Feminist views of the family Feminism Feminist views of the family SRO 2011

Learning Objectives To understand the view that Feminists have of the family To evaluate the view of Feminists Important Sociologists: Young & Wilmott Fran Ansley Germaine Greer Jenny Somerville Key terms/concepts: Liberal feminism Marxist feminism Radical feminism Difference feminism SRO 2011

How do the images below differ in their portrayal of women? Starter How do the images below differ in their portrayal of women? SRO 2011

How do feminists view the family? Like Marxists, feminists take a critical view of the family. They argue that it oppresses women through the unequal division of domestic labour and domestic violence that is often suffered. They do not regard gender inequality as natural or inevitable, but as something created by society. There are different ‘types’ of feminism which offer differing view of the family and offer different solutions to the problem of gender inequality SRO 2011

Women’s oppression is being gradually overcome Liberal feminism Liberal feminists are concerned with campaigning against sex discrimination and for equal rights and opportunities for women. They argue that: Women’s oppression is being gradually overcome We are moving towards greater equality but that full equality depends on further reforms. Studies have suggested that men are now doing more domestic labour and parents are socialising their sons and daughters equally SRO 2011

Marxist feminism Marxist feminists argue that the main cause of women’s oppression in the family is not men, but capitalism. Women’s oppression performs several functions for capitalism: Women reproduce the labour force Women absorb anger (Fran Ansley: ‘takers of shit’) Women are a ‘reserve army’ of cheap labour The oppression of women in the family for Marxists is linked to the exploitation of the working class. SRO 2011

Radical feminism Radical feminists argue that all societies have been founded by patriarchy (rule by men). For these feminists the key division in society is between men and women: Men are the enemy The family and marriage are the key institutions in patriarchal society The only way for the oppression of women to be overturned is by abolishing the family, as it is the root of the patriarchal system. This can only be done through separatism. Political feminists such as Germaine Greer argues for the creation of ‘matrilocal’ households SRO 2011

Difference feminism Difference feminists argue that we cannot generalise about women’s experiences as if they are all from a conventional nuclear family. For example, black feminists argue that white feminists neglect black women’s experience of racial oppression. Black feminists argue that black families are a positive course of support and resistance against oppression. Others dispute this arguing that women share many of the same experiences when compared with men, they face greater risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, low pay etc. SRO 2011

Criticisms of feminism Liberal feminists are often criticised for failing to challenge the underlying causes of women’s oppression. Jenny Somerville (2000): radical feminists fail to recognise that women’s position has improved considerably (it is therefore dated) and argues that separatism is unlikely to work. Most women want to spend time with men, marry them and have children together The New Right: equality is not always a good thing SRO 2011

For the ‘A’ grade Pages 43-44 (Rob Webb: orange textbook) Why are the family and marriage key institutions in a patriarchal society? What are the criticisms of perspectives on the family? SRO 2011