feminism- family Flashcards
What do feminists think about the family?
critical view of the family. it oppresses women through unequal division of domestic labour and domestic violence. Gender inequality is created by men.
family is a patriarchal, institution.
What do liberal feminists argue?
women’s position in society is improving due to social changes- changing peoples attitudes and the rising aspirations of women
political changes- sex discrimination act, 1975, equal pay act, 1970
economic changes-deindustrialisation and rise of service sectors gave women chance to be financially independent., Wilkinson’s called “genderquake”
How do liberal feminists believe full equality will be reached?
further reformations in law
changes in attitudes within society
changes in socialisation patterns in both genders.
What does Jenny Sommerville say as a liberal feminist?
women are still disadvantaged in the home, other feminists like Marxist and radical fail to acknowledge the progress been made for women.
women have more choice- whether to marry, take paid work/
now greater equality w-in marriage- sharing housework and childcare.
How can we support the liberal feminist view of the family?
Willmot and Young- men are doing more domestic labour
parents socialise and have similar aspirations for sons and daughters
How can we criticise the liberal feminist view of the family?
statistics show 38 percent women working part time of women in employment women are not fully financially independent.
What does women being oppressed in family perform for capitalism?- Marxist feminist.
women reproduce labour force- unpaid domestic work, socialising next generation of workers, maintaining workers.
punch bag theory
women are a “reserve army of labour”-Benston, can be taken on when extra workers needed and let go when not needed.
What are strengths of the Marxist feminist view of the family?
women more likely to suffer domestic violence, supports punch bag theory
women get payed less than men, BBC pay scandal
How can we criticise the Marxist feminist view of the family?
idea that family needs to be abolished ignores benefits of the family
growth of house husbands where women become the breadwinner
What do Miller and Firestone say as radical feminists?
men are the source of women’s oppression
family and marriage are key oppressive institutions
men benefit from unpaid domestic work
men dominate women through the threat of domestic violence
What does Germaine Greer say society needs to be based on?-radical feminism
separatism- women must organize themselves to live independently
political lesbianism- heterosexual relationships should be replaced w “matrifocal” households.
What does Brookman say?-radical feminism
in-depth interview of domestic labour and concluded women were victims of domestic violence due to men’s need to assert authority . Especial under going “crisis of masculinity”
How can we support the radical feminist view of the family?
Sommerville- supports same radical feminist points, many aspects of society which where women not achieved full equality. Like paternity rights, called vertical segregation in the workplace.
How can we criticise the radical feminist view of the family?
ignores progress been made like compensatory policies like GIST and WISE
separatism and political lesbianism unlikely to work as heterosexual attraction means nuclear family will stay live.
What do difference feminists say about the family?
increasing family diversity today and women not equally exploited in family types.
Calhoun- Women cannot be exploited by men in lesbian families. Gay and lesbian families examples of “chosen families”
How can we support the difference feminist view of the family?
White feminists neglect black women’s experience of racial oppression. Black feminists view black family as source of comfort from racism, not as oppressive.
How can we criticise the difference feminist view of the family?
approach neglects the similarities women share. Example- more at risk of being victim to domestic violence.
