Feminism and the family Flashcards
Liberal feminists
-Concerned with the campaigning against sex discrimination and for equal rights and opportunities for women.
-they see social change as evolutionary.
-They believe that through time the position of women in the family has improved, as men do more than in the past.
-Men now help with childcare and chores around the house.
-Sommerville- Radical feminists have failed to acknowledge the progress made by women, the radical feminists idea of separatism is unrealistic, even though most divorces are initiated by women, they fact most get remarried shows they do want relationships with men.
Liberal feminists evaluation
-Cosy view of the family life, studies show that women still carry out most of the domestic labour and this idea doesn’t challenge the underlaying causes of women’s oppression. Changes in laws and attitudes will not be enough.
-Actually the family hasn’t improved for women and this rose tinted view of change can be broken down by the dark side of the family, For example the research carried out by Kathryn Coleman found that women were more likely than men to have experienced intimate violence across all types of abuse
-1/4 women are victims of domestic violence.
Marxist feminists
-Believe that the family is designed to serve the needs of capitalism and women are a reserve army of labour.
-Benston- Points out the fact that the husband must pay for the production and upkeep of the next generation weakens his bargaining power at weak-he cannot go on strike because he has a family to support
Ansley- Marxist feminist
-Argue that male workers are often frustrated and alienated by the experience of work because the way work is organised in the capitalistic society denies working class men satisfaction and power. This frustration is absorbed by the family, particularly the female partner, because men attempt to assert power, control and authority in the home to compensate. This often takes the form of domestic violence. Wives and families therefore act as a safety valve for capitalism because these men are not directing their anger at the real cause of the problem- Capitalism.
-Women are the takes of shit.
Ansley evaluation
-Morgan points out that Marxist approaches often assume the existence of very traditional families, a type of family tat is becoming less common.
-Marxist feminists may exaggerate the harm done to women in the family. they are reluctant to concede that there may be positive elements of family life, and portray women as passive victims of exploitation.
Radical feminists
-Delphy and Leonard- argue that the family is a patriarchal and hierarchal institution though which men dominate and exploit women. Wives may resist male domination but they find it difficult to escape from the patriarchal family.
-Purdy argues that women’s disadvantages largely result from childcare responsibilities. she believes that there are many disadvantages of motherhood. It is expensive and a long term commitment in terms of time and energy. She calls for a ‘Baby strike’
radical feminist evaluation
-Sommerville- argues they fail to recognise women’s situations have improved. Also separatism will not work as women are naturally attracted to men.
-It depicts a war between men and women.
Postmodernist feminists
-Nicholson believes that there is a powerful ideology supporting traditional families while devaluing other types. She believes that the alternative families are often better then traditional ones for the women wo live in them. Nicholson concluded that all types of diverse families should be accepted as they could suit different women.
-Calhoun- focuses on lesbian families. she argues that modern family life is characterised by choice and lesbian and gay families are chosen families. Calhoun believes that gay and lesbian relationships are just as much family relationships as those of heterosexual couples.
Postmodernist feminists evaluation
-Some difference feminists lose sight of the inequalities between men and wmen in stressing the range of choices available to people. They also tend to neglect the common experiences shared by most women in families.
