feminist theory of family

Question 1

what is meant by feminism?

Answer 1

• the focus of women in society
• research that focuses on the treatment of women in society

Question 2

what is meant by dual burden?

Answer 2

• two main roles are women had in the past were emotional support and domestic labour

Question 3

what is meant by triple shift

Answer 3

• recognising that in todays society, women are still broadly responsable

Question 4

define liberal feminism

Answer 4

• focus on legal equality
• still inequality between sexes
• still believe society holds the false belief that women are less intellectually and physically able
  —> thus it tends to discriminate against women

Question 5

name a liberal feminist

Answer 5

Oakley (1982)

Question 6

what did Oakley(1982) suggest?

Answer 6

• while families currently play a part in n the oppression of women, they do not have to
• it is possible to have family life and gender equality

Question 7

describe radical feminists

Answer 7

• view society as a patriarchy in which men dominate and oppress women
• don’t believe that changing law will be enough
• men will always oppress women

Question 8

name some radical feminists

Answer 8

• Millet
• dobash and dobash
• firestone

Question 9

what was Millet(1970)’s view of the family

Answer 9

• radical feminist
• viewed the family as male dominated, men often using their physical power to assert control
• this can often lead yo domestic violence

Question 10

what did Dobash and Dobash(1979) find?

Answer 10

• found that 25% of all assaults reported to police in scotland were of husbands on their wives
• this is still thought to be a gross underestimation of the real percentage

Question 11

describe marxist feminists

Answer 11

• focus on explaining ways in which women are oppressed through systems of capitalism
• argue that family helps preserve capitalism and patriarchy

Question 12

name some Marxist feminists

Answer 12

• Ansley
• Benston

Question 13

what does Benston argue

Answer 13

• argues wives unpaid domestic labour is crucial for a healthy capitalist society
• wife produces and rears future exploited workers at no cost to the ruling class
• caring fro husband allows husband to be an effective wage labourer
  –> maximising profits for capitalist