Feminism Flashcards
Outline the liberal feminist view of the family
Believe the family is moving towards equality through the march of progress
What is the march of progress?
Idea that society is moving towards equality through laws but still has some way to go
What does Somerville believe about women’s roles within the family?
Improving significantly due to better access to divorce and job opportunities. Also less pressure to have children
Give one criticism of liberal feminism using another feminist perspective
- Difference feminism - Ethnocentric, only white women experience equality
- Marxist - Women still do majority of housework and are primary child carers
- Radical - Women still most likely to experience domestic violence which is reflection of patriarchal oppression not equality
What do marxist feminist believe the function of the family is?
- To meet the needs of capitalism for reproduction and maintenance of class + patriarchal inequality
- To benefit the powerful at expense of working class and women
What does Benston believe the family provides for capitalism?
- Labour power by reproducing future work force
- Maintains present workforce’s physical and emotional fitness through domestic labour (Link to safety valve)
- Reserve army of labour
According to radical feminists, the family is p_________
patriarchal
What is separatism?
The idea that women must live independently away from men in all female communes
Give an example of how the family is patriarchal
- Gendered roles within families
- Division of domestic labour
- Domestic abuse
How does Somerville criticise the idea of separatism?
Heterosexual attraction means all female communes are unlikely to succeed
How does Hakim criticise radical feminists?
Argues women might choose their own domestic roles using rational choice
