Feminism Flashcards
Feminism
Feminism is a macro, structural conflict theory that argues gender inequalities exist in society, with men holding power and women facing hardships. Feminism seeks gender equality through changing attitudes and introducing new laws and policies. It arose as a response to male-dominated views in sociology. There are various branches of feminism, such as Marxist, radical, liberal, and postmodernist feminism, each offering different perspectives on the causes and solutions to gender inequality. All feminists agree that families are patriarchal, reinforcing male dominance and benefiting men. For example, women are often expected to do the majority of housework, while men may contribute little. Many women experience a “dual burden” of paid work and domestic duties. Overall, family life is seen as unequal, with men typically holding more status, control, and power, such as having the final say in decisions like how family money is spent.
Marxist Feminism
Benston - AO1 (Describe and Explain):
Benston argued that women are “slaves of the wage slaves,” meaning they serve as the unpaid laborers who support their husbands, the wage slaves. In capitalist society, a woman’s role is to take care of domestic tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for children. By doing so, women enable their husbands to work for the ruling class, as their domestic labor ensures that men are refreshed and ready for work. Benston believed that women’s unpaid domestic work was essential for the functioning of capitalism, as it kept male workers productive and thus supported the capitalist system.
AO2 (Examples):
For example, in many households, women may spend their day managing household chores and childcare, allowing their husbands to go to work, earn wages, and support the capitalist economy. This domestic labor is often unpaid, yet crucial in sustaining the daily functioning of the family and the workforce.
AO3 (Evaluation):
One major criticism of Benston’s theory is that it fails to recognize the changing roles of women in modern society. Today, many families are dual-earner households, where both men and women participate in paid work. As a result, not all women are confined to domestic roles. Moreover, in such households, both men and women could be seen as “wage slaves,” working for wages and contributing to the capitalist system. This challenges Benston’s view that women alone are responsible for maintaining the capitalist system through their domestic work.
Marxist feminism
Ansley - AO1 (Describe and Explain):
Ansley argued that women are the “takers of shit” in capitalist society, meaning that men take out their frustrations from work and capitalism on their wives. When men experience stress or anger from their work environment, they often come home and vent their emotions by shouting at their wives. This release of anger allows men to return to work feeling refreshed and ready to continue being exploited by their ruling class employers. In this sense, wives act as a “safety valve” for capitalism, absorbing their husbands’ anger and ensuring that male workers do not challenge their exploitation or question their roles in the capitalist system.
AO2 (Examples):
For example, if a husband has a difficult day at work and faces stress from his capitalist bosses, he might go home and yell at his wife. The wife, absorbing the anger, allows the husband to calm down and return to work the next day without confronting the frustrations that might lead him to question the system. This dynamic helps maintain the capitalist system by preventing workers from becoming rebellious or dissatisfied with their roles.
AO3 (Evaluation):
One criticism of Ansley’s theory is that it fails to account for family diversity. There has been a rise in role-reversal families where women are the primary breadwinners and men stay at home. In such households, it might be the men who are the “takers of shit,” absorbing frustrations and anger instead of women. This shift challenges the idea that only women bear the emotional burden of maintaining capitalist stability through their domestic roles.
Marxist feminism
Bruegel - ‘Reserve Army of Labour’ - AO1 (Describe and Explain):
Bruegel argued that women act as part of a “reserve army of labour” for the capitalist system. This means that women are employed during times of economic growth (booms) when there is a high demand for workers, but are often laid off during recessions when jobs are scarce. This cyclical employment allows women to return to their “true” role as housewives during economic downturns, reinforcing traditional gender roles.
AO2 (Examples):
For example, during an economic boom, women may be hired to fill positions that require low-skilled labor. However, when the economy slows down and companies cut back on jobs, women are often the first to be let go, allowing them to return home and resume domestic duties, maintaining the capitalist structure by ensuring a flexible and inexpensive workforce.
AO3 (Evaluation):
Critics argue that Bruegel’s concept of women as a “reserve army of labour” is outdated and inaccurate. In reality, women are more likely to remain employed during a recession, particularly in part-time roles, as they represent a cheaper and more flexible source of labor. This challenges the idea that women are merely temporary workers who return to domestic roles during economic downturns.
Marxist feminism
Barrett and McIntosh - ‘Familialism’ - AO1 (Describe and Explain):
Barrett and McIntosh argued that the family plays a key role in transmitting ideas and beliefs that benefit capitalism, particularly through the process of primary socialization. They introduced the concept of “familialism,” which refers to the idea that the nuclear family—where the man is the wage earner and the woman is the housewife and mother—is idealized, with all other family structures seen as deviant or non-normative.
AO2 (Examples):
For example, children are taught from a young age that the ideal family structure is a heterosexual couple with children, where the father works outside the home and the mother stays at home. This view is reinforced through media and societal expectations, contributing to the perpetuation of traditional gender roles and supporting the capitalist system.
AO3 (Evaluation):
One criticism of Barrett and McIntosh’s theory is that it overlooks the changing nature of family life. More women now see working outside the home as the norm, and dual-income households are increasingly common. This challenges the idea that the family continues to enforce “familialism.” Additionally, Marxist feminists argue that the traditional nuclear family will be abolished in a revolution and replaced by a more equal, communist society, where men and women will share responsibilities equally.
Radical feminists
Dobash and Dobash - Heterosexual Marriage Legitimates Violence - AO1 (Describe and Explain):
Dobash and Dobash argued that patriarchal, heterosexual marriage legitimates violence against wives by giving husbands power and authority, while making wives economically dependent on them. In their research, which included police and court records as well as interviews with women in refuges, they found that violent incidents were often triggered by what the husband perceived as a challenge to his authority. For example, something as simple as a wife asking why he was late home for dinner could provoke violence.
AO2 (Examples):
For example, a woman asking her husband about his tardiness might be seen by him as a challenge to his authority, leading to an abusive reaction. This dynamic is reinforced in patriarchal marriages, where the husband’s power is normalized, and the wife’s dependency makes it harder for her to leave the relationship or report abuse.
AO3 (Evaluation):
A key criticism of Dobash and Dobash’s theory is that they fail to consider the negative impact of family life on men. Research shows that 1 in 6 men are victims of domestic violence, but men are less likely to report it due to feelings of embarrassment or humiliation. This suggests that domestic violence is a complex issue affecting both genders, and their theory might not fully account for male victims.
Radical feminists
Delphy and Leonard - Heterosexual Marriage is Patriarchal - AO1 (Describe and Explain):
Delphy and Leonard argued that heterosexual marriage is inherently patriarchal. They claimed that men benefit from the unpaid labor of women within the family, as women do most of the housework, childcare, and sexual duties but receive fewer benefits from the family. Men, in contrast, have more decision-making power and more leisure time than women. This unequal distribution of labor supports male dominance within the family structure.
AO2 (Examples):
For instance, in a typical family, the wife may spend much of her time doing housework and caring for children, while the husband may have more time for work outside the home and leisure activities. This division of labor results in men reaping greater benefits from the family, while women’s unpaid labor goes largely unrecognized.
AO3 (Evaluation):
One criticism of Delphy and Leonard’s theory is that they overlook the fact that many men and women freely choose to live in conventional nuclear families. If families are chosen by both partners, it could be argued that they are not inherently oppressive. However, radical feminists would challenge this view, arguing that women have been “brainwashed” by patriarchal ideologies to accept this family structure as the ideal, even if it is detrimental to their well-being.
Liberal feminists
Somerville - Reform Rather Than Revolution - AO1 (Describe and Explain):
Somerville argued that reform, particularly through family policies, is a more realistic approach to improving the position of women in society and the family than revolution. She emphasized that increased choices and the rise of dual-earner families have led to greater equality within marriage and the emergence of more symmetrical families. Somerville believed that state policies, such as providing more flexibility in paid employment, would help move society towards more equal relationships. An example of this is the introduction of Paternity Rights in 2003, which recognized the importance of fathers’ involvement in child-rearing and supported both parents working.
AO2 (Examples):
For instance, Paternity Rights legislation in 2003 highlighted the state’s recognition of fathers’ roles and aimed to promote equality by encouraging both parents to balance work and childcare responsibilities. This policy reflects a shift toward supporting dual-earner households and recognizing fathers as equal partners in parenting.
AO3 (Evaluation):
However, a major critique of Somerville’s view is that social reforms alone may not be enough to significantly improve women’s positions in society. For example, despite the introduction of Paternity Rights, mothers still tend to take the majority of time off work to care for newborns. Many women return to work part-time or leave their jobs altogether after maternity leave, which can limit their career progression and earnings. Additionally, research, such as Oakley’s, shows that men still do not share equally in housework and childcare responsibilities. Moreover, men are less likely to take on the ‘emotional’ work, like caring for family members emotionally, which remains primarily the responsibility of women. This indicates that while reforms can support progress, they do not necessarily lead to true gender equality in domestic life.
Intersectional feminist
AO1 (Describe and Explain):
Intersectional feminists argue that women experience patriarchy in different ways based on various factors such as social class, ethnicity, age, and gender. This concept is known as “intersectionality,” which highlights how multiple identities intersect to shape a woman’s experiences of oppression. For example, a black working-class woman in London may face different forms of patriarchy than a white middle-class woman living in the countryside. This approach contrasts with other feminist perspectives, like Radical or Liberal feminism, which primarily focus on gender.
AO2 (Examples):
An example of intersectionality would be how a black working-class woman faces both racial and class-based discrimination, alongside gender oppression, while a white middle-class woman may only face gender-based discrimination, leading to different experiences of patriarchy.
