Feminist view

Question 1

Who does family benefit?

Answer 1

MEN
we live in a patriarchal society
Agree with marxists - family is a conservative institution that preserves social order - the patriarchy

Question 2

Liberal feminist views

Answer 2

• strive for legal equality between the sexes
• the family has long been a source of clear inequality:
  • Marital rape as not formally recognised as a crime in the UK until 1991 - because of the notion that marriage gave aa man ‘conjugal rights’ that could not be withdrawn save through annulment or divorce.
  • Divorce used to be easier for men to achieve than women - women could not file for divorce until 1923 (Matrimonial act)

HOWEVER, they argue that most battles for legal equality have been won.

HOWEVER, there is still inequality between the sexes (EG domestic work) - this is because despite the legal changes being effective, there needs to be cultural changes within society.

SO whilst families currently play aa role in the oppression of women they do not have to - it is possible to have family life and gender equality (through legal and cultural change)

Question 3

Radical feminist view

Answer 3

• The family is a vehicle for preserving female oppression as young girls are socialised (by their families) to view inequality and oppression as normal. therefore they accept the inequality of family life where women are under the dominion of their husbands and work towards achieving this life - they even dream of it.
• Changing the law is not enough to end the subjugation (to bring someone or something under domination or control) of women - men will always oppress women and family is a vehicle for that EG women as takers of shit (Ansley)
• Women should find alternative ways of living where they are not subject to male oppression.
  Some radical feminists favour gender separatism.

Gender separatism = women choosing to separate from male-defined and male-dominated institutions, relationships, roles and activities

Question 4

Marxist Feminist view

Answer 4

• The family benefits both the patriarchy and capitalism - they work hand in hand
• Capitalism benefits from the unpaid exploitative female work - feeding and caring for the workforce (so they can keep working better for longer and are less likely to fall ill) and produce the next generation of exploited workers

Question 5

Too negative - EVAL

Answer 5

feminists may paint too negative and gloomy a picture.

Whilst some families may be unequal and male-dominated, there may well be families that are much more equal - symmetrical families and joint conjugal roles (Willmott and Young)

Question 6

Represent Women as passive - EVAL

Answer 6

Many criticise feminists - especially radical feminists - for presenting women as too passive.

Postmodern feminists point out that women do not have to accept the patriarchy or inequality and do not have to make a choice between family life and equality - they can take the initiative and assert their own power.

Question 7

Outdated - EVAL

Answer 7

• most women work now and so the nature of family life has adapted to this
• As most women work marxist-feminist ideas of capitalism benefiting from women being stay at home wives and mothers is no longer relevant (HOWEVER, marxist feminists would argue that women suffer the dual burden and triple shift where they still do all the work expected from a stay at home wife/mother - which benefits capitalism - whilst also doing paid work

Question 8

Ann Oakley - conventional families

Answer 8

A married heterosexual couple and their children

women = caregivers
men = wager-earner

Women are socialised into wanting to get married and have kids.

Social pressures to conform repressed women’s career ambitions and alternative forms of relationships and life styles.

HOWEVER, during her research in the 1980s she found an increase in cohabitation and women entering the workplace resulting in them suffering a dual burden.