Sociology - The Family

Front 1

Feminism

Back 1

Feminists believe that most societies are based on patriarchy or male dominance. Family is one of the main sites of capitalism: Social reproduction of labour power, which means that children are born into a stable environment and become a steady supply of labour. Women are unpaid in their domestic role of caring for men and children.

Front 2

Delphy and Leonard - Radical Feminists (1992)

Back 2

They argue that it's men rather than capitalism who benefit the most from exploiting women, and that the family is central in maintaining this structure as:

Front 3

1. Families are structured.

Back 3

In this structure, men dominate while women and children are subordinate (Very few families are matriarchal).

Front 4

2. Dual Burden

Back 4

While some women have paid employment outside the home, they still have to undertake household tasks.

Front 5

3. "Triple-Shift" - Duncombe and Marsden

Back 5

Some women have paid employment while still remaining responsible for the majority of household tasks and care for children.

Front 6

Postmodern Perspective

Back 6

Believe that diversity in family structures is a good thing. There's a much wider range of living options available now, due to social and cultural changes. There are traditional nuclear families, reconstituted and blended families, and more divorced people etc.

Front 7

Judith Stacey (1990)

Back 7

Reckoned there's such a diversity of family types, relationships and lifestyles that there'll never be one dominant type of family in Western culture again. She says that "Western family arrangements are diverse, fluid and unresolved," meaning a person can move from one family structure into another and not get stuck with one fixed family structure.