Feminist theories of the family

Question 1

What is a feminist?

Answer 1

someone who believes in equality of both genders

Question 2

Who is Delphy and Leonard?

Answer 2

radical feminists who argue that the people who benefit from work are men and not the rlc.
- housework benefits the patriarchy
- claim women do bulk of domestic labour

Question 3

What is a radical feminist?

Answer 3

Feminists who argue that all societies have been founded in patriarchy and they see men as the enemy and that they are the source of women’s oppression and exploitation

Question 4

What is a liberal feminist?

Answer 4

feminists who believe that the family has improved and the position of women has improved considerably so they are not against men at all

Question 5

Jennifer sommerville

Answer 5

A liberal feminist who believes women’s positions have improved
- argues that heterosexual attraction makes it unlikely that separation would work

Question 6

Who is Purdy?

Answer 6

A radical feminist who argues that women need to go on a baby strike as they believe reproduction oppresses women because it is a constant cycle which means they rely on their husbands and have no social life

Question 7

What is a Marxist feminist?

Answer 7

A Marxist feminist is someone who believes that the main cause of oppression in the family is capitalism

Question 8

Women’s functions for capitalism in society (Marxism)

Answer 8

• women reproduce the labour force - through unpaid domestic labour they socialise the next generation of workers
  -women absorb anger - women soak up the frustration their husbands feel because of exploitation
• women are reserves of cheap labour - used when needed and sacked when they aren’t