Feminist views of the family revolve around and understanding of the term patriarchy, which means make domination. Feminists agree that men tend to have a superior position in society and that women suffer oppression because of this. Many feminists argue that the family is a corner stone of this oppression and as such needs careful analysis. Liberal feminists believe that the fanily is gradually becoming less oppressive for women, they cite the move of many families towards more symmetrical roles where men take more part in the domestic roles so that women are no longer burdened by the mundane, repetitive, low status work of cleaning, laundry and childcare work which makes their position in society less powerful than mens. However, radical feminists disagree.
For example, cultural feminists look to the different values associated with womanhood and femininity as a reason why men and women experience the social world differently. Other feminist theorists believe that the different roles assigned to women and men within institutions better explain gender difference, including the sexual division of labor in the household. Existential and phenomenological feminists focus on how women have been marginalized and defined as the “other” in patriarchal societies. Women are thus seen as objects and are denied the opportunity for self-realization. Gender Inequality: Gender-inequality theories recognize that women's location in, and experience of, social situations are not only different but also unequal to men's.
Radical feminists argue that its the wives and not the husbands who are looked to in times of distress or when problems occur, Radical feminists would describe women as more likely to listen, to agree, to understand, to excuse and to flatter. Marxist feminists (who believe capitalism to be the root cause of female oppression) would agree and say women would be the ones to give the emotional support when men are frustrated from the stresses produced by working for capitalism. Being a slave to unpaid domestic labour, married women are usually financially dependant on their husbands, although women may be able to pick up a part time job, the responsibilities of looking after the family usually
8th October 2012 Sociology: exam practise Assess the contribution of feminist theories to our understanding of the family. Feminism is the movement that fights against woman suppression, they believe that the gender inequality is not natural, inevitable or biological but rather it is something that is created by society. Feminists have different theories as to what is the reason behind the treatment of females. Radical feminists say that all societies are founded by patriarchal families and they believe that in this family structure the men benefit from the woman’s domestic and sexual services. It is thought that in a patriarchal society domestic violence against a woman by a man is inevitable as men like to prove their control.
For example women gained the right to vote in the 20th century and rape in marriage was made a crime in the early 1990s. A liberal feminist, Jessie Bernard, sees the role of housewife as the key factor in limiting the potential of women. Bernard believes that marriage is particularly beneficial for men as they are more likely than single men to have successful careers, high incomes and high status occupations. However, wives are found to express marital dissatisfaction more frequently than men, since they gain least. The positive of liberal feminists are that in general the writers will have an optimistic view of the current position and future prospects of women in society and the family on the other hand the negatives of this view are that some of the social changes are proved to be incorrect for instance studies on the conjugal roles (the roles of the men and
The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, takes place in The Republic of Gilead where reproduction rates are declining. To counteract this, the remaining women with viable ovaries, called Handmaids, are assigned to high class households with hopes of conceiving a child. Feminism, a topic that is central to the novel, is the ideology of equality for women. However, the society in the novel is depicted as the exact opposite of feminism. By utilizing the Handmaids as a representation of the females in the Gileadean society, the author exposes the flaws of an anti-feminist society through objectification and the absence of agency.
he wrote that woman only worked to make money not for personal freedom. after studying the era of industrial revolution in class and reading the two different points of view whether or not did the industrial revolution lead to a sexual revolution y totally agree with Edward shorter.employment opportunity impact woman's life economically, psychologically and socially. due to this woman had more freedom and a new perspective of sexuality. from edward shorter poin of view, the view about how woman being independent economically due to the industrial revolution led to a sexual revolution can be proven in several ways. it is a fact that illegitimacy rate period coincides with the period of industrialization.
Such myths, Beauvoir explains, are derived trough literature and Social beliefs. The construct of the “essence of women” have been grossly misconstrued by a male dominated world. In her essay, she strongly argues about the two-sided opposition of the “self” and “other” through an existentialist perspective, which is through the experience of the human condition. She boldly announces that the male has appointed himself as “self” and the female as “other” in order to gain dominion and authority to call the female inferior, passive, or weak. I will take an in depth look at the contradictions and myths that men have created of women as outlined by Beauvoir.
Assess the fashion industry using the feminist perspective Feminists argue that that in society men oppress women and that women do not have equal rights when compared to men, they argue that the family serves the needs of patriarchy and that we reside in a patriarchal society where males are the dominate sex. Feminists take a critical view on most things in society but a main one being fashion. Feminism itself simplifies down to equality. It is shown to be not about attacking men but improving society and having equal chances between both sexes. It states that many women’s focus is on her wardrobe so they can impress the opposite sex as they feel useless if they fail to impress, they also argue that fashion is a more female dominated area, they show that most of the top fashion designers are male ruled and that Radical Feminists such as Germaine Greer believe that all key societies (including fashion) have been found on patriarchy (ruled by men).
“Assess the view that the family benefit all its members” The view that the family benefits all its members is associated with functionalist theories of the family. Murdock and Parsons are good examples of positive views of the family, such as views have come under heavy criticism from those who look at the negative side of family life, and see the family as “dysfunctional” or harmful to its members- radical feminists for example point to the issue of domestic violence. Radical feminists believe that violence against women within the family is a form of power and control. “Violence was used by the men they lived with to silence them, to “win” arguments, to express dissatisfaction to deter future behaviour and to merely demonstrate dominance” Dobash and Dobash found that most women who left violent partners returned in the end out of fear of being stigmatised. Radical feminists are criticised for overemphasising the power of men, People believe that it overemphasises the place of domestic violence in family life.