal changes
1975- discrimination in employment outlawed (Equal Pay Act 1970 reinforced this)
- improved maternity and pensions
- reproductive rights, contraception and abortion
- 1990, rape in marriage
mass media- persuasion consciousness raising will convince men that social change aimed at dismantling the patriarchy will benefit all
LIBERAL FEMINISM
3) Economic (social changes)
WILKINSON- service economy, feminisation of British workforce, more economic power for women
- led to cultural changes in attitudes ‘genderquake’
- education/careers are more important than marriage/children
SHARPE- supports view, fathers more involved with children
- more egalitarian role within families
What does LIBERAL feminist Sommerville say?
women have more choice
- marriage
- sharing childcare paid/unpaid work
- greater equality in marriage
Liberal feminists view on the family
- boys and girls learn through gender role socialisation
- the traditional distributions of power within families which underpins gender role socialisation generally favours males
- girls expected to subordinate lives to childcare, primary responsibility housework
What does Anne Oakley mean by hegemonic masculinity?
providers, protectors seen as superior
What does Anne Oakley mean by hegemonic femininity?
- nurturers, emotional caretakers
- focus on looks
- secondary to males
What does Anne Oakley mean by manipulation?
appropriateness of child’s sex, parents encourage behaviour
learning/internalisation of gender roles= social conformity
What does Anne Oakley mean by canalisation?
parent’s channel child’s interests
- colour codes
- dress codes
- appearance codes
- toy and play codes
- etiquette codes
- family media codes
- speech codes
- domestic codes
- control codes
What are the strengths of liberal feminism?
- Willmott and Young, men doing more domestic labour
- parents socialise, similar aspirations for sons and daughters
What are the criticisms of Liberal feminism?
X reflects experiences of white MC women, not poorer sections
X women still have the burden of childcare and house with full full time careers
X domestic violence/rape in marriage are still significant problems
X general pay shows men still have higher incomes
X Marxists and Radical Fems believe only revolutionary change can bring equality
What are the main ideas of Marxist feminists?
Exploitation of women by the capitalist system and men
- reject optimisms of liberal, women’s inequalities are a result of being forced to serve the needs of capitalism
What are the 3 functions Marxist feminists say women perform?
1) Women reproduce the labour force
- unpaid domestic labour
- socialising next generation of workers
- maintaining and servicing current workers
2) Women absorb husbands anger
- alienation he feels from work
- ‘punch nag theory’, Fran Ainsley, women as ‘takers of shit’
3) Women are the ‘reserve army’ of cheap labour
- Benston, women taken on as extra workers when they are needed
- employers can let them go to return to their primary role of domestic labour
What dies Marxist feminist Ansley say?
Men have the power to get away with various forms of domestic abuse
- women who believe their main role is to nurture are less likely to demand higher pay and secure working conditions
- when they are ‘laid off’ from work they can return to their biological role of mother-housewife ‘proper job’
What do Marxist feminists Benston and Ansley say?
- women who stay at home are exploited by the capitalist class
- bring up the future labour force
- unpaid domestic labour
What does Marxist feminist Benston say?
Patriarchal ideology is a product of capitalism
- convince women that their main place is at home
- reserve army of female labour
The patriarchal set up benefits the working man
- wage gives him social and economic power
What are the strengths of Marxist feminism?
- women suffer from domestic violence more than men
(supports the punch bag theory) - women tend to get paid less
( exploited by capitalism, BBC pay scandal) - shown how gender roles are created and perpetuated by the capitalist society rather than being ‘natural’ as Functionalists would have us believe
What are the weaknesses of Marxist feminism?
X the belief that the family should be abolished (socialist revolution) ignores the real benefits the family unit can provide for women
X growth of ‘house-husbands’ where women can be breadwinner
X ignore recent changed to the economy
X NR/Func- attacks and undermines nuclear family
What are the key ideas of RADICAL feminism?
- men exploit women not capitalism
- the patriarchy existed before, always controlled women
- will not change by establishing socialism
- patriarchy benefits all men
What do Radical feminists say about the nuclear family?
Mainly functions to benefit men
- power/superiority
- patriarchal ideology transmitted via gender role socialisation