Feminism perspective on family and social policy

what view do feminists take

a conflict view. they see society as patriarchal, benefiting men at women’s expense. they argue all social institutions, including the state and its polices, help to maintain women’s subordinate position and the unequal gender division of labour in the family

whats policy as a self fulfilling prophecy

polices are often based on assumptions about what the ‘normal’ family is like. Feminists such as Land argue that many social polices assume that the ideal family is the patriarchal nuclear family with a male provider and female home maker plus their dependant children.

how does policy as a self fulfilling prophecy affect the family

this norm of what the family should be like affects the kind of polices governing family life. in turn, the effect of the polices is often to reinforce that particular type of family at the expense of others types, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

whats an example of policy as a self fulfilling prophecy

if the state assumes that ‘normal’ families are based on marriage and offers tax incentives to married couples that are not available to cohabiting couples, this policy may encourage marriage and discourage cohabitation

whats the overall effect of policy as a self fulfilling prophecy

the policy makes it more difficult for people to live in other family types than the one that policymakers assume they live in

polices supporting the patriarchal family

feminists identify many examples of polices that help to maintain the conventional patriarchal nuclear family and reinforce women’s economic dependence

how do tax and benefits polices support the patriarchal family

may assume that husbands are the main wage-earners and that wives are their financial dependants

this can make it impossible for wives to claim social security benefits in their own right, since its expected that their husbands will provide. this then reinforces women’s dependence on their husband.

hoe does childcare support the patriarchal family

while the government pays for some childcare for pre-school children, this is not enough to permit parents to work full time unless they can meet the additional costs themselves. likewise, polices governing school timetables and holidays make it hard for parents (usually the mother) to work full-time unless they can afford extra childcare.

this means that women are restricted from working and placed in a position of economic dependence on their partners.

how does care for the sick and elderly support the patriarchal family

government polices often assume that the family will provide this care. in general, this means it is middle-aged women who are expected to do the caring. In turn, this often prevents them from working full-time, increasing their economic dependence on their partners.

what does Leonardo argue in light of care for sick and elderly ti support the patriarchal family

Leonard argues, even where polices appear to support women, they may still reinforce the patriarchal family and act as a form of social control over women

whats an example of maternity leave in support of the patriarchal family.

although maternity leave polices benefit women, they also reinforce patriarchy in the family. maternity leave entitlement is much more generous than that for paternity leave and this encourages the assumption that the care of infants is the responsibility of mothers rather than fathers. maternity benefits are also low, thereby increasing mothers economic dependence on their partners.

how do child benefits support the patriarchal family.

child benefits is normally paid to the mother. although this gives her a source of income that doe snot depend on the father, it also assumes that the child’s welfare is primarily her responsibility.

evaluation of the feminist view

not all polices are directed at maintaining patriarchy. for example, equal pay and sex discrimination laws, the right of lesbians to marry, benefits for lone parents, refuges for women escaping domestic violence and equal rights to divorce could all be said to challenge the patriarchal family.

similarly, rape within marriage was made a criminal offence in 1991. these polices can be said to improve the position of women in the family and wider society.