Theories of the Family - Feminist Perspective on the Family

Question 1

What do feminists view the family as serving?

Answer 1

Serving the needs of a patriarchal society

Question 2

Patriarchal society

Answer 2

Male-dominated society

Question 3

What does feminist research focus on in the family? (3)

Answer 3

Housework arrangements
Domestic violence
The power relationship

Question 4

What does feminism examine?

Answer 4

The contribution of women’s role in the family to the economy

Question 5

Three different branches of feminism

Answer 5

Liberal
Marxist
Radical

Question 6

What do all the branches of feminism fundamentally agree about the family?

Answer 6

That the family is oppressive towards the exploitation of women

Question 7

What type of family are feminists critical of?

Answer 7

Nuclear family

Question 8

What do almost all feminists agree that?

Answer 8

Gender is socially constructed and gender roles are learnt rather than biological

Question 9

Liberal feminist view of family

Answer 9

Believe in a ‘March of progress’ view

Question 10

‘March of progress’

Answer 10

Belief that the family is gradually changing for the better over time by coming more democratic and equal

Question 11

What do liberal feminists argue that evidence shows? (3)

Answer 11

Men are doing greater share of domestic labour
Decision making is coming more equal
Boys and girls are socialised in similar ways

Question 12

What do liberal feminists see adult relationships as?

Answer 12

Less patriarchal than those in 1950s

Question 13

What does Somerville (liberal feminist) suggest?

Answer 13

Proposals to improve family life for women that involve modest policy reforms than revolutionary change

Question 14

What does Somerville (liberal) believe that many feminists have failed to do?

Answer 14

Failed to acknowledge process for women

Question 15

What does Somerville (liberal) believe has helped to create greater equality within relationships?

Answer 15

Increased choice for women and rose of dual-earner households

Question 16

What evidence does Somerville (liberal) believe shows heterosexual families will not disappear?

Answer 16

High figures for remarriage suggesting high need for intimacy and compassion

Question 17

What does Somerville (liberal) believe feminists need to focus on?

Answer 17

Policies which will encourage greater equality within relationships

Question 18

What is Somerville’s work based on?

Answer 18

Secondary analysis of previous works - not backed up by empirical evidence

Question 19

How do radical feminists criticise Somerville (liberal)?

Answer 19

Argue she fails to deal with patriarchal structures and culture in modern family life

Question 20

What do Marxists acknowledge?

Answer 20

Women are exploited in marriage and family life

Question 21

What do Marxists emphasise?

Answer 21

Relationship between capitalism and the family

Question 22

What do Marxists see the exploitation of women as?

Answer 22

A key feature of family life

Question 23

Benston (Marxist) quote

Answer 23

‘Amount of unpaid labours performed by women is very large and very profitable to those who own means of production’

Question 24

Why does women’s unpaid work ultimately end up benefiting the capitalist class according to Marxist feminists?

Answer 24

Because they only have to pay one person in the family

Question 25

What does the women do for free according to Marxist feminists?

Answer 25

Keeps the man going as a worker and reproduces next generation of workers

Question 26

Quote from Ansley (Marxist feminist)

Answer 26

“When wives play their traditional role as takers of shit, they often absorb their husband’s legitimate anger and frustration at their own powerlessness”

Question 27

What is Marxist feminist a more critical view of?

Answer 27

Parsons ‘warm bath theory’

Question 28

What does traditional nuclear family reproduce for the ruling class (Marxist feminism)?

Answer 28

Reproduces cheap labour for the ruling class

Question 29

What does traditional nuclear family teach (Marxist feminist)?

Answer 29

Teachers ideas that capitalist class require for their future workers to be passive

Question 30

What does Feeley believe about the family (Marxist feminist)?

Answer 30

It’s an authoritarian unit dominated by the husband

Question 31

What do we need to tackle in order to tackle patriarchy (Marxist feminism)?

Answer 31

Capitalism

Question 32

Why does Morgan criticise Marxist feminism?

Answer 32

Because the traditional nuclear family is coming less equal

Question 33

What does Marxist feminism ignore?

Answer 33

Fact that women have made progress

Question 34

What do radical feminists argue?

Answer 34

All relationships between men and women are based on patriarchy

Question 35

What are men the cause of (radical)?

Answer 35

Men are the cause of women’s exploitation and oppression

Question 36

What needs to be overturned (radical)?

Answer 36

The entire patriarchal system including the family which is seen as the root of women’s oppression

Question 37

What is radical feminism against?

Answer 37

Liberal feminism

Question 38

What does the family remain (radical)?

Answer 38

It remains patriarchal as women have acquired ‘dual burden’ of domestic work and paid work

Question 39

What do women suffer from (radical)?

Answer 39

‘Triple shift’ where they have to do paid work, domestic work and ‘emotion work’

Question 40

What does radical feminism ignore?

Answer 40

Progress made by women Domestic abuse suffered by men who often don’t report it

Question 41

How is radical feminism too unrealistic?

Answer 41

Separatism is unlikely due heterosexual attraction

Question 42

What does Greer argue (radical)?

Answer 42

That the family continues to disadvantage women

Question 43

What does Greer focus on?

Answer 43

Role of women as wives, mothers and daughters

Question 44

What does Greer believe there is a strong ideology suggesting?

Answer 44

Strong ideology suggesting that being a wife is the most important female role

Question 45

What does Greer believe is mirrored in most marriages?

Answer 45

Inequality

Question 46

What does Greer believe marriage reinforces?

Answer 46

Patriarchal relations

Question 47

What fraction of divorces are initiated by women?

Answer 47

3/4

Question 48

What isn’t valued in society according to Greer?

Answer 48

Motherhood

Question 49

What is attention focused on during childbirth according to Greer?

Answer 49

The well-being of the child

Question 50

What are women expected to do after giving birth according to Greer?

Answer 50

Return to work and regain their figuren

Question 51

What are daughters quite likely to experience according to Greer?

Answer 51

Sexual abuse from their fathers, step-fathers and other relatives

Question 52

What does Greer make (criticism)?

Answer 52

Sweeping generalisations not backed up by evidence

Question 53

How does Somerville criticise Greer?

Answer 53

Says she doesn’t take into account progress made by women

Question 54

How does Postmodernist theory criticise feminism?

Answer 54

Says family life doesn’t always produce inequality and exploitation