Sociology - Component 1 - Family & Households - MARXIST FEMINIST KEY THINKERS

Marxist Feminist - What would Marxist Feminist argue women are oppressed by?

Capitalism and the patriarchy

Marxist Feminist - Between capitalism and the patriarchy, which is the principle source of female oppression?

Capitalism is the principle source of female oppression. Capitalists are the main beneficiaries

Benston - What did Benston identify?

3 main ways women are oppressed by capitalism

Benston - What are the 3 main ways women are oppressed by capitalism?

• Women undertake a large amount of unpaid labour in the home at no cost to those that own the means of production 

• In her role as the housewife, the woman tends to her husbands needs, keeping him in running order to perform his role as a wage labourer, reinforcing gendered emotional support 

• Women produce and socialise future workers, at no extra cost to those that own the means of production, reinforcing the reproductive role of women 

Benston Evaluation - What would functionalists directly criticise?

Benston’s views regarding gendered roles. Murdock would argue such roles benefit all individuals involved and society as a whole. 

Benston Evaluation - According to the functionalist criticism what roles, linked to Murdock, benefit the individual and society?

• Emotional Role - satisfy individuals needs. Its a form of positivity 

• Reproductive Role - ensures societies existence. Maintains the relationship between the couples

BENSTON FINISHED

BENSTON FINISHED

Duncombe and Marsden - What did Duncombe and Marsden do?

Support and develop the ideas of Benston, while also going further 

Duncombe and Marsden - What do they believe women have now taken on?

A triple shift 

Duncombe and Marsden - What does the triple shift lead to?

Further inequality 

Duncombe and Marsden - Through the triple shift, what are women now responsible for?

Paid employment. Unpaid housework. Childcare / providing emotional support to the family. This adds additional strain to women only 

DUNCOMBE AND MARSDEN FINISHED

DUNCOMBE AND MARSDEN FINISHED

Ansley - What does Ansley argue?

The emotional support provided by the wife acts as a ‘safety valve’ for the frustration produced in husbands as workers

Ansley - According to Ansley, what do men have?

Frustration and anger at their plight as labourers

Ansley - What happens to the men’s anger and frustration?

It is absorbed by the wife

Ansley - Through this absorption, what are women?

‘Takers of shit’.

Ansley - By being ‘takers of shit’, what does this mean for the system?

The system is not threatened

Ansley Evaluation - What does Elliot do to the work of Ansley?

Rejects it. Elliot claims women only act as emotional sponges, absorbing all the frustration and anger as men. Today statistics indicate that 757,000 men were victims of domestic abuse in 2020. This shows that not all family units lead to the oppression of women. At times, men can experience oppression and abuse and male victimisation also needs to be studied 

Marxist Feminist - What do Marxist Feminist argue women are?

A reserve army of cheap labour 

Marxist Feminist - What is the reserve army of cheap labour?

The army is useful if jobs are required to be filled, such as in WWII, but when  they’re not needed they’re sent back to be housewives. 

Marxist Feminist - What does the reserve army of cheap labour reinforce?

The idea of men being dominate