Evaluate Feminist views of families and households (35)
Feminists also take a critical view of the family. They do not re-
gard gender inequality as natural or inevitable as argued by
Parsons, but as something created by society. However, Femi-
nism is a broad term covering several different types. Each of
these approaches the family differently and offers different so-
lutions to the problem of gender inequality.
Liberal Feminists are concerned with campaigning against sex
discrimination and for equal rights and opportunities for
women. Somerville argues that women's position has improved
considerably, with better access to divorce, jobs, control over
fertility and the ability to choose whether to marry or cohabit.
She argues that women's oppression is being gradually over-
come through changing people's attitudes and through
changes in the law such as the Sex Discrimination Act (1975),
which outlaws discrimination in employment. They believe we
are moving towards greater equality, but that full equality will
depend on further reforms and changes in the attitudes and so-
cialisation patterns of both sexes. Although Liberal Feminists
do not believe full gender inequality has yet been achieved in
the family, they argue that there has been gradual progress.
Gatrell found in dual-earner families that fathers played a
greater role in their children's lives than their fathers. Function-
alist Parsons would criticise Liberal Feminist ideas and state
both genders have biological roles suited for them, which leads
to different tasks in the home. For example, women are biologi-
cally able to bear children and men are biologically able to en-
gage in more physical labour. This shows that naturally there
are gender differences in the home about biological differences
Marxist Feminists argue women are oppressed by both capital-
ism and patriarchy. They see capitalism rather than patriarchy
as the principal source of female oppression and capitalists as
the main beneficiaries. Although men benefit from women's un-
paid work in the home, it is capitalism that ultimately gains the
most. Duncombe and Marsden argue women now take on a
triple shift leading to further inequality. Women are now re-
Feminists also take a critical view of the family. They do not re-
gard gender inequality as natural or inevitable as argued by
Parsons, but as something created by society. However, Femi-
nism is a broad term covering several different types. Each of
these approaches the family differently and offers different so-
lutions to the problem of gender inequality.
Liberal Feminists are concerned with campaigning against sex
discrimination and for equal rights and opportunities for
women. Somerville argues that women's position has improved
considerably, with better access to divorce, jobs, control over
fertility and the ability to choose whether to marry or cohabit.
She argues that women's oppression is being gradually over-
come through changing people's attitudes and through
changes in the law such as the Sex Discrimination Act (1975),
which outlaws discrimination in employment. They believe we
are moving towards greater equality, but that full equality will
depend on further reforms and changes in the attitudes and so-
cialisation patterns of both sexes. Although Liberal Feminists
do not believe full gender inequality has yet been achieved in
the family, they argue that there has been gradual progress.
Gatrell found in dual-earner families that fathers played a
greater role in their children's lives than their fathers. Function-
alist Parsons would criticise Liberal Feminist ideas and state
both genders have biological roles suited for them, which leads
to different tasks in the home. For example, women are biologi-
cally able to bear children and men are biologically able to en-
gage in more physical labour. This shows that naturally there
are gender differences in the home about biological differences
Marxist Feminists argue women are oppressed by both capital-
ism and patriarchy. They see capitalism rather than patriarchy
as the principal source of female oppression and capitalists as
the main beneficiaries. Although men benefit from women's un-
paid work in the home, it is capitalism that ultimately gains the
most. Duncombe and Marsden argue women now take on a
triple shift leading to further inequality. Women are now re-
