feminist perspective on the family Flashcards
what is feminism?
the argument that society is based on patriarchy (control led by men) - the feminist movement aims to reduce patriarchy and improve equality.
what are the two forms of feminism?
liberal - slow movement towards equality.
radical - extreme change, women to have more power than men.
why do feminists heavily criticise the nuclear family?
it socialises boys and girls into gender roles that limit both of them.
it socialises boys and girls into ideas of superiority and inferiority that go on to impact on the life choice of women.
why do feminists have a critical view of the family?
- it oppresses women, evidence through domestic violence against women and unequal division of labour.
- gender equality is not inherent as we are socialised to see male and female roles being different and natural.
- this socialisation is reinforced in the wider world but it is the family that it takes root.
what do liberal feminists argue?
they argue that women’s oppression is being gradually overcome through changing people’s attitudes and changes in law such as the sex discrimination act (1975) which outlaws discrimination in employment.
they believe we are moving towards greater equality.
what are criticisms of liberal feminists?
other feminists argue that liberal feminists fail to challenge the underlying causes of women’s oppression and for believing that changed in law or peoples attitudes will be enough to bring equality.
what do radical feminists argue?
they argue that all societies have been founded on patriarchy.
the key division inn society is between men and women:
- men are the enemy as they are the source of women’s oppression.
- the family and marriage are key institutions in patriarchal society.
what change do radical feminists argue for?
the patriarchal system needs to be overturned - family needs to be abolished as they see it as the root of women’s oppression.
they argue that the only way to achieve this is through separatism - women to live independently of men.
what are criticisms of radical feminists?
liberal feminists e.g jenny somerville argue that radical feminists fail to recognise that women’s position has improved considerably, with better access to divorce, job opportunities, control over fertility etc.
what do marxist feminists argue?
they argue that the main cause of women’s oppression in the family is not men, but capitalism.
what functions does women’s oppression perform for capitalism?
women reproduce the labour force - through their unpaid domestic labour by socialising the next generation of workers.
women absorb anger - wives are described as ‘takers of shit’ who soak up their husbands frustration because of the exploitation they suffer at work.
women are a reserve of cheap
labour - can be taken on when extra workers are needed.
