outline and assess feminist explanations of social inequality

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

The movement of the 1960s was powered by women who defined themselves as feminists. There are different versions of feminism but it is basically a movement for the elimination of sex-based inequalities, which they explain as socially constructed

Question 2

point 1

Answer 2

Radical feminists believe the most fundamental conflict in society is between all men and all women. The main enemy of women is ‘patriarchy’: ‘the combination of social, economic and cultural systems which ensures male supremacy’.

Question 3

example 1

Answer 3

Kate Millett argues Men use their collective power to ensure that society is run in their interests. They seize most of the material rewards and social privileges and they inflict physical and sexual violence on women. Men also exercise control over cultural attitudes and this means they are able to ‘justify’ their dominance by convincing people that it is ‘natural’ - it is just ‘the way things are’.

Question 4

explain 1

Answer 4

This explains social inequality in contemporary society because it argues that the reason women are unequal to men is due to patriarchys oppression.

Question 5

eval 1

Answer 5

Morgan (1996) suggests that the term ‘patriarchy’ should be replaced by the more flexible concept of ‘sexual stratification’
• It is too one-sided, suggesting that men exercise fixed power over women in all areas of life. This overlooks the possibility of women having greater power or at least ‘equality’ in some social areas.
• It perpetuates a negative image of men as eternal monsters, bullies, oppressors. This image is unfair and unhelpful.

Question 6

point 2

Answer 6

liberal feminists celebrate the huge strides made by girls in gaining educational qualifications, however they complain that all too often this is not followed by the expected occupational success. Too many young women end up in dead-end jobs.

Question 7

explain 2

Answer 7

Barron and Norris argue the dual market theory which argues that the labour market can be considered as consisting of two sectors, the primary sector emerges because employers need to provide superior conditions if they are to attract and retain skilled workers. The theory describes men as being concentrated in the primary sector (skilled labour, sound training, high job security, good pay and promotion prospects) while women are mainly confined to the secondary sector (with the opposite characteristics).

Question 8

eval 2

Answer 8

• It is not at all certain that the contemporary labour market can be neatly divided into two clear-cut sectors. In the age of ‘flexibility’ the labour market has become much more fragmented and complex. Rather than a dual labour market, economists prefer to talk of a ‘segmented labour market’.
• It exaggerates the extent to which the two sectors coincide with sexual divisions. Women have always been found in both sectors, and their representation in the ‘better’ jobs has improved over the last few decades

Question 9

point 3

Answer 9

Marxist feminists share the view that capitalism is bad for men and women. However, as feminists they recognise that the struggle is not just against capitalism but also against sexism and patriarchy. emphasis upon class divisions. They argue Other feminists often neglect the importance of class.

Question 10

evidence 3

Answer 10

Skeggs accuses many feminists of advancing ‘individualist’ values and neglecting the constant influence of class in women’s lives. There are class differences between women and this means they do not all enjoy the same incomes, lifestyles or aspirations. ‘Women’s opportunities have widened, but class differences between women are more powerful than any gender-based similarities’ (Delamont).

Question 11

eval 3

Answer 11

• Radical feminists criticise Marxist feminists for failing to prioritise women’s issues. They disagree that class issues should take precedence over gender issues.
• Non capitalist societies (‘primitive’ cultures / socialist and communist countries) are also based on patriarchy so some argue that capitalism cannot be the sole cause of women’s oppression.

Question 12

conclusion

Answer 12

In conclusion feminists argue the root to societies inequality is due to patriarchy and how it creates gender inequality, however different type of feminists argue this point in different ways. Triple system feminists such as Walby state that there are three interacting systems: racism, capitalism and patriarchy which cause inequality in society.