Conflict Perspectives: A Comparative Analysis

Conflict perspectives, which originated from the works of Karl Marx, consider gender inequality from the view of the powerful versus the majority. While, statistically, both male and female genders should exist in approximately a one to one ratio according to random chance, males hold the majority of the powerful positions in society. Conflict perspectives take the position that the powerful attempt to keep the subordinate in an inferior position so as to remain powerful. According to Holmes et al. (2016), women are in an inferior position to men because of the norms and values in place to protect men in this superior position. This stratification is evidenced by DiFranco (1995) when she provides perspective into men’s treatment of women when …show more content…
Therefore, to adapt the societal values, large scale movements must be made to change public policy, rather than on an individual basis. Therefore, according to Holmes et al. (2016), changes in discrimination and sexual harassment policies must be adapted to the problems that women face today. Conflict perspectives analyze the causation of stratification from a historical background, but do not consider the extent to which the gendered labour system is oppressive to women in today’s …show more content…
An example of this, which DiFranco (1995) raises, is that women are forced into competition with other women by society. She evidences how only women have the perspective from which to examine this as women are taught to compete with those in the same position as them. Zawadi (2007) describes the power of women’s involvement in the solution to gender inequality when discussing the women who are shining light on this new Feminist perspective. An outcome in this increasing education in the perspective of subordinated women is furthered awareness of the feminization of poverty and violence. More single mothers are in precarious or underprivileged financial positions and, as evidenced by Beeby (2015), there are increasing rates of violence against women. Early waves of feminism analyzed the disadvantage of certain women, however, these perspectives are still evolving. A “third wave” of Feminism examines the disadvantaged in many groups, including ethnic minorities which were not considered before this. There are many forms that inequality embodies and, currently, Feminism has begun to observe and critique many of them. Feminist perspectives not only offer new insight into gender inequality, but also criticizes the male centric view which is utilized by other sociological