Feminism

• Marxist feminists believe that the family serves capitalist interests by providing cheap labor through unpaid housework and childcare.
• Women's subordination within the family can be explained through functionalist theory.
• The traditional nuclear family has been criticized by feminists as being oppressive to women due to its structure and gender roles.
• The patriarchal family is seen as an institution which reinforces gender inequality.
• Feminist sociologists argue that women are oppressed by men, who have the power to control them.
• Feminist sociologists argue that the family is patriarchal, with men having more power than women.
• Feminists argue that women's oppression is not just about gender but also class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, etc.
• The patriarchal family is seen as an institution that benefits men, with women being oppressed due to their biological role in reproduction.
• Feminists argue that the family has been used historically to control women and maintain male dominance.
• Patriarchy refers to the social organization of society based on gender inequality, where males dominate females.
• Feminists argue that the patriarchal nature of the family is maintained through socialization, with boys learning masculine traits such as aggression and girls learning femininity.
• Gender- Books

  • Janice McCabe: found that 31% of books had female central characters and even books on animals focused on male animals.
  • Lobban (1974) found gender stereotyping in children's books. Best (1993) found that little had changed in 20 years.
  • Anne Fine, previous children's laureate- modern books positive race images but still gender stereotypes.
• Ann Oakley 1974: Sex-role theory

  • gender roles enforced through socialisation in early life and continue with you for the rest of your life.
• Ann Oakley: the four types of socialisation

  • Manipulation: The way you handle a child/ the way you dress them. E.g. gentle with girls and rougher with boys.
  • Canalisation: Directing children and babies to certain objects. E.g. girls dolls, boys action figure.
  • Activities: The activities you encourage them to do. E.g. girls: dress up, boys: football.
  • Verbal appellations: The way you speak/ the language you use with them. E.g. nicknames, sweet for girls, mate for boys.
• Liberal feminist:

  Identifies gender inequalities and advocated for equal rights for men.

  Also, aims to facilitate diversity among women; individual choice.

  Liberal feminists acknowledge that progress has been made towards equality in the education system.
• Radical feminism:

  The belief that the basis of society should be transformed towards feminine values and virtues; reordering along a matriarchal basis. Women can live a fulfilling life without men.

  Radical feminists believe that patriarchal ideology is till transmitted through the formal and hidden curricula, and that marginalisation is normalised in the education system.

  Sexual harassment in the education system is not treated as seriously as other forms of bullying (e.g. Kat Banyard 2011)
• Black and differences feminists:

  Many traditional sociology texts suggest that black and difference feminism is the same. However, difference feminism is the acknowledgement that men and women are different; many difference feminists argue that women are better than men.

  Black and difference feminists argue that not all girls have the same experience in the education system. Ethnic minority girls are often victims of stereotypes and labelling.