Feminist Views of the Family Flashcards
How do Marxist feminists view the family?
View capitalism as being the cause of women’s oppression in the family
Benston - women are slave of the wage slaves
Ansley - women are takers of shit to absorb husbands anger
What does Marxist feminist Benston mean by ‘slave of the wage slaves’?
Women are slaves to their husbands who are slaves to capitalism
Why does women being ‘slaves of the wage slaves’ benefit capitalism?
Benefits capitalism by providing refreshed male workers for the RC
What does Marxist feminist Ansley mean by women being ‘takers of shit’?
Men vent all their frustrations about capitalism to their wives who then absorb their angers
Why does women being ‘takers of shit’ benefit capitalism?
Benefits capitalism because husbands return to work refreshed and calm which means the RC bosses can keep exploiting them
Why do Marxist feminist views criticise Parsons warm bath theory?
Parsons claimed that the family was a relaxing environment however the family isn’t going to be relaxing for the women as they have to deal with their husbands frustration
What are radical feminists views of the family?
The nuclear family is patriarchal
Causes of women’s oppression - patriarchy
Solutions to end patriarchy - revolution, not reform to separatism
Political lesbianism
Why might the nuclear family be considered patriarchal?
May be considered patriarchal because men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic labour and men are the ones earning money - in charge of the financial situation
Why do radical feminists suggest solutions such as separatism?
Suggest solutions such as the patriarchal system needing to be overturned through way such as separatism where women organise themselves to live independently from men
What do liberal feminists campaign for?
Campaign for equality for both men and women
How do liberal feminists argue equality can be achieved?
Argue that changes in laws, policies and peoples attitudes will result in greater equality
What do liberal feminists believe the best way to improve the position of women in the family and society is?
Best way is through state policies that remove all forms of discrimination to establish equality of opportunity for men and women
What are examples of policies and changes that would bring equality for men and women in society?
Equality in maternity and paternity leave - both fathers and mothers have the same legal rights to time off work when children are born
Better and cheaper childcare - to enable women and men to combine childcare with successful careers
Establishing and assuring legal rights of women as individuals - laws to establish equal pay and stop discrimination
e.g. equal pay act (1970), equality act (2010)
How do radical and marxists feminists criticise liberal feminists views of the family?
Argue that liberal feminists fail to challenge the underlying causes of women’s oppression and for believing that change in the law or peoples attitudes will be enough to bring equality
How do difference feminists criticise other feminists views of the family?
Criticise other feminists for failing to take into consideration the fact that women in different types of households experience family life differently
