Sociology - Component 1 - Family & Households - RADICAL FEMINISTS KEY THINKERS

Radical Feminists - What do they believed women are oppressed through?

Male domination, as they see society as patriarchal

Radical Feminists - What do radical feminists argue all societies have been founded on?

Patriarchy (rule by men)

Radical Feminists - What is the key division in society between?

Men and women

Radical Feminists - What do radical feminists state men are?

The enemy 

Radical Feminists - What are men the source of?

Women’s oppression and exploitation

Radical Feminist - What are the keys to the oppression of women?

Patriarchal ideology and biology 

Radical Feminist - What is patriarchal ideology and biology?

Male physical strength and women’s reproductive capacity 

Radical Feminists - According to radical feminists, what are the key institutions in a patriarchal society?

The family and marriage

Radical Feminists - Through the family and marriage, what do men benefit from?

Women’s unpaid domestic labour and from their sexual services

Radical Feminists - How do men dominate women through the family and marriage?

Domestic and sexual violence, or the threat of it 

Radical Feminists - What do radical feminists believe should happen to the patriarchal system?

It needs to be overturned 

Radical Feminists - What is the family?

The root of all female oppression

Radical Feminists - The patriarchal system must be overturned, however in particular, what institution must be abolished?

The family.

Radical Feminists - Why should the family be abolished?

Men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic labour and their sexual service

Radical Feminists - What do radical feminists believe is the only way to end female oppression?

Through separatism 

Radical Feminists - What is separatism?

Women must organise themselves to live independently of men 

Radical Feminists - What do many radical feminists argue for?

Political lesbianism 

Radical Feminists - Why do many radical feminists argue for political lesbianism?

Because the idea of heterosexual relationships are inevitably oppressive as they involve ‘sleeping with the enemy’ 

Radical Feminists - Through heterosexual relationships, what do men benefit from?

Women’s unpaid domestic labour and their sexual service 

Greer - What does Greer argue for?

Separatism. Also the creation of matrifocal households as an alternative to the heterosexual family 

Greer - What does Greer believe about single women?

They tend to be happier than married women 

GREER FINISHED

GREER FINISHED

Firestone - Where does Firestone believe female oppression and patriarchy lie in?

Their biological capacity to bear and care for infants. An artificial womb is the answer to this

Firestone - What does Firestone support?

Reproductive technologies such as IVF as it enables women to form families without the need for male involvement

FIRESTONE FINISHED

FIRESTONE FINISHED

Radical Feminists Evaluation - What do new rights think of radical feminists?

They are critical of them. Murray argues separatism and a rise in matrifocal families would be negative for individuals and society. This is because there would be a rise in the underclass leading to poor socialisation, welfare dependency and a rise in criminality. This shows the nuclear family is the best fit for the individual and society 

Radical Feminists Evaluation - What does Marxist Althusser suggest about radical feminists?

They ignore the fact that the family is set up to pass on the capitalism ideology, arguing the family is set up to keep the working class in their lower position. This means social mobility doesn’t exist. This is done through the belief and acceptance of ideas such as hierarchy and power. This shows that inequality can exist in a variety of ways