Feminist perspective of the family

Question 1

Main arguments

Answer 1

• Men obtain greater benefits from the family
• The family is used to keep women busy and out of work
• Therefore, they are conflict theorists

Question 2

Marxist feminism in the family

Answer 2

• Women merely there to reproduce new labour
• Domestic labour is unpaid and benefits economy instead
• Absorb all the anger from their husbands after they come home from work
• SImply a reserve for the work force (there when you want them), like in WW1

Question 3

Radical feminism in the family

Answer 3

• They want to reorder society to abolish the patriarchy
• Think of men as the enemy
• Challenge social norms and institutions rather than change through a political process
• Some opt for seperatism (distance from men)

Question 4

Liberal feminism in the family

Answer 4

• Want a gradual change for equal rights
• Changes in law (sex discrimination act 1975)
• Changes in attitude
• Changes in socialisation patterns of children (encouraging girls to do things thought of as male and vice versa)

Question 5

Difference feminism in the family

Answer 5

• Don’t like to generalise women’s experiences
• Criticise some sub groups of women for holding back others
• Focus on those who have not yet experienced the full effects of feminism (black women etc)