Feminism and the Family

Liberal feminists believe that: 

Gender equality has not yet been achieved but there has been gradual progress. 

Markist Feminism

• Argue that main reason for women's oppression is not men but capitalism. 
• Women's oppression serves capitalism by: 
  • reproducing to make the labour force, through unpaid domestic labour. 
  • socialising next generation of workers.
  • maintaining and servicing the current generation. 
• Women also absorb the anger towards capitalism from men. 
• Ainsley: 'Women are takers of ****" - soak up mens frustration of being exploited by capitalism.
• Women act as reserve army for cheap labour. 
• When not needed return to primary role as unpaid domestic labour force.

Radical Feminism: 

• Most extreme form. 
• Argue all societies are formed by partiarchy.
• They belive patraichal societies need to be overturned. 
• Solution is separatism- women to live independantly from men. 
• Another is politcal lesbianism- idea that heteroxexual relationships are oppressive as they involve 'sleeping with the enemy' . 

Critisisms of the 3 forms: 

• Difference feminsim argue that they generalise all women's experiences. E.g.they ignore differences between ethncities, sexualities, and classes. All women have different experiences.