Feminist theories of the family

Question 1

What do radical feminists believe about the family?

Answer 1

• View men as the enemy
• They believe men exploit and oppress women through unpaid domestic and sexual services
• They advocate political lesbianism and believe same sex couples have more equality
• They believe family is based around male dominance and patriarchy and want to demolish the family.

Question 2

What is the marxist feminist view of the family?

Answer 2

• Combines marxism and feminism
• Believe capitalism is why women are exploited, they also believe women serve capitalism as they are ‘takers of shit’
• Believe that in a nuclear family, women absorb men’s anger and capitalism causes it, women reproduce work force which allows capitalism to continue
• Also believe that women are reserve army of labour

Question 3

who says women are the takers of shit?

Answer 3

Ansley

Question 4

How can the radical feminist view of the family be criticised by liberal feminists?

Answer 4

Fails to recognise women’s position has improved considerately

Question 5

What is the liberal feminist view of the family?

Answer 5

• Positive
• Believe women are oppressed because of the way they are socialised.
• They believe there has been a change and women are more empowered
• Recognise primary socialisation is more equal
• They say family life is becoming more equal because of laws, women are more financial,
• They say divorce is becoming easier

Question 6

What is the difference feminist view of the family?

Answer 6

• Believe women are not on homogenous group
• Believe not all women have the same experiences
• Believe black women are oppressed by racism and exploitation
• Believe class impacts a women’s experience
• They say the family lower class mothers have a dual burden, where as middle class mother don’t
• They say there’s different types of families and women have different roles

Question 7

What is the liberal feminists view of the family?

Answer 7

Liberal feminists believe progress has been made and women are gaining more power in society because of changes in laws and changes in attitudes

Question 8

What is the matrilocal family?

Answer 8

A female only household – advocated by radical feminists (Greer)

Question 9

Define patriarchy

Answer 9

A term used to describe a male dominated society; a system or ideology of male power over women

Question 10

Define political lesbianism

Answer 10

Radical feminists believe that we should not enter in to relationships with men because they are the enemy. They argue we should live separately from men and engage in relations with women to prove a point

Question 11

What are structural feminists?

Answer 11

Assume all women live in a traditional nuclear family – Radical, Liberal and Marxist feminism

Question 12

Marxists feminists believe women are the reserve army of labour what does this mean?

Answer 12

• women were called to help in the workforce at times of crisis, for example during the world wars. When they are no longer needed they return to their unpaid domestic role
• capitalism introduced free childcare so they could go into these roles

Question 13

Define reserve army of labour

Answer 13

Marxist feminists believe that women were called to help in the workforce at times of crisis, for example during the world wars. When they are no longer needed they return to their unpaid domestic role

Question 14

Define oppression

Answer 14

Feminists believe women are exploited by men and that men take advantage of women in the family

Question 15

What is post-structural feminism?

Answer 15

Similar to difference feminism – they look at the different experiences of women in today’s society

Question 16

what do black feminists believe about the family?

Answer 16

they argue the family can be a source of comfort for black and ethnic minority women

Question 17

what do radical feminists promote

Answer 17

some radical feminists promote separatism (living separately to a man) and political lesbianism to avoid sleeping with the enemy. Greer advocates all female households (matrilocal households)

Question 18

why is separatism unlikely to work?

Answer 18

population wouldn’t be able to expand

Question 19

who discusses canalisation?

Answer 19

Oakley

Question 20

what does Delphy and Leonard say about the family? (radical feminist)

Answer 20

• radical feminists
• argue the family is patriarchal and men benefits from women’s unpaid domestics work and emotional support

Question 21

What does Somerville say about the family?

Answer 21

• liberal feminist
• believes progress has been made (e.g legal rights), but still work to do
• emphasises better policies to support working parents (e.g childcare parental leave)

Question 22

who advocates for matrilocal families?

Answer 22

Greer