feminist view and domestic violence

overall feminist view on family

Feminists see the family as a patriarchal institution that reinforces gender inequality, especially through unpaid domestic labour, control of women, and unequal power between genders.

liberal feminism

• Liberal feminists believe inequality in the family comes from unfair laws, traditions, and attitudes, but society is gradually improving through legal and cultural changes.

• Gender roles are socially constructed, not natural.

• Progress is being made — e.g. shared domestic roles, changes in parenting, equal pay laws.

• Aim to achieve gender equality through reform, not revolution.

Wollstonecraft - birds - women are trapped into the sexist beliefs and values like birds in a cage

Sommerville - Acknowledges improvements like men doing more housework and greater female choice.

• Still criticises the family for holding women back, especially around childcare and emotional work.

Criticism: Other feminists argue liberal feminists are too optimistic and ignore deeper structural issues like patriarchy and capitalism.

Marxist feminism

• Marxist feminists believe women are oppressed in the family because of capitalism.

• Women perform unpaid domestic labour, which benefits capitalism by keeping workers healthy and cared for.

• Women also socialise the next generation of workers (children), saving the system money.

• The family is a safety valve for men’s frustration — women absorb their anger caused by work exploitation.

Ansley - “Women are the takers of shit” — men release work stress through domestic violence or emotional abuse at home.

Oakley - women are economically dependent on their husbands , lose their identity , and deal with men, frustrations, and fulfil sexual needs - a housewife.

Benston - women’s unpaid labour aids capitalism, married couples - men were more looked after and were healthier.

criticisms - Critics argue this ignores that not all women are oppressed equally — and some women do enjoy family life.

radical feminism

• Radical feminists believe that the family itself is a source of oppression — it is built on male power and dominance.

  🔑 Key Ideas:

  • The nuclear family is a patriarchal institution where men benefit from women’s unpaid work and control over their bodies.

  • Marriage and motherhood are seen as ways to control women.

  • The solution is to reject traditional family roles, or even family life entirely.

• Rich - compulsory heterosexual sexuality

• firestone - childbearing is a burden - reproductive technology will free women from dependence on men

criticism - Many women choose to marry and have families, and not all men oppress women — this theory can be seen as too extreme.

The difference between feminism and intersectional

• Difference feminists argue that we can’t generalise about women’s experiences of family — race, class, and sexuality all affect how women experience oppression.

  🔑 Key Ideas:

  • Not all families are equally patriarchal.

  • For example:

    • Black feminists highlight how Black women may value the family as a source of support against racism.

    • Lesbian women may not face the same type of male dominance in their households.

Amos and Palmer - challenging white Eurocentric and western ways - establish itself as the only legitimate feminism in current political practice

criticisms - Critics say this approach may weaken feminist unity and make it hard to fight against common issues like wage gaps or domestic violence.

evaluation points

• ✅ Recognises the importance of gender and power in shaping family life.

• ❌ Critics say some views (like radical feminism) are too negative or extreme.

• ❌ Some ignore positive aspects of family, like love, care, and emotional support.

• ❌ Functionalists argue feminism overlooks the beneficial functions the family provides for society and individuals.

two explanations for domestic violence

• Radical feminist explanation - domestic abuse is widespread and due to patriarchy, cultural values, and institutions

• firestone - childbearing is a burden - reproductive technology will free women from dependence on men

• Dubash and Dubash found that violent incidents occurred when husbands felt that their authority was challenged

• most victims are women 99% of incidents committed against women are by men,

• and nearly 1 in 3 women have been assaulted by their partner at some point in their lives.

• Yearn Shire - on average, a woman will suffer 36 assaults before making a report - a hidden figure of crimes.

• cheal - police and prosecutors are reluctant to investigate or prosecute because

• family is private

• The family is a good thing, so ignore the darker side

• individuals are free agents able to leave an abusive relationship

material explanation:

• Wilkinson - explains violence as a result of stress on family members caused by social inequality - fewer resources - money problems

• lack of money restricts peoples social circles and support networks (isolating them from friends and family)