Feminist theory of the family

• Feminist view of the family

  • Feminism argues that we live in a patriarchal society (a male- dominated society) where family continues gender inequalities
  • The traditional family structure oppresses and exploits women
• liberal feminists 


  • see patriarchy and gender inequality originating from gender role socialisation
  • argue oppression is overcome through legislation and children being properly socialised nowadays
• marxist feminism


  reject the optimistic view of liberal feminists and believe inequality towards women is a result of capitalism
• radical feminism


  • argue that it is not capitalism that exploits women but men
  • believes women should completely cut themselves from men
• women are reserve army of labour due to capitalism only needing women when there isnt any workers
• takers of shit - Ansley

  • women absorb the anger that husbands experience at work
  • leads to men beating their wives
  • seen as a safety valve for society
• difference feminism

  • argue that we cannot generalise about womens experiences
  • argue that lesbian and heterosexual women, white and black women, MC and WC women have very different experiences of the family from one another
  • other feminists argue that difference feminism neglects the fact that all women share many of the same experiences e.g. all at risk of DV