Gender Inequalities

Question 1

What did Murdock study? (Functionalist)

Answer 1

Women are located at home because of their biological function of bearing children and because their physique meant that they were less able than men to perform strenuous tasks. The gender division of labour is functional.

Question 2

What did Parsons research? (Functionalist)

Answer 2

Women = expressive role
Men = instrumental role
These differences are innate.

Question 3

What did Rastogi find? (Functionalist)

Answer 3

‘human capital’
Men are work-orientated and committed to their jobs whereas women choose to prioritise their roles as homemakers.
Gender inequalities arise as women develop lower levels of human capital than men.

Question 4

Evaluation of Functionalism?

Answer 4

Gender roles are socially constructed rather than based on biological differences.
Human capital theory ignores the structural constraints in society that may disadvantage women.
All written by men about women.

Question 5

What did Murray suggest? (New Right)

Answer 5

Rising birth rates outside marriage, crime and youth unemployment were all signs that irresponsible attitudes in the underclass were affecting certain neighbourhoods

• advocates the nuclear family
• blames single parent mothers
• it is functional for women to fulfil the housewife role

Question 6

What did Schlafly say? (New Right)

Answer 6

Acknowledges marriage as the most fulfilling role for women.
“Marriage and motherhood offer the opportunity for all and fulfilment as a woman”.

Question 7

What did Engels find? (Marxist)

Answer 7

Women’s subordinate position is as a result of the ownership of private property and the development of the nuclear family. The exploitative exploited relationship that occurs between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is translated into the household in relationships between men and women.
Men gained control over women as they wanted to pass on private property in the form of inheritance, and wanted to ensure that their heirs were legitimate offspring. Gave rise to the nuclear family, which restricts women’s sexuality, enforces monogamy and protects male property rights.

Question 8

What did Stanko (feminist) say?

Answer 8

Sexual harassment in the workplace is used to keep women in their place. Men use their power to protect their position. Women in jobs such as bar and secretarial work are sexualised.

Question 9

What did Adkins (feminist) say?

Answer 9

Horizontal and Vertical segregation.

Question 10

What did Delphy and Leonard (Feminists) say?

Answer 10

The family is an institute that plays a major part in the oppresion of of women. An economic system that men benefit from and exploit the work of women.

Question 11

What did Millet (feminist) say?

Answer 11

Men originally acquire power over women because of biological factors. Modern technology such as the contraceptive pill have provided developments.

Question 12

What did Johnson say? (feminist)

Answer 12

Concept of patriarchal terrorism, explains violence that is as a result of patriarchal traditions of men’s right to control “their” women. Systematic use of violence and economic subordination, that isolates and other control tactics.

Question 13

Feeley? (Marxist Feminist)

Answer 13

Family is designed to teach passivity not rebellion

Question 14

Benston (marxist feminist)

Answer 14

Women’s domestic work is unpaid

Question 15

Ansley (marxist feminist)

Answer 15

Women soothe the stresses and fristrations of the proletariat. Safety valve. Takers of shit.

Question 16

Beechey (marxist feminist)

Answer 16

Reserve army of labour

Allows employers to reduce wages and increase rates of exploitation.

Question 17

Oakley? (feminist)

Answer 17

Discusses 4 processes: 
Manipulation
Canalisation 
Verbal Appelations 
Different Activities

Question 18

Brewer? (feminist)

Answer 18

Class, race and gender combine to make multiple sources of deprivation and inequality. Black women suffer from this disadvantage because they are black, because they are women, and because they are working class. ‘Triple Systems Theory’

Question 19

Yuval Davies (feminist)

Answer 19

Criticises feminism as she argues it is ethnocentric.

Question 20

Abbott et al (feminist)

Answer 20

Other feminists concentrate on women’s experiences derived from white perspectives and priorities.

Question 21

Walby (Post feminist)

Answer 21

Triple systems oppression = racism, capitalism and sexism. Intersectionality. Private patriarchy in domestic settings to public patriarchy in the sphere of employment. 
Public patriarchy is exercised through The six structures of patriarchy:
paid employment 
the household 
the state 
cultural institutions 
sexuality 
violence

Question 22

Hakim? (Post feminist)

Answer 22

Women are not the victims of unfair employment practices but they have preferences and make rational choices in terms of the type of work they do. E.g. they choose part time work in order to manage childcare. Argues that most women prioritise child rearing over employment. In other words, women aren't as committed to their careers as men. 
Types of women: 
Home centred
Adaptive
Work centred

Question 23

Weber?

Answer 23

Occupational segregation - horizontal and vertical segregation.

Question 24

What is the political activism gap?

Answer 24

Women are significantly less likely than men to participate in campaign-orientated activities such as contacting a politician.

Question 25

Baron and Norris? (Weberianism)

Answer 25

Dual labour market
Primary Labour Market = secure, well paid jobs that have good promotion prospects
Secondary Labour markets = jobs with low pay, poor security and promotion prospects.
Say that women are found in the secondary labour market.

Question 26

Skeggs? (Post modern)

Answer 26

Women are too divided by class, gender, ethnicity and age for gender concepts to be useful. Women have ‘instrumental’ attitudes to work now. Gaining money and status from work.

Question 27

Faludi (Post modern)

Answer 27

There has been a feminist backlash and the younger generation don’t want to talk about the ‘f’ word. States that some people have the view that women have got it good now, therefore meaning that there is no longer a need for feminism. In fact, i is males who are more likely to suffer from inequality. This is not Faludi’s view, just observing changes in other’s views.