Feminism And The Family

Question 1

Define Liberal Feminism

Answer 1

• individuals should be treated according to their own morals

Question 2

Name two sociologists who are liberal feminists.

Answer 2

• Oakley - believes that family is a fundamental unit in society emphasising its role in socialising children and maintaining social order.
• Sommerville - family is a crucial institution in society that plays a significant role in providing emotional support and stability.

Question 3

State the evaluation for Oakley and Sommerville.

Answer 3

• encourages a deeper understanding of how family structures interact with broader social forces.
• highlights how family can adapt to social change and still fullfil the essential functions

Question 4

Define Marxist Feminism.

Answer 4

• looks at how capitalism creates gender inequality

Question 5

State two sociologists who are marxist feminists and what they argue.

Answer 5

• Benston - the family produces and socialises new workers at little cost to the capitalist state.
  Ansley - women become talkers of ‘shit’ as the result to the powerlessness men feel from their alienation at work.

Question 6

State an evaluation of Marxist feminism.

Answer 6

• more women in paid work
• women are choosing different family types
• condoning domestic violence and abuse due to capitalism due to gender role stereotyping.

Question 7

Define Radical Feminism

Answer 7

• the patriarchy causes gender inequality
  -the way society is organised benefits men at the expense of women

Question 8

Name a radical Feminist.

Answer 8

Firestone - that family confines women in domestic roles, limiting their freedom and potential.
This promotes gender inequality.

Question 9

State the Evaluation of Firestone (Radical Feminist)

Answer 9

• highlights how family structures can perpetuate patriarchy and limit women’s freedom.

Question 10

Define the term Difference Feminism

Answer 10

• when women do not have the common experiences of oppression
  -Do not see women as a single homogenous group. There are differences in the experiences of working class and middle class women, women from different backgrounds and women of different sexualities.

Question 11

What are some key points of Difference Feminism?

Answer 11

• look at how women’s other characteristics affect the inequalities they face e.g stereotypes about black women are different from those about white women.
• women from other ethnic back rounds may have more expectations to get married and have children.