The Family - Feminist Flashcards
Outline how Marxist-feminist are critical of Marxists
Critical of traditional marxists. They believe that marxism has failed to highlight the particular way in which females are exploited by capitalism and how this exploitation contributes towards the reproduction of class inequalities in wealth and income
How do MF believe the Nuclear families are structured?
Patriarchal or male dominated, women face the majority of domestic work and childcare
How does MF Margaret Benston argue the position of females in the Nuclear family benefits capitalism?
Women reproduce the next generation of workers , they socialise children into capitalist norms and values, all done at no extra cost to capitalist class
Women are responsible for the majority of Domestic tasks, these are unpaid and provide capitalist class with a free service
Female domestic labourers ensure male workers are healthy and efficient by ensuring they return home to clean homes, providing males with meals and looking after them when they are ill.
Women are a reserve army of labour - a stock of low paid and often part time casual workers who can be hired when the economy is strong but first to be let go when the economy is weak.
How does Fran Ansley contribute to the Marxist Feminist perspective?
Wife acts as a safety valve for capitalism. Alienated make factory may return home to his family frustrated by both his lack of power and feeling of exploitation at work. Rather than taking frustration out on the ruling class or in the workplace his anger is directed inwards to the home and especially his wife
FA describes women as ‘takers of shit’ in the form on domestic violence. Domestic abuse soaks up the frustration caused by the powerlessness experienced by w/class men which might otherwise be directed at ruling class and capitalist system
Who do Liberal Feminists blame for women’s oppression?
Not a deliberate act by one controlling group is instead discrimination based on ignorance
What do Libera; Feminists want and how are they trying to achieve this ?
Want equal opportunities for women, campaign against sex discrimination and Equal rights
Why is Women’s oppression being gradually overcome according to Liberal Feminists?
Through changes in attitudes and changes in the law - for example the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 which outlawed employment discrimination
What perspective do Liberal Feminists have of the family?
Gender role socialisation in families is essential for people to learn differences in gender these then become internalised
Believe men are doing more domestic labour as children are socialised into more equal roles
Gender-quake has occurred women now want qualifications before a home life
Service sector rise led to feminisation of workplace and women become more economically independent
What act has strengthened women’s position in society and what criticisms are available of this?
Equality Act 2010 however this fails to challenge the underlying cause of women’s oppression
MF and RF believe far reaching changes to deep rooted society structures are needed rather than law changes
What do Radical Feminists blame for women’s oppression?
Patriarchy (men) causes all oppression and that all societies are founded on patriarchy
How do Radical Feminists view institutions such as The Family and Marriage?
Key institutions in patriarchal society, men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic labour and from their sexual services . Men dominate women by Domestic and Sexual Violence or threat of.
Why are Men and Women Unequal?
Men and Women are conflicting sex classes this existed before Class Inequalities
How is love a source of oppression?
Women are encouraged to flatter and nurture her husband
Which particular part of Patriarchal society needs to be overturned to reduce Inequalities?
The Family must be abolished as it is the root of female oppression
How do Radical Feminists suggest abolishing the Family?
Separatism is the only way to achieve equality - women organise themselves to live independently of men
