gender inequalities explanations Flashcards
(104 cards)
1
Q
FEMINIST EXPLANATIONS
A
- different strands of feminism
- common belief: gender divisions form the major divisions in society
- much of culture has been shaped by men and neglects the contribution that women make
2
Q
definition: malestream
A
- play on the word ‘mainstream’ to describe an approach where the point of view of men is taken as norma and usual
- eg. sociological research that has been conducted by men and concentrates only on men’s experiences and assumes the findings can be applied to women
3
Q
what were 1st wave feminists all about
A
- 19th and early 20th century
- concerned with achieving the right to vote (suffrage)
- equal opportunities in education for girls
- equal access to occupations closed to women eg. law, medicine
- right to inherit wealth and keep income even after marriage
- equal right to divorce
- much of this was achieved in the early 1900s
4
Q
who was the 1st wave feminist movement led by
A
- middle class women
5
Q
what were the 2nd wave feminists all about
A
- concerned with emancipation in all spheres of life
- linked to other campaigns for justice eg. civil rights movement
- equal pay
- equal education and job opportunities
- end to discrimination against lesbians
- contraception and abortion rights
- end to male violence against women
6
Q
what was the 2nd wave feminist slogan
A
- ‘the personal is political’
- many of the personal problems that women experience in their lives are as a result of the unequal way society is organised
7
Q
what is the 3rd wave feminism all about
A
- more diverse and individualistic form of feminism which came about due to globalisation and increase in tech use
- focuses less on laws and more on individual identity
- focuses on making changes to traditional ideas about sexuality and abolishing gender roles/sterotypes
8
Q
what did the 3rd wave feminists criticise the 1st/2nd wave feminists of
A
- primarily expressing the interests of MC white women
- women cannot be seen as having one common experience
- acknowledges that women’s experiences are shaped by other aspects of their identity
9
Q
what are 4th wave feminists all about
A
- not much different to 3rd wave feminism
- claim that it is necessary in the 21st C to take action against sexism and a range on inequalities faced by women and girls across the globe
- explores how patriarchal oppression is also damaging to men
10
Q
what are the 4th wave feminist fuelled by
A
- social media campaigns
- eg MeToo movement
11
Q
LIBERAL FEMINISTS sociologist
A
Oakley
12
Q
what do liberal feminists believe inequalities are mainly a result of
A
- a result of gender role socialisation and unfair laws/practises that reinforce gender discrimination
13
Q
how do liberal fem. believe we can bring about gender inequality
A
- changes in the norms and values that reinforce and uphold gender divides
14
Q
what does Oakley believe about the family
A
- family socialises children into gender roles where gender inequality centres
15
Q
which processes does Oakley believe reinforce gender roles in children
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- manipulation
- canalisation
16
Q
Oakley’s manipulation theory
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- refers to the encouragement of behaviour that is seen as gender appropriate
- eg. telling a boy to ‘toughen up’
17
Q
Oakley’s canalisation theory
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- the channelling of children towards toys and activities seen as gender appropriate
- children learn their behaviours through internalising behaviour experienced in the family
18
Q
what is Oakley’s work praised for
A
- praised for its endurance and being able to provide explanations for gender differences that continue to be evident in society
19
Q
postmodernist criticism of Oakley
A
- suggest that gender identities are no longer fixed and that there are a range of masculinities/fem to choose from
- no clear set of gender norms for children to be socialised into
20
Q
another postmodernist criticism of Oakley regarding children receiving the socialisation
A
- she regards children as the passive recipients of gender role association
- argued that there is at least a process of negotiation between parents and children
- eg Connell goes further and contends that there is a resistance to gender role socialisation as some children go against the roles
21
Q
radical fem and marxist fem criticism of liberal feminism
A
- would argue that liberal feminists fail to explain how men and women have to hold different levels of power in the family and more widely in society
- they are overly positive about the achievements
22
Q
any other criticisms of liberal feminists
A
- middle class movement that represents the interests of educated, professional women but fails to address the concerns of the wider range of women
23
Q
what is the marxist feminist belief
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- combines the feminist approach with Marxist theory to highlight the way in which capitalism is an economic system that leads to the oppression of women
- social class is key - women are brainwashed to accept their primary role as housewives
24
Q
marxist feminist sociologists
A
- Feeley
- Benston
- Ansley
- Bruegel
25
(MF) how are gender inequalities maintained
- because women re encouraged to accept the dominant ideology (nuclear family)
- the roles in society are 'fair' due to meritocracy
26
(MF) how does the subordinate role of one in the nuclear family help to serve the needs of capitalism
- they reproduce the next gen of workers and socialise them into norms and values that benefit capitalism
- eg. boys are brainwashed to believe they are breadwinners and girls the housewives
27
(MF) what does FEELEY believe about family
- family teaches children submit to a form of parental authority that is patriarchal
28
(MF) (FEELEY) how does a patriarchal family support capitalism and prevent revolution
- children accept their place in the capitalist society
- leads to the subordination of women to men, leading to less chance of revolution
- women are brought up to be passive, rather than rebellious
29
(MF) what did BENSTON believe about women's unpaid work
- benefits capitalism
- women are dependent on the husband financially
- so the woman keeps the husband in good mood to he can provide for the family and is less likely to challenge the capitalist system
30
(MF) what did ANSLEY believe (phrase)
- women were the 'takers of shit'
- when husbands return home after being exploited at work they take their angers and frustration out on their wives
- they soak up all the revolutionary ideas
31
(MF) what did BRUEGEL believe about ruling class using women
- RC use women as a reserve army of labour
- use them when they are needed then send them back to the role of full-time housewife when not required
32
evaluations of marxist feminists
- they place too much emphasis on social class not paying attention to other factors that impact lives
- relies on revolution to bring about change
33
postmodernist evaluation of MF
- class is no longer such a significant social division
34
radical feminist evaluation of marxist feminists
- critical of emphasis on capitalist exploitation
- patriarchy is more important than social class
35
WALBY's evaluation of MF
- focuses too much on capitalism and fails to explain women's exploitation in non capitalist countries
36
RADICAL FEMINISTS core belief
- patriarchy, not capitalism, is the main source of oppression for women
37
RF - why do men want to hold onto their dominance over women
- they have no interest to give up tiger power because they dominate in society and are advantaged
38
RF - why is the family central to the oppression of women
- they argue that there has always been a gender division of labour that has served to reinforce male domination
- our biological differences don't justify being treated unequally
39
RADICAL FEMINIST sociologists
- Millet
- Johnson
- Atkinson
40
RF what did MILLET believe about men and their desire to legitimise their power in the modern world
- men originally acquired power over women sexually - getting them pregnant etc
- but due to modern medicine/contraception men no longer can legitimise their power through this sexual means
41
RF what is JOHNSON'S phrase
- patriarchal terrorism
42
RF - JOHNSON - what does 'patriarchal terrorism' mean
- men's rights to control their women
- systemic use of violence and economic subordination to control women eg. domestic violence continues
43
RF what does ATKINSON believe about women
- political lesbianism
- lesbianism is a positive political alternative to an oppressive heterosexualism
44
evaluation of radical feminists
- don't acknowledge other areas of family life eg. social classes, ethnicity
- implies that all women share common interests/are in the same boat because they are female
- too much emphasis on factors that separate men and women
- men and women now have more fulfilling family relationships
- men and women co-operatively campaign for equality
45
liberal feminist evaluation of radical feminists
- radical feminists are too pessimistic and don't focus on the fact that the position of women has improves
46
WALBY's evaluation of radical feminism
- critical of it for seeing the patriarchy as universal and unchanging
47
INTERSECTIONALITY sociologist
- Walby
- Crenshaw
48
what is Crenshaw's intersectionality
- a metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantages can sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles that are often not understood among conventional ways of thinking
49
(intersec) what does WALBY believe about patriarchy
- is NOT fixed and changes over time
- has evolved from 'private patriarchy' where women were limited to the domestic sphere of home and family to 'public patriarchy' where women suffer disadvantage in work etc.
50
(intersectionality) what are the 6 patriarchal structures in society which restrict women WALBY
1. paid employment
2. the household
3. the state
4. cultural institutions eg. the media
5. sexuality
6. violence against women
51
(intersectionality) WALBY - 1. patriarchal structure: paid employemnt
- the ideology that women are supposed to stay at home means that women face discrimination from employers and restricted access into careers
- HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SEGREGATION
52
(intersectionality) WALBY 2. patriarchal structure: the household
- women are exploited in the family and the primary responsibility for housework and childcare even if they're working in full time employement
53
(intersectionality) WALBY 3. patriarchal structure: the state
- the state acts in the interest of men rather than women in terms of taxation, welfare etc
54
(intersectionality) WALBY 4. patriarchal structure: cultural institutions eg. the media
- women are represented in a narrow set of social rules eg. se objects, mothers
55
(intersectionality) WALBY 5. patriarchy structure: sexuality
- double standard is applied to men and women
- men are 'applauded; for having many sexual partners, while women are condemned
56
(intersectionality) WALBY 6. patriarchal structure: violence against women
- used by men to exert physical control over women
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(intersectionality) WALBY's strengths
- can be viewed as an improvement on other feminists as it incorporates different aspects of different feminists
- developed and refined ideas which incorporate social change into analysis
58
STACEY's criticism of WALBY
- over-emphasises the influence of social structures on behaviours
- Stacey argues when negotiate such systems and are more active than Walby assumes
59
PREFERENCE THEORY sociologist
HAKIM
60
what does HAKIM criticise
- the feminist assumptions about gender equalities
61
(PT) what is HAKIM's preference theory
- women are not victims of unfair employment practises
- inequalities are really differences in preferred lifestyle between the sexes
- men and women differ in their attitudes to work and labour
62
(PT) what are (Hakim's) womens' 3 work-lifestyle preferences
1. home centred (family and children are the main priorities) - 20% of women in UK
2. adaptive (combination of work and family) - 60% of women in UK
3. work centred (main priority in life is employment and work) - 20% of women in UK
63
(PT) - Hakim - why will men retain a dominant position in the labour market
- because only a minority of women are prepared to prioritise their jobs in the way men do
64
which theory does the preference theory support
- the functionalist human capital their as it suggests that women are not as committed as men to paid work
65
evaluation of HAKIM (PT)
- heavily criticised for ignoring the power of the patriarchy to subordinate and oppress women
66
Ginn et al criticism of HAKIM's preference theory
- point out it is usually employers attitudes, rather than the women's that confine them to the secondary labour market of low paid insecure work
67
what are the sociologists for black feminism
- Brewer
- Mirza
- Connel
68
why does BREWER believe is distinctive about black feminism
- 'understanding of race, class and gender as simultaneous forces'
- black women suffer because they are black, WC and women but their problems are more than that because their reinforce each other
69
evaluation of BREWER
- can be accused of emphasising racial difference at the expense of other inequities eg. class, disability, sexuality
- legislation combats these inequalities and helps empower ethnic minority women eg. The Equal Pay Act
70
what did the Youth Cohort studies show about Indian and Chinese pupils
- they outperform all other ethnic minority groups within the education system
71
why does MIRZA believe there is a need for a distinctive black feminism
- black women don't have some unique insight into what's right and wrong, but they do make an important contribution to the development of feminist theory
- Black feminists can challenge the distorted assumptions of dominant groups and offer alternative ways of thinking
72
evaluation of MIRZA
- not all ethnic minority women have developed the confidence to be brave, proud and strong
- some ethnic minority women continue to experience the pressures in the family to conform to traditional gender stereotypes that help maintain honour (izaat) - in south asian communities
73
what does CONNEL stress
- the link between black feminism and post-colonial feminism
74
what is postcolonial feminism
- concerned with explaining gender inequalities that were caused by colonialism, particularly in economically developing countries
- challenges the dominance of western feminism
- this is because gender inequalities established in colonial times are often embedded in current attitudes
75
evaluation of CONNEL's postcolonial feminism
- sometimes overemphasises the importance of colonialism in gender inequalities
76
criticisms of mainstream western feminism
- the dominant feminist movement prioritises white women's issues and may ignore other issues
- doesn't prioritise intersectionality (gender, race, ethnicity)
77
ABBOTT ET AL's criticism of mainstream western feminism
- EUROCENTRIC: mainly discusses issues faced by white MC women rather than universal issues
- PERPETUATED VICTIM IDEOLOGY: views eg. black women as helpless victims of racism and sexism and ignored the extent to which they resist oppression
- THEORETICAL RACISM: expects black women to write up their own experiences rather than contribute to the feminist movement as a whole
78
FUNCTIONALISM belief
- biological differences between men and women explain the natural division of labour = a smooth running of society
79
FUNCTIONALIST sociologists
- Murdock
- Parsons and Bales
- Rastogi
80
what did MURDOCK find in his studies of gender roles in over 200 societies
- women were located in the home because of their biological functions reproduce
- less able to perform strenuous tasks
- evident because its functional
81
what did PARSONS and BALES argue
- men play the 'instrumental' role, while women play the 'expressive' role
- separation of roles ensures the smooth running of society
- explains why men and women have different experiences in the labour market
- HAKIM's PREFERENCE THEORY agrees
82
what is the HUMAN CAPITAL THEORY
- explaining the wage gap and other employment related differences by the amount of human capital an individual/group have through education and training
- personal incomes vary according to the amount of investment that is put into developing human capital
83
what did RASTOGI believe in
- sees capital as the 'knowledge, competency, attitude, behaviour embedded in the individual'
84
evaluation of functionalist view
- feminists argue that gender roles are socially constructed rather than biological
- human capital theory ignores social constraints that limit women
- doesn't keep up with social changes in analysis
- tends to refer to the experience of the MC
- outdated
- even many MC families rely on 2 incomes now due to falling wages and higher living costs - the traditional ideal nuclear family doesn't exist
85
what are the NEW RIGHT views on gender relations and the nuclear family
- very similar to functionalist thinkers
86
NEW RIGHT sociologist
- Phyllis Schlafly
87
NR what are Phyllis Schafly's views on marriage
- marriage and motherhood can be extremely challenging but the most fulfilling role of women
- they can achieve their dreams of love and happiness
88
NR what are Schlafly's views on employment
- women's work liberation is propaganda and motherhood is far more fulfilling
89
NR what are Schlafly's views on family
- most women don't want to be liberated from home, husband, family and children
90
evaluation of the New Right
- Schlafly didn't live the 'stay at home' lifestyle she promoted, she was educated and involved in politics
- her assumptions about women mostly applied to MC women
- assumes that women aren't capable of finding joy beyond the family
- many women are needed as doctors, nurses and teachers (key workers) so they should be educated and part of the workforce
- outdated
91
MARXISM sociologist
- Engles
92
(Marx) what did Engles argue abut women's position in capitalist societies
- women's subordinate position is a result of the ownership of private property and the development of the nuclear family that went with it
- the rise of a class-based society through capitalism brought with it rising inequality
- exploiter/exploited relationships that occur in the B and P are reflected in the family
- domestic unpaid labour reinforces capitalism and therefore the patriarchy and their position as a reserve army of labour
93
how do Neo-merxisrs different from classic marxists
- a conflict is not simply based on class struggle - it occurs on a much wider level among almost all other groups
94
evaluation of marxist explanations
- ignores the role of religion
- eg. christianity in European countries shaping ideas around sexuality and monogamy predate capitalism
- radical feminists would say oppression of women by men came first
- over emphasis of class
95
which were the 3 dimensions of Weber's social stratification
- class
- party
- status
96
WEBER - why is it useful to look at occupational segregation when examining the role of status in relation to gender inequalities
- they offer some explanation for the inequalities that women face both across and within the labour market
97
what key explanations did the Equal Opportunities Commission identity for the continued presence of horizontal segregation
- human capital
- career choices depending on how they perceive different careers
- discrimination by employers
- barriers with organisations
98
WEBERIAN sociologists
- Barron and Norris
99
what is BARRON AND NORRIS's explanation of the dual labour market
- men dominate the primary labour market: secure, well paid jobs that have good promotion prospects
- women dominate the secondary labour market: insecure jobs with low pay, and with minimal promotion prospects
100
how can the Weberian concept of status explain the dual market
- women are more likely to work in the secondary labour market with low status eg. domestic roles
101
WEBER explain social closure
- describes the exclusion of some people from membership of certain status groups
- eg. to women by men to protect the top positions in society for themselves
102
how can Weberian concept of party explain gender inequalities
- women tend to participate less in groups that exert pressure and power in society eg politics
103
evaluation of Weberian view
- does not explain why men and women end up in different sectors of the labour market and why some groups have more status than others
- the 3 dimensions are often interrelated eg. those with economic power have higher status and use this to influence politics
104
postmodernist criticism of Weberian view
- there is no longer a consensus on what constitutes high and low status as norms and values are no longer fixed
