gender theory Flashcards
Parsons - Functionalism (gender theory)
Women - ‘Expressive’ caring role. Men - ‘Instrumental’ role. Differences are innate, ascribed at birth and contribute to a healthy, smooth running society. Implies that men are more suited to paid employment and women are more suited to domesticity. Women are less motivated and less suited to the labour market than men. Therefore its not surprising that on average they are paid less.
Murdock - Functionalism (gender theory)
Womens place is within the home as they are biologically different to men – Their job is to child rear due to biological functions – Also they are not as physically strong as men, meaning they are not meant to work/physically exert themselves as labour demands.
Rastogi - Functionalism (gender theory)
Human Capital Theory - Related to the idea that men and women serve different roles and purposes in society. The pay gap is justified because it reflects the fact that men have more ‘human capital’ than women because of their greater focus on the labour market. Women are less committed to paid work and are more likely to take career breaks or opt for part-time work to continue to care for a family. Many women choose to prioritise their role as homemaker, fitting with their maternal instincts.
Schlafly - New Right (gender theory)
Writing from the 1970s, Strongly disagrees with feminism and is highly critical of it. She acknowledges that marriage can be difficult but sees it as the most fulfilling role for women.
She wants women to stay home with the children, she says that the feeling of accomplishment of raising a child can never be found in a job and that women’s main role is in the home. She disagrees with Firestone and states that gender roles are naturally different but equally as important, she is also totally against gender fluidity.
Engles - Marxism (gender theory)
Exploiter- exploited relationship that occurs is translated into household between men and women.
Suggested that the subordinate positions of women were a result of historical development and the growth of private property and accompanying laws of hereditary rights. The nuclear family benefits capitalism - men need to control women in order to know where their inheritance is going to go.
Benston - Marxist Feminism (gender theory)
Women are used to benefitting the operation of the capitalist economy by carrying out unpaid work in the home. If women were paid for their housework there would be a huge redistribution of wealth.
Ansley - Marxist Feminism (gender theory)
“Women are takers of shit” - Women absorb the anger that would otherwise be directed at capitalism. Women’s male partners are frustrated by exploitation at work, and womens are victims of this.
Beechey - Marxist Feminism (gender theory)
Women are a cheap ‘reserve army of labour’ brought in during economic booms but thrown out during slumps. Women are often not members of trade unions and are prepared to work for less money as their wage could be a second income.
Stanko - Radical Feminism (gender theory)
Sexual harassment in the workplace is used to keep women in their place. Men use their power in the workplace to protect their position. Women in jobs such as bar work and secretarial work are sexualised and are not taken as seriously as male workers or considered for promotion.
McRobbie - Liberal Feminism (gender theory)
Bedroom culture- the bedroom is still female-dominated, women were likely to hide away in their bedrooms to get away from the male-dominated world.
Culture of femininity- females have created this culture for themselves, includes having a best friend, talking about fashion and makeup and is a reason for bedroom culture forming.
Barron and Norris - Weberian (gender theory)
Argue that there is a dual labour market: Primary labour market - Well paid, secure, promotions, male dominated. Secondary labour market - Low paid, unstable, female dominated. Cons - Outdated, women are now in much more better paid work.
Women are more likely than men to be in the secondary labour market. Three reasons for this are:
- Women’s ‘unsuitability’ = evidence that employers may hold stereotypical beliefs about the ‘unsuitability’ of women for primary-sector roles. Zimmerman (1991) and Hartnett (1990) employers in the 1990s subscribed to myths and negative stereotypes about women.
- Disrupted career development = social pressure to have a family. Abbott and Wallace (1997) husbands career and pay is often more important.
- Weak legal and political framework supporting women = Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts are ineffective. Coussins (1976) doubted the commitment of governments to eliminate gender inequality. (Government should promote free and cheap nursery care and encourage employers to provide crèche facilities).
Skeggs - Postmodernism (gender theory)
Working class women had instrumental attitudes to work and it didn’t affect their identity. They saw work purely as an income and were happy to take a lower pay.
Women are too divided by class, gender, ethnicity and age for the categories of masculinity and femininity to be useful.
The feminist movement is no longer exclusively for women – male feminists have joined in too e.g. Ed Hardy = The considerate constructors scheme (Whistle free builders)
