Patriarchal Family Sociology

The family is considered to an important part of society by most sociologists. The family is said to be a close domestic group comprised of people related to one another by bonds of blood, sexual mating, or legal ties. The family has adapted over time and there are many different forms of families. The patriarchal family is one of the many types of families that exist in society today. It is a form of the family ‘where the male figure is considered the head’. Some sociologist argue that women have a lot more power in the family and have become more equal to men in society as well. Sociologists who believe this argue that modern day families are no longer dominated by males. Liberal feminist would argue that families are not as patriarchal as they were in the twentieth century. They believe that, to change the status of women, existing laws that are unfavourable to women need to be changed and that this will bring more opportunities for women to prove they are equal to men. Liberal feminism is an optimistic theory. They believe that political action to introduce anti-discriminatory laws and policies will lead to a fairer society. However, liberal feminists are criticised for over-optimism. They ignore the possibility that there are other issues causing patriarchal families such as capitalism.

Liberal feminist may argue that patriarchal families no longer do not exist in society due to the introduction of acts and changes in laws such as the Equal Pay Act (1970) ‘which prohibits any less favourable treatment …show more content…
They argue that patriarchy suits the capitalist system as well as men. This means that equality can only exist between the sexes when the capitalist system is dismantled. Marxist feminist see women as unpaid labour who service the male workforce, making them fit and healthy to work. Women also produce the future