feminist perspective on families Flashcards
what do feminists view the family as?
feminists see the family as serving the needs of a patriarchal (male-dominated) society.
what is the liberal feminist view on the family?
Liberal feminists see the family as gradually becoming more equal due to changes in legislations and changes in social attitudes.
what is the marxist feminist view on the family?
Marxist feminists argue that capitalism is the main cause of exploitation and oppression of women in family.
what did Benston say (marxist feminist)?
Benston argues that the wife’s unpaid domestic labour is beneficial for capitalism because they keep the men healthy, fed and emotionally supported so that they work efficiently.
what did Ansley (marxist feminist) argue that the family acts as a what?
Family acts as a ‘safety valve’ for capitalism by absorbing men’s frustration from work. Capitalism exploits men at work making them feel powerless, instead of directing their anger at their bosses or the system, they take out their frustration at home. Therefore women act as “takers of shit”, emotionally supporting men and sometimes being victims of domestic abuse.
what is the radical feminist view on the family?
radical feminists argue that the family is a key instiution of patriachy, where men dominate and oppress women.
what did dobash and dobash (radical feminists) say about domestic violence?
dobash & dobash found that domestic violence is used to reinforce male power. They found that many violent incidents happened when a man felt his authority was being challenged.
what did Kate Millet (a radical feminist) say about the family?
she views the family as male-dominated, with men using their physical power to assert control, which leads to domestic violence. Millett argues that husband’s violence towards their wives is accepted by certain ethnic cultures and they view it as the norm.
What does Calhoun say about heterosexual relationships?
Calhoun stated that heterosexual relationships commonly have rape and abuse. Most women and children depend on their husbands financially making it difficult to leave. Calhoun believes that a lesbian relationship prevents the physical and mental abuse since both partners are female and therefore more likely to develop an equal relationship.
what did Delphy & leonard argue?
They argued that women are more likely to be passive in a heterosexual relationship, with the wife more likely to agree with her partner’s decisions. They see the family as not an equal partnership and see men to have the most power.
