Gender Inequality

what are 2 Weberian theories about gender inequality

Dual Labour Market theory

Women’s Triple Shift

what is the dual labour market theory

Barron and Norris

Argue that there are two labour markets. The primary labour market, characterised by good pay, job security and opportunities for promotion, is dominated by males. The secondary labour market, which has none of the above things, is where women are more likely to be found

what is the concept of women’s triple shift

Duncombe and Marsden

Women perform three roles within the household: housework, paid employment and emotion work

what types of feminist approaches are there

• radical

• marxist

• liberal

• black

• postfeminism

what is the radical feminist approach to gender inequality

• Society is inherently unequal due to patriarchy.

• Firestone: The source of inequality is biological differences, such as women’s ability to give birth.

• Walby: Argued that there are multiple inequalities being exercised at any one time.

what is the Marxist feminist approach to gender inequality

• View capitalism as the major source of inequality, but argue that women are particularly affected by the inequalities of the class system

• Hartmann – Neither capitalism nor patriarchy alone oppress women – this is known as dual systems theory

• Feeley argues that the family teaches children to accept patriarchal authority from a young age

what is the liberal feminist approach to gender inequality

• View both men and women as victims of gender inequality.

• Men are denied the close relationship with their children, whilst women are denied their fair share economically.

• Socialisation creates rigid expectations of men and women.

• Social reform is the key to overcoming gender inequality.

• Sharpe’s study shows optimism for the future.

what is the black feminist approach to gender inequality

• Bell Hooks says that other feminists ignore the struggles of black women.

• Black women are afflicted by class, gender and ethnic inequality.

what is the postfeminism approach to gender inequality

• Faludi argues that feminism went too far in criticising men, the family and femininity, creating a backlash.

• Brooks believes that ‘patriarchy’ and ‘femininity’ are deterministic terms and prefers to focus on how different femininities construct different identities and lifestyles.

what is preference theory

Hakim

Believes that women exercise choice in their position in the home and in the workplace.

Hakim argues that women prefer to adopt the lives they lead.

Linked to Rational Choice Theory, where people make choices after weighing up the potential benefits and costs of a particular decision. Men earn more money on average, so a woman staying at home is a rational choice.

Identifies three types of woman:

• Work-centred women

• Home-centred women

• Adaptive group (60% of women) Combine paid work with childrearing.

what is erotic capital

Hakim

Described having advantage due to erotic capital: the combination of physical and social attractiveness that can be used to gain social and economic advantages

She adds that erotic capital gives youth, the working class and ethnic minorities the chance to experience upward social mobility.

functionalist approach to gender inequality

Parsons said women perform an expressive role and men an instrumental role. These differences are ascribed at birth and contribute to a functional society.

Oakley challenges Parsons views, arguing that gender role are socially constructed, not biologically ascribed.

Parsons ignores the structural constraints placed on women.

Human capital: Some functionalists argue that men have more human capital than women. This is due to the greater orientation to paid work. Women are less committed to paid work and are more likely to take career breaks

Marxist approach to gender inequalities

Argue that women are a reserve army of labour.

Beechey points out that women are less likely to join a trade union and they women accept lower wages because work is just supplementing their husbands wages.

This theory is a bit dated.

Weberian approach to gender inequalities

Vertical and horizontal segregation and Dual Market Theory are Weberian theories

what is vertical segregation

the unequal distribution of men and women across different levels or grades within an organisation or occupation

what is horizontal segregation

the unequal distribution of men and women across different types of jobs and industries, where men and women are concentrated in different occupations or sectors

what is the New Right approach to gender inequalities

Schlafy suggests that women should accept and enjoy the positives of motherhood and the family role.