Marxist Feminists

Question 1

General idea?

Answer 1

• Social class affects life chances of a women and is the key to the relationship between men and women.
• Capitalism leads to the oppression of women.
• The family is a patriarchal institution and women’s positions in the family leads to exploitation.

Question 2

FEELEY

“Parental authority”

Answer 2

The family socialises its members into accepting traditional gender roles, and its natural for men and women to engage in separate roles in the home.

Question 3

BENSTON

“Roles in the family”

Answer 3

A wife keeps her husband In a good running that is essential to the smooth running of capitalism.

Question 4

ANSLEY

“Stresses of men”

Answer 4

Women act as takers of shit as husbands return home being exploited by work and take their frustrations out on their wives.

Question 5

BRUEGEL

“Women’s oppression”

Answer 5

Family is central to women’s oppression and points to how the ruling class use women to join the workforce when needed, and are sent back to the role of full-time housewife when not required.

Question 6

EVALUATION

Answer 6

• Place too much emphasis on social class and not on other factors that impact women’s lives.
• POSTMODERNISTS argue the focus on class is no longer relevant to social division.
• RADICAL FEMINISTS emphasis on the capitalist exploitation is wrong as patriarchy is significant.