Explain and evaluate the contribution of feminists to an understanding of the family

1. Explain and evaluate the contribution of feminists to an understanding of the
family.*****
2. Compare and contrast two competing feminists’ perspectives on the family.
3. Assess the view that the fundamental role of the family is supporting the
needs of capitalism
4. How far have feminists contributed to our understanding of the family?

GENERAL COMMENTS

This essay is quite complex as it requires an explanation of three different feminist
perspectives. The information covered may well prove useful in other essays, for
example, the Marxist feminist explanation of the relationship between the family,
work and the capitalist system can be applied to essays on work and stratification.
The information on violence within the home can be used in an essay on dark side
theorists. Meanwhile, the radical feminist explanation can be used in an essay on
symmetrical families or conjugal roles, as well as in essays which explore the
occupational situation of women.

When writing essays, try to include a good mix of contemporary examples to
support what you’re saying. Not only will this make the essay more enjoyable for
the reader but it will help you to remember some key points when it comes to
revising for exams.

Tackling the Question #1
This essay requires both an explanation and evaluation of the contribution of
feminists to an understanding of the family. It is important to NOTE the word
‘FEMINISTS- plural. This is a useful clue as to what the examiner is looking for –it
indicates that there is more than one feminist theory to consider. It’s is also
important to remember what the term ‘EVALUATE’ means in CAPE Sociology. It
means that you need to produce both supporting and contradictory evidence for the
topic or issue under discussion. Remember to be as CRITICAL as you can.

GUIDANCE NOTES

From the outset the essay spells out that there are several feminist perspectives to
consider. It also tells the reader that there is some competition between the various
perspectives. The fact that there are three perspectives to explore makes the essay
easy to structure-a section of the essay must be given to each.

In paragraph two, offer an explanation of liberal feminism. The example of the ‘rule
of thumb’ brings a historical look at the women’ lives to life. There are other
examples that you could use in place of this one. Did you know that in the past a
husband could put a face harness on his ‘nagging wife’? This harness had a spike
attached to it which rested on the woman’s tongue. The husband then had the right
to lead his harness-wearing wife through the town for everyone to see. Remember
that whichever examples you choose to use, one is enough and be brief.

In the next paragraph introduce the Marxist feminist perspective as a critique of the
liberal feminist approach. Some students find the Marxist feminist approach
particularly difficult, especially Benston’s explanation of how the family is linked to
capitalism. This argument is broken down into four key points so that it becomes a
little easier to understand.

I bet you never forget Ansley. Like the essay before, we’ve used the example of
domestic violence to explain a point. This just goes to show that the same example
can be used in a variety of topics. You should also use the paragraph not only to
explain the Marxist feminist position, but to spell out their solution to female
oppression.

Introduce the radical feminist before going on to establish their own position. You
may like to write your own list of tasks that you think women perform for the
benefit of men .Remember that the objective of your essay is to show the examiner
your knowledge and understanding of a subject, and how well you can apply and
evaluate information.

Include the contribution of extremely radical Shulasmith Firestone

Not only does the conclusion summarize the feminist perspective on the family, but
it manages to have a little dig at male dominated sociology

Explain and evaluate the contribution of feminists to an understanding of the
family.-Model essay. Lower Sixth Caribbean Sociology

There are several competing feminist perspectives which attempt to understand family
life and, in particular the role which women play in this social institution. While there are
similarities between the different schools of feminism (most feminists would agree that
women are oppressed within the family) there are also some stark differences on who
benefits from the domestic division most, and how these inequalities can be rectified.
This essay will examine three competing feminist perspectives on the family- liberal
feminism, Marxist feminism and radical feminism. (Note well, Colleen, Khadija and
Fowlin )

Liberal feminists have pointed to the family as the key source of male domination and
female oppression (Pay attention Attalia, Ladonia and Princess).They point to the fact
that in the past, fathers had the right to rule other family members. This right is enshrined

in custom, tradition, and even in law, like ‘the rule of thumb’, which in the past gave a
husband the right to hit his wife with an implement, such as a stick, as long as it was no
wider than his thumb. Liberal feminist such as Gavron have argued that the family is a
patriarchal institution which mirrors patriarchal society. Just as women tend to be
subservient in the workplace, so they tend to be subservient in the home. Gavron points
to the fact that women are over-represented in jobs which revolve around cooking,
cleaning, and caring and that women in paid work are still likely to have a male boss.
Liberal feminists believe that patriarchy is not a physical force, but a force of institutional
control.

According to liberal feminists, the law can be used to rectify these gender inequalities
and when parity exists in wider society, it will eventually follow that parity will exist
within the family. However, this view can be criticized because changing the law is a
very slow process. Furthermore, changes in the law which has been designed to promote
gender equality in society, such as the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, but have been
viewed by many as ineffective. Evidence suggests that women are still paid less than men
and have fewer chances of promotion in the workplace. (Judeen, Jodi-Ann Joseph and
Perry be advised)

Marxist feminists reject many liberal feminist ideas .According to the Marxist feminist,
Benston, patriarchy is a form of exploitation and oppression of women which is
generated by capitalism .Benston argues that the traditional division of labour within the
home benefits capitalism in a number of ways. Firstly, it is cost effective to capitalism, in
that if women did not carry out house-work and child rearing tasks, the family would
have to pay for these services. This would increase the family’s expenditure and would
consequently result in higher wage demands. Secondly women provide a reserve army of
labour which can be accessed at times of national crisis, as for example, during the
Second World War, when women went into the factories to work in the place of men.
Thirdly, in their caring capacity, women prepare men for work: the cook, they clean and
are there to gratify their husbands sexually. Women meet all the needs of men, which
ensures that their husbands are fit and healthy for work; this therefore benefits capitalism.
Finally, because men have a financial obligation to their families, they may be dissuaded
from taking industrial action.(Yashemebet Lee, Samantha, Krysten Nelson , please
be aware of this)

Benston is supported by Ansley who argues that women in their supporting role are like
‘sponges’ which absorbs the frustrations and anger of their husbands caused by working
within the capitalist system. Rather than the husband taking his anger out on his boss, he
is likely to take it out on his wife. Ansley goes further by referring to housewives as
‘takers of shit’. Further support for Benston comes from McFee and Wood who argue
that the relationship between husband and wife is no more often than ‘petty dictatorship’.
This argument is supported by the rising incidence of reported cases of domestic
violence. Statistics indicate that one in eight women experience domestic violence at the
hands of their husbands. It is important to know that these statistics are based on reported
incidents of domestic violence- and the true figure for this type of abuse is likely to be
much higher than the statistics suggest. According to Women’s Aid, the real statistic for

domestic violence is more likely to be one in six. For Marxist feminists, this exploitation
of women in the home can only end when capitalism is overthrown and replaced by a
new epoch of socialism.( Servia, Jody- Ann hope you are making mental notes
through out)

According to Barrett and McIntosh, Marxist feminists can be criticized for ignoring
family diversity. Marxist feminists assume that all families consist of a mother, father and
children: they ignore other family forms such as single-parent families.

An alternative feminist perspective on the family and marriage is put forward by the
radical feminists. Whereas Marxist feminists argue that capitalism is the main beneficiary
of the traditional division of labour within the home, radical feminists argue that is men
who benefit first and foremost. The radical feminists Delphy and Leonard argue that the
family has a central role in maintaining patriarchy. Women are oppressed by men and
this oppression stems from unequal labour relations within the home. Delphy and
Leonard argue that there are two roles within the family.One role is the head of the
household, and this is usually taken by the male. The other role is that of a ‘dependent’.
This role is usually taken by the wife who is at least semi-subordinate and owes her
husband obedience and respect. The wife has responsibility for domestic, sexual and
emotional labour.According to Delphy and Leonard; women perform on average 57
household tasks which their husbands benefit from, e.g. cooking, cleaning, and nursing.
Oakley offers similar evidence. She found that women spend more than 70 hours a week
doing housework.( Were you all aware of this….especially, Ottavia, Nostalgia and
Tiffania?? )

Functionalists like Wilmot and Young would not agree with the radical feminist position,
or indeed any feminist perspective of the family. Wilmot and Young’s research suggest
that the family is becoming more symmetrical. One would think then that in cases where
the family is out of work and the female is working that some form of role reversal would
have taken place. Delphy and Leonard point to research which was conducted in Port
Talbot where men had been made redundant. They found that even though the men were
at home all day they still did very little in the way of housework. For Delphy and
Leonard, these men were still benefiting from the traditional division of labour within the
home despite the fact that they were no longer the breadwinners. This evidence suggests
that it is not capitalism which benefits most from the traditional division of labour, but
men. More supporting evidence comes from a similar study conducted by McKee and
bell who also found that role reversal had not taken place within the household.
Delphy and Leonard, like Benston, can be criticized for ignoring family diversity.
Furthermore their work is based on unrepresentative data. Many studies, including the
research of Bott, have found that there is more equality in terms of the domestic division
of labour within middle class families. Delphy and Leonard’s data from their Port Talbot
research may have had an in built bias towards their theory because they chose a sample
from a working class area. In other words, they knew that their results would ‘fit’ their
theory.(Everyone please do not become jaded and think about Chicken and Fries at
the canteen…. keep the focus)

As this essay has shown, feminists’ contributions to our understanding of the family do
have similarities. However, the feminist perspectives which have been examined differ in
their ‘solution ‘to female oppression in the home. Whereas liberal feminists believe that
inequality can be ended by changes in the law which will create a change in attitudes
towards women in general, and Marxist feminists argue that only a change in epoch will
end inequality within the home, the radical feminist Shulahsmith Firestone has argued
that ‘woman will never be completely free until reproduction has been taken away from
the womb’. With the recent development in ‘cloning’, this may not be as far-fetched as
first thought. Meanwhile other radical feminists have argued that women will not be free
until they turn to lesbianism.(Tyesha, Romae and the rest of the ladies, this is just a
theory….be careful)

In conclusion, feminist perspectives have moved sociological research away from the
previously male-stream sociology of functionalists. Feminist perspectives have
highlighted the negative aspects of family life which have previously been largely
ignored. In addition, feminist perspectives show how the inequalities of society as a
whole are mirrored within the family. Overall, feminist perspectives have provided
sociology with a more complete picture of family life and how it is experienced by many
women.

Explain and evaluate the contribution of feminists to an understanding of the family

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