feminism

• liberal feminist view of the family

  • they recognize the gradual progress that has been made in equality within the family
  • men are now doing more domestic labour and parents are socializing their children in a more equal way
• Criticism of the liberal feminist view

  • fail to challenge the underlying causes of women's oppression and for believing the changes in law and attitude are enough to bring equality
• Somerville's perspective on the family

  provides a less radical critique of the family and suggests proposals to improve family life for women that involve modest policy reforms rather than revolutionary change.
• Wilkinson's view on the family

  there are changes in attitudes towards women that are creating a 'gender quake' - women are no longer prioritizing love, family, children and more prioritizing careers and lifestyle
• 90% of women are the primary child carers
• Marxist feminists view on the family

  • women reproduce the labour force through unpaid domestic work
  • they absorb anger that would be directed at capitalism 'takers of shit'
  • women act as a reserve army of cheap labour - they can be taken on when low-paid extra workers are needed
• criticisms of Marxists feminists

  • ignores the fact that women have made progress
  • exaggerate harm caused to women and neglects effects of nonfamily relationships
  • overlooks the complexity of human relationships and society
• radical feminists view on the family

  • all relationships between men and women are based on patriarchy, men are the cause of women's exploitation and oppression
  • they view men as the enemy and state we need political lesbianism
• Dunscombe and Marsden view on the family


  the family results in the triple shift
• what does Greer argue for

  the creation of all female or matrilocal households as an alternative to the heterosexual family
• Dobash and Dobash view on the family

  • there is violence against women in the family because of the husband receiving a challenge to his authority
  • marriage legitimates the violence against women by conferring power and authority on husbands
  • 1/4 of women experience domestic violence
• Radical feminists ignore domestic, emotional abuse suffered by men who do not report it
• Difference feminism critiques

  • criticise white middle class and liberal feminists for being too optimistic about improvements in society towards gender equality
  • women in minority ethnic groups and women with disabilities still struggle in life and they experience day to day oppression