Feminist Perspectives on Family and Power

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of liberal feminism in the context of family relationships?

The abolition of gender roles

Rejection of patriarchal society

Economic equality between men and women

Equality of opportunity for both men and women (correct)

According to Marxist feminists, what is the role of women in the family?

Unpaid servants (correct)

Caregivers

Paid workers

Domestic workers

What is a key difference between liberal feminism and other forms of feminism?

The rejection of patriarchal society

The emphasis on economic equality

The focus on domestic roles

The belief that men and women can compete equally (correct)

Why do women often take on the service role in the family, according to Marxist feminists?

Because their partner is unable or unwilling to do so Signup and view all the answers

What is a common goal shared by all feminist perspectives mentioned?

Equality Signup and view all the answers

What do liberal feminists promote in the context of family relationships?

Practical and realistic ways of creating a gender balance Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant factor in deciding how domestic labour is divided in a family?

Time and personal preference Signup and view all the answers

What is a common trend observed in families with dependent children?

Women perform more childcare tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument made by Ann Oakley about the role of the housewife?

It is a social construction and can be changed Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the 'New Man' in the media?

A combination of traditional masculinity with a greater share of domestic work and childcare Signup and view all the answers

What is a result of the 'quiet revolution' in conjugal roles, according to Sullivan et al. (2008)?

Men doing a greater share of housework and women doing less Signup and view all the answers

What is a key finding from Pilcher's (1988) study on older people?

They believed in traditional gender roles and divided domestic labour accordingly Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of male domination according to radical feminism?

Patriarchy Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of women's double exploitation in the public and private spheres?

Two forms of economic exploitation Signup and view all the answers

According to Firestone, what is the essential gender difference that creates a culture of sex discrimination?

Biological differences Signup and view all the answers

What do Friedan and Millett see as the source of female oppression?

The patriarchal family Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the roles of 'mother' and 'father' in contemporary society?

The roles are still marked out differently Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the maintenance of a home and family?

Domestic labour Signup and view all the answers

Who spends more time on routine domestic tasks according to recent studies?

Women Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of paid employment on women's housework according to Kan?

It decreases Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of retirement or unemployment on women's housework according to Kan?

It increases Signup and view all the answers

What is the solution to gender inequality according to radical feminism?

Abolishing the patriarchal family Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Feminist Perspectives on Equality and Power in the Family

Liberal feminism promotes equality of opportunity, allowing men and women to choose their roles and responsibilities in the family, recognizing that some women may prioritize domestic and child-rearing responsibilities while others focus on their careers.
Marxist feminism argues that women are exploited in both the private and public spheres, performing unpaid domestic labor that benefits men, and are also exploited as paid employees in the capitalist system.
Radical feminism sees patriarchy as the primary source of male domination within the family, with biology being the essential gender difference that creates a culture of sex discrimination.

Conjugal Roles and Debates about Gender Equality in the Family

Traditional conjugal roles have evolved, with men and women having more personal freedom to decide how they want to interpret parental roles.
Despite changes, women still do the majority of domestic labor, particularly in families with dependent children, with men focusing on more enjoyable aspects of childcare.
Research suggests that domestic labor is more likely to be equally distributed when the male partner is unemployed and the female partner works full-time.

Household Tasks and Domestic Labor

Women of all ages, ethnicities, and classes do more domestic labor than men, with women spending more time on routine domestic tasks and men spending more time on repairs and gardening.
Paid employment reduces the amount of housework done by women, while retirement or unemployment increases their share of domestic labor.
Domestic labor is more likely to be equally distributed when couples negotiate tasks based on their individual circumstances, rather than traditional gender roles.

Changing Family Relationships and Gender Equality

Changing family relationships and wider social relationships mean that domestic labor is negotiated by every couple depending on their individual circumstances, with time and preference being significant factors.
Industrial societies have experienced a "quiet revolution" in conjugal roles, with men doing a greater share of housework and women spending less time on domestic labor.
The concept of the "New Man" combines traditional male ideas with taking on a greater share of domestic work and being a more involved father.

Key Sociologist: Ann Oakley

Ann Oakley is a well-known feminist and sociologist who has focused on women's role in society and in the family.
Her work has shown that the role of the housewife is a social construction and that domestic labor is important and should not be undervalued.

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Description

Explore the different feminist perspectives on equality and power within the family, including liberal, radical, and Marxist feminism. Learn about their views on roles and opportunities in a family context.