Feminism on the Family Flashcards
What view do Liberal Feminists take towards gender equality?
•They take a “march of progress” view towards gender equality in the home and wider society through reforming existing laws
3 examples of social policies that have impacted on the role of women:
1.Women’s employment was encouraged through the Equal Pay, Sex Discrimination and Equality Act
2.Women’s control of reproductive rights through the Family Planning Act
3.Women were given more marital rights through the Divorce Reform Act and the exclusion of marital rape clause
What do Marxists Feminists challenge?
•They challenge the traditional gender roles through examining the unpaid labour of women and the expectations society places on women to look after their husbands
What 2 concepts support the Marxist Feminist view of the impact of unpaid labour?
1.Dual Burden (Oakley)
2.Triple Shift (Duncombe & Marsden)
What concept supports that society places expectations on women of providing support to workers?
•Women are “slaves of wage slaves”
How are women exploited in the labour market?
•They are the “reserve army of labour”
What sociologist supports the Marxist Feminist view?
•Ansley
- She believed the unequal division of labour in the family benefits the ruling class and capitalism
- This is because the wife becomes an “emotional safety valve” that absorbs the husband’s frustrations
What are Radical Feminists critical of marriage?
•They are critical of marriage as it is an unequal institution of patriarchal nature where men use financial and physical power to control women
Why do Radical Feminists believe marriage is unequal?
•They believe it is unequal as men use coercive power over women through domestic violence (physical, psychological, sexual and financial abuse)
- They also believe it is unequal due to decision making being male dominated
What view do Postmodern Feminists hold?
•They believe that women have different experiences based on the kinship networks they form
- An example would be Stacy
What view do Neo-Liberal Feminists hold?
•They believe there are expectations upon females in society to have it all
- This increases the pressure on women in work, the family and their personal life (appearance)
•An example would be McRobbie
What factors can Feminism be applied to?
•Gender Roles •Family Diversity •Demographic Changes
•Social Policy •Relationships
How does Feminism lack a coherent approach to the role of women in contemporary society?
•It undermines the choices of some women who have traditional values
How does Feminism display a lack of intersectionality of women’s experiences?
•It focuses on the experience of white m/c women and ignores the differences of women of colour, women with disabilities, women with different sexualities and women of different social classes
- This is supported by Difference Feminists
