preference theory hakim (2006)?

Question 1

why is Hakim critical of most feminist theories?

Answer 1

• Hakim (2006) is extremely critical of most feminist theories
• she argued that women are not the victims of unfair employment practices but that they have preferences and make rational choices in terms of the type of work they do
• for example, they choose part time work in order to manage childcare and housework because they choose to put childcare first
• she argues that a lack of affordable and available childcare is not a majour barrier to women getting jobs, because mothers priotitise childrearing over employment
• in other workfd women are not as commuitted to their careers as men are not as committed to their careers as men are and inequalities in the workplace are the result of the different behaviour and attitudes of men and women

Question 2

what did hakim say about work and the labour market and sgender inequalities?

Answer 2

• hakim contends that there is solid evidence that men and women continue to differ in their attitudes to work and labour market behaviour, and that these differences relate to broader differences in life goals and the relatyive importance of family life and careers to men and women
• according to Hakim preference theiry iis the only theory that can explain patterns and trends such as the glass celing, the continuing pay gap and occupational segregation

Question 3

what are hakims categories of womens work lifestyle preferences in the 21st century?

Answer 3

• home centered
• adaptive
• work centred

Question 4

how is home centred a work lifestyle preference?

Answer 4

• family life and children are the main prioritied throughout life for this group and they prefer not to work
• 20% of women in Britain fall into this category

Question 5

how is adaptive a work lifestyle preference?

Answer 5

• this group is most diverse and includes women who want to combine work and family, plus drifters and thiose with unplanned careers, who want to work, but are not totally committed to their career
• 60% of women in Britain fall into this category

Question 6

how is work centred a work lifestyle preference?

Answer 6

• childless women are concentrated here
• their main priority in life is employment or equivalent activities in the public arena: politics, sport, art etc
• 20% of women in Britain fall into this catogory

Question 7

what does hakim say about mens woek lifestyle preference?

Answer 7

• accordimg to Hakim the majority of men are work centred comparef to only a minority of women
• preference theory suggests that men will retain a dominant position in the labour market, politics etc. because inly a minority of women are prepared to prioritise their hobsd in the way that men do

Question 8

how did Gin et al (1996) criticise hakim?

Answer 8

-Hakim has been criticised by Gin et all (1996) who points out that it is often employers attitudes rather than womens attitudes that confine women to the secondary labour market of low paid, part time and insecure work

Question 9

why has hakim been criticised for ignoring the power of patriarchy?

Answer 9

• many feminists criticise hakim for ignoring the power of patriarchy to subordinate and oppress women
• it is argued that patriarchal ideology has a powerful effect on shaping womens preferences but