Patterns and trends: social class inequality: Feminism

Question 1

Why do feminists criticise other sociological theories ?

Answer 1

They ignore women and gender inequalities

Question 2

What did Abbott say about feminism and class ?

Answer 2

• criticises Goldthorpes study of social mobility because it ignores women
• There say women need to be studied as they have different experiences to men as they have less mobility

Question 3

What is the Surrey scale ?

Answer 3

A new classification system which represents the gendered nature of work

Question 4

What did Arber, Dale and Gilbert say about the Surrey scale ?

Answer 4

• existing classifications have a patriarchal base
• in the scale women are classified by their own occupation not their husbands
• Women dominate sales jobs and men dominate skilled manual jobs

Question 5

What are the criticisms of feminism ?

Answer 5

• women move in and out of jobs more due to pregnancy (can’t assess class position if constantly changing employment)
• Women’s partners often determine the income of the household
  COUNTERPOINT: In modern society, more women are single - their life chances are dependent of themselves (Roberts)