Feminism and social policy

Question 1

What do feminists argue about social policies?

Answer 1

Reinforce patriarchy
Maintain male dominance and female subordination.

Question 2

What do they say about the state ?

Answer 2

Plays a role in perpetuating gender inequalities through policies that favour traditional family structures.

Some policies reinforce gender roles.
(Parental Leave Policies:
Policies that offer more generous maternity leave than paternity leave, or that don’t adequately incentivize fathers to take paternity leave, can reinforce traditional gender roles by suggesting that mothers are more responsible for childcare and that fathers should primarily focus on work)

Question 3

What do Feminists advocate for ?

Answer 3

Policies that promote gender equality.
(Equal pay legislation)
(Anti-discrimination laws)

Question 4

What do liberal feminists say?

Answer 4

Support policies that promote (Gradual change)
(Equal pay/Anti-discrimination laws)

Question 5

What do Radical feminists say ?

Answer 5

The state is inherently patriarchal and that policies often fail to challenge male dominance.

Question 6

What do Marxist feminists say ?

Answer 6

Capitalism and patriarchy work together with social policies reinforcing both economic and gender inequalities.

(Patriarchal capitalist system)

Question 7

Examples of Feminists critiques of social policy

Explain:
Marriage and family policies
Childcare policies
Domestic violence laws
Equal pay legislation

Answer 7

Marriage and family policies - Tax benefits for married couples reinforce traditional gender roles.

Childcare policies - Limited state-funded childcare forces women into domestic roles.

Domestic violence laws - Historically failed to protect women. (Improvements have been made) (In particular after the pandemic)
(Rape in marriage only relatively recently been made illegal) (1991)

Equal pay legislation - Attempts to reduce the gender pay gap but enforcement is inconsistent.
(Fail to fully address gender inequality)

Question 8

What are weaknesses to the feminist perspective ?

Answer 8

Overlooks improvements - Some policies have helped to reduce gender inequality. (Gender pay gap)

Ignore intersectionality - Fail to consider how race class and sexuality can intersect with gender.

Reductionist - Assume all women experience oppression equally.
(Some may benefit from existing policies while others do not).

Question 9

Sociologist back up to support gender roles being reinforced.

What did Oakley say ?

Answer 9

Oakley - Conventional family
social expectations and norms surrounding family structures can have negative consequences for individuals, especially women.

She argued that the expectation of women to be primarily homemakers and mothers, while men are the breadwinners, can lead to stress, depression, and dissatisfaction for both partners. Oakley also critiqued the medicalization of childbirth, arguing that it can negatively impact women’s health and experience

(Link to Parental leave policies)