theories of the family

• Hegemony – the dominant ideas in a society. 
• feminists believe the nuclear family is responsible for the oppression of women and patriarchy.
• patriarchy - system of male domination in which males use cultural, social, political, economic and physical power to subordinate females.
• ann oakley (liberal feminist) argue from a young age, we are trained to conform to social norms for our respective gender.
• hegemonic masculinity - encouraging men to be providers, protectors, career driven and superior to women.
• hegemonic feminity - encouraging females to be nurturers, emotional caretakers and inferior to men.
• hegemony is conveyed through:

  manipulation - parents encouraging/discouraging behaviour based on appropriateness for the child’s sex.
• hegemony is conveyed through:

  canalisation - channelling a child’s interests into activities that are ‘normal’ for that sex.
• Wilkinson: industry change to quaternary sector gave women economic power as more were in the workforce.
• Wilkinson: ‘genderquake’ led to cultural change in female attitudes. Sharpe’s study showed women in the: 70s = marriage, 90s = education
• employment discrimination made illegal by 1970 Equal Pay Act and 1975 Sex Discrimination Act.
• marriage rape made illegal in 1990s.
• reproductive rights - contraceptive pill & legalised abortion gave power to not have children and if they do, how many.
• women benefitted more from divorce laws. last 20 years showed 2 thirds of divorces are initiated by women.
• liberal feminism on gender inequalities can be criticised as:

  • women regarded as 1 - other experiences based on class and race are disregarded
  • women still perform the triple shift in addition to employment.