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

2. 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

3. How do the images below differ in their portrayal of women?
Starter
How do the images below differ in their portrayal of women?
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4. 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

5. 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
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6. 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.
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7. 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
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8. 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.
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9. 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
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10. 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