Feminism

Question 1

feminism - main focus

Answer 1

emphasis harmful effects of family life on women

role of family continues oppression of women

Question 2

feminism - the family as a place of work

Answer 2

housework/childcare, performed by women, is unpaid & not recognised as work
men gain from this
housework is hard, routine and unrewarding; personally/financially

Question 3

feminism - myth of the ‘symmetrical family’

Answer 3

it is mainly women who:
perform housework/childcare
sacrifice to buy children clothes, make sure family is fed
less likely to make important decisions
more likely to give up on paid work, suffer lost/restricted job opportunities

Question 4

feminism - domestic violence

Answer 4

women are more likely than men to be victims of serious domestic violence

Question 5

feminism - liberal feminism

Answer 5

women positions in the family has negative effects on their careers, power, health

Question 6

feminism - liberal feminism (ways to improve women’s position)

Answer 6

remove all forms of discrimination to establish equality of opportunity:

• establishing legal rights of women (equal pay act, sex discrimination act, equality act)
• equality in maternity and paternity leave
• better/cheaper childcare to enable women/men to combine childcare w/successful careers
• more sharing of housework/childcare
• stronger action against domestic violence

Question 7

feminism - radical feminism

Answer 7

focuses on patriarchy and the family being the man obstacle to womens equality

Question 8

feminism - radical feminism (greer)

Answer 8

many relationships are highly patriarchal/exploitive

Question 9

feminism - radical feminism (the family is a __ unit)

Answer 9

patriarchal
benefits men at the expense of women
men exercise patriarchal power/control over women (sometimes w/domestic violence)

Question 10

feminism - radical feminism (solution)

Answer 10

women are better of if they stay away from patriarchal families
reject family life/relationships with men

Question 11

feminism - marxist feminism (double exploitation)

Answer 11

workers in unequal capitalist society

women in patriarchal women

Question 12

feminism - marxist feminism (how women’s work in the family contributes to maintenance of capitalism)

Answer 12

• social reproduction of labour power (ruling class supplied w/readily available/passive workforce)
• provides place for eating, drinking, relaxing (renewing members ability to work)
• produces free labour for capitalist
• socialises children into dominant ideas in society & accept power inequalities they will face as adults

Question 13

feminism - marxist feminism (social control of the working class)

Answer 13

• keep people conforming to dominant norms/values of society
• parents provide material comforts, good life chances for the children, keeping them in unsatisfying/rewarding jobs
• harder for workers to go on strike for higher pay as they have a family to support
• safety valve; provided by women to prevent frustration at work spilling into action against the system

Question 14

feminism - criticism (dual-workers)

Answer 14

many families now consist of dual-worker couple:
both partners work
women who have independent income have more power in the family

Question 15

feminism - criticism (passive victims)

Answer 15

women are not passive victims
womens personal choice/preference as men & women have separate aspirations/goals
some women choose to become house-wives

Question 16

feminism - criticism (divorce)

Answer 16

2/3 of divorces are initiated by women

women can escape unsatisfactory/oppressive relationships

Question 17

feminism - criticism (children have more status/power)

Answer 17

experience gained through exposure to socialising experiences outside the family
less likely to create a unquestioning/obedient workforce