Feminist perspectives of the family

Nicholson - Difference

Found that poor black women in the USA form communes, sharing childcare and emotional support.

each family is expected to share resources, making it difficult to escape poverty.

Calhoun - Difference

Argues that not all families are oppressive.

There is greater equality in lesbian relationships due to the absence of gender scripts.

Ansley - Marxist

Argued that women are the ‘takers of shit’ absorbing their husbands’ anger and frustration due to exploitation.

Benston - Marxist

The amount of unpaid labour performed by women is very large and profitable to those who own the means of production.

Greer - Radical

Argues that women are oppressed in the family as wives, mothers and daughters.

Delphy & Leonard - Radical

Men are often seen as head of the household, where women usually take on unpaid housework.

Women are compensated with gifts instead of income, contributing to patriarchy.

Sommerville - Liberal

Argues that women today have much more choice and freedom in regard to family life.

Hakim

Preference theory

Suggests that women are not the victims of unfair employment, but they have preferences and make rational choices in terms of work.