GENDER EQUALITY AND EXPERIENCES OF FAMILY LIFE
UNIT 4.3.1:
Feminist Theories of the Family
Cues Notes
• What is the sociological history of • There have been four main eras of feminism which have made a
feminism? significant contribution to women’s position in society and families:
- First wave of feminism – began with Mary Wollstonecraft’s
‘A Vindication of the Rights of a Women’, argued for
• Look at Wollstone Craft’s work and life
education rights and highlighted men’s exploitation of
women’s inheritances.
• What was the suffragette movement? Wollstone’s followers in 19th Cen led to property rights, allowance to
initiate divorce and votes for women
- Second wave feminism – began in 1960’s to 1970’s with
works from Betty Friedman, Germaine Greer, and Kate
Millet
Liberal feminists argued that sociological analysis of family, economic and
educational life would put pressure on government to pass civil rights and
social policy legislation and this was quite effective leading, to what they
believed by the 1980’s, to be a retreat in patriarchy.
Radical feminists argued that women and men would always be locked in
a conflict and believed that patriarchy involved the use ideological,
economic, and physical power to oppress women and that women should
set up only women-communities and shun marriage and family life.
Socialist or Marxist feminism argue that patriarchy is an ideology
invented and employed by capitalism as its relentless search for profit and
not apparatus solely benefit men.
- Third-wave feminism was between the 1980’s and 1990’s
• What do Marxist Feminists mean by and made up of critics of the second-wave intersectional
‘search for profit and not apparatus’? feminists and post-feminists
Intersectional feminists argued that the liberal and radical feminists were
ethnocentric and guilty of theoretical imperialism. Black feminists (USA)
argue family is main site of oppression for them, but family is often a site
of refuge for women in societies characterised by white supremacy,
apartheid, and institutional racism
Post-feminists included Camille Paglia and Naomi Wolf argued women
gained much economic power and were in their prime in 1990’s. Stacy
Gillis and Rebecca Munford argued post feminists rejected idea of women
, being victims of men but emphasised ‘Girl power’ – encouraging women to
adopt traits of masculinity. Concluded that post-feminism was a
momentary fashion rather than a move to the next stage of feminism.
- Fourth-wave feminism is described by Higgins as a digital
form of feminism. They argue that both society and
families are responsible for inculcating men with a toxic
form of masculinity. It has been influenced by
intersectionality and argue that radical feminists are
transphobic and are more critical of gender binary
Digital feminism has been influenced by Judith butler who argues that
sex is biologically determined but gender is performed and that certain
individuals experience gender dysmorphia and undergo physical change
to make their sex fit their gender. People who identify as gay or bi perform
in stereotypical ways that the rest of society recognises as gay rather than
masculine of feminine.
• Many feminists argue that the sociology of the family is a product
• How have women been represented in
of ‘male stream’ thinking – masculine bias
sociology?
• What are the main ideas of Liberal • Liberal feminists see patriarchy as originating withing gender role
feminists and who are the key socialisation in the family – occurring in family (mainly) during
thinkers/researchers? childhood
Research by Oakley revealed 2 crucial components of gender
role socialisation:
Manipulation – parents discourage behaviour which society deems as not
fit for their gender
Canalisation – parents channel children’s interests onto toys and activities
which society deems fit for their gender
Stereo types and biases are confirmed as children go through secondary
• Research the work of Rebecca and socialisation and girls and boys are directed to take up subjects ‘more
Russel Dobash suited’ to their gender and the media which focuses on female appearance
rather than ability or achievement.
Institutional sexism the conscious or unconscious patriarchal attitudes
embedded into the institutions of society e.g., domestic violence within the
home husband may use this form of power on wife because his father and
those in his community used it and he was normalised to it. Legal system
and police which are made up mainly males may deal with it more lightly
and so may extended family due to cultural or religious beliefs.
Liberal Feminists have sought gradual reform of attitudes – e.g., in favour
of gender-neutral socialisation to reduce likeliness of toxic masculinity.
They put pressure on the government to make change and this has been
quite successful – e.g. women integrated into the workforce and legislation
against employer discrimination, new educational and economic
opportunities causing a genderquake, easier to get a divorce and health
services promoting reproduction rights – optimistic in seeing widespread
gender equality and reduce of patriarchy
• Evaluation of liberal feminism
acknowledges that there is a long way to go before full equality and
UNIT 4.3.1:
Feminist Theories of the Family
Cues Notes
• What is the sociological history of • There have been four main eras of feminism which have made a
feminism? significant contribution to women’s position in society and families:
- First wave of feminism – began with Mary Wollstonecraft’s
‘A Vindication of the Rights of a Women’, argued for
• Look at Wollstone Craft’s work and life
education rights and highlighted men’s exploitation of
women’s inheritances.
• What was the suffragette movement? Wollstone’s followers in 19th Cen led to property rights, allowance to
initiate divorce and votes for women
- Second wave feminism – began in 1960’s to 1970’s with
works from Betty Friedman, Germaine Greer, and Kate
Millet
Liberal feminists argued that sociological analysis of family, economic and
educational life would put pressure on government to pass civil rights and
social policy legislation and this was quite effective leading, to what they
believed by the 1980’s, to be a retreat in patriarchy.
Radical feminists argued that women and men would always be locked in
a conflict and believed that patriarchy involved the use ideological,
economic, and physical power to oppress women and that women should
set up only women-communities and shun marriage and family life.
Socialist or Marxist feminism argue that patriarchy is an ideology
invented and employed by capitalism as its relentless search for profit and
not apparatus solely benefit men.
- Third-wave feminism was between the 1980’s and 1990’s
• What do Marxist Feminists mean by and made up of critics of the second-wave intersectional
‘search for profit and not apparatus’? feminists and post-feminists
Intersectional feminists argued that the liberal and radical feminists were
ethnocentric and guilty of theoretical imperialism. Black feminists (USA)
argue family is main site of oppression for them, but family is often a site
of refuge for women in societies characterised by white supremacy,
apartheid, and institutional racism
Post-feminists included Camille Paglia and Naomi Wolf argued women
gained much economic power and were in their prime in 1990’s. Stacy
Gillis and Rebecca Munford argued post feminists rejected idea of women
, being victims of men but emphasised ‘Girl power’ – encouraging women to
adopt traits of masculinity. Concluded that post-feminism was a
momentary fashion rather than a move to the next stage of feminism.
- Fourth-wave feminism is described by Higgins as a digital
form of feminism. They argue that both society and
families are responsible for inculcating men with a toxic
form of masculinity. It has been influenced by
intersectionality and argue that radical feminists are
transphobic and are more critical of gender binary
Digital feminism has been influenced by Judith butler who argues that
sex is biologically determined but gender is performed and that certain
individuals experience gender dysmorphia and undergo physical change
to make their sex fit their gender. People who identify as gay or bi perform
in stereotypical ways that the rest of society recognises as gay rather than
masculine of feminine.
• Many feminists argue that the sociology of the family is a product
• How have women been represented in
of ‘male stream’ thinking – masculine bias
sociology?
• What are the main ideas of Liberal • Liberal feminists see patriarchy as originating withing gender role
feminists and who are the key socialisation in the family – occurring in family (mainly) during
thinkers/researchers? childhood
Research by Oakley revealed 2 crucial components of gender
role socialisation:
Manipulation – parents discourage behaviour which society deems as not
fit for their gender
Canalisation – parents channel children’s interests onto toys and activities
which society deems fit for their gender
Stereo types and biases are confirmed as children go through secondary
• Research the work of Rebecca and socialisation and girls and boys are directed to take up subjects ‘more
Russel Dobash suited’ to their gender and the media which focuses on female appearance
rather than ability or achievement.
Institutional sexism the conscious or unconscious patriarchal attitudes
embedded into the institutions of society e.g., domestic violence within the
home husband may use this form of power on wife because his father and
those in his community used it and he was normalised to it. Legal system
and police which are made up mainly males may deal with it more lightly
and so may extended family due to cultural or religious beliefs.
Liberal Feminists have sought gradual reform of attitudes – e.g., in favour
of gender-neutral socialisation to reduce likeliness of toxic masculinity.
They put pressure on the government to make change and this has been
quite successful – e.g. women integrated into the workforce and legislation
against employer discrimination, new educational and economic
opportunities causing a genderquake, easier to get a divorce and health
services promoting reproduction rights – optimistic in seeing widespread
gender equality and reduce of patriarchy
• Evaluation of liberal feminism
acknowledges that there is a long way to go before full equality and
