feminism 30 marker

Feminist intro

Feminists critical view of the family, oppresses women, reinforces patriarchy.

focus on unequal divsion of domestic labour and domestic violence against women e.g CSEW November 2023, 27% women have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.

gender inequality not natural or inevitable but created by society. Feminism broad term covering several types.

Liberal feminists key point

Womens oppression being gradually overcome through changing peoples attitudes and law e.g Sex Discrmination Act (1975) outlaws discrimination in employment,

Moving towards greater equality, full equality depend in further reforms + changes in attiudes and socialisation patterns of both sexes

Against liberal feminist

Radical feminists accuse perspective not dealing with underlying causes of women’s oppression . Recent statistics domestic division of labour - radical feminists use highlight ongoing inequality - Dunscombe and Marsden calls triple shift women experience today.

Marxist feminists key point

Benston (1972) nuclear family - basic commodity required by capitalism I.e by reproducing the labour force through socialising next generation of workers and maintaining current one. Women also absorb anger directed at capitalism Ansley 1972 wives r takers of shit soak up frustration of husband who is exploited at work.

Against Marxist feminists

However difference feminism criticise assuming all women exploited equally under capitalism e.g lesbian and black women different experiences.

reserve army of labour

women reserve army of labour can be taken on when extra workers needed. when no longer needed employers can let them go to return to priamry role as unpaid domestic labour

against reserve army of labour

out of date, in 2022 72% of women worked in paid job.

Marxist solution to oppression.

Socialist revolution replaces capitalism however communism is unlikely

Radical feminism

Delphy and Leonard see the family as a patriarchal institution in which women do most of the work and men get most of the benefit. They believe family is the root of oppression and must be abolished through separatism where women live independently away from men.

Against radical feminism

Jenny Somerville (2000) RF not recognise women postion has improved - better access to divorce, better job opportunites, control over their own fertility, ability to choose whether to marry or cohabit.

Heterosexual attarction makes separatism unlikely

Difference feminism:

Not all women share same experiences of oppression- women of different ethnicities, class background etc.  May have different experiences of family e.g by regarding the family solely as source of oppression, white feminists neglect women’s experience of racism.

Against difference feminism

However essentialism, every women’s experience despite class,ethnicity , location is impacted by same essence patriarchy. Neglects women shared some experience e.g risk of domestic labour and sexual assault, low pay

conclusion

unequal division of domestic labour, power imbalances, and the socialization of traditional gender roles, marxist out of date, separtism unrealsitic.