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Explanations of Gender Inequalities (radical feminism (nuclear family…
Explanations of Gender Inequalities
functionalism
Parsons = women are naturally suited to caring for the young because o they fact they physically bear children
Murdock = men have greater physical strength so they were able to dominate economic life
instrumental role = male
expressive role = female
suggests that this means women will be paid less = less suited and less motivated in labour market
gender pay gap justification
men have more 'human capital' than women because of their greater orientation to paid work
women less commited to paid work - go part time for childcare
men = be able to build up skill and experience because they are in receipt of more education and training and their employment is not interrupted by childcare
another cause = "systematic disadvantage in acquiring human capital"
ex; pay is lower in occupations where there are higher concentrations of women
weberian theories
Barron and Norris
dual labour market exists
primary sector = secure, well paid jobs with good prospects
secondary sector = poor pay, insecurity and no ladder of promotion
women found in secondary sector
employers may hold stereotypical beliefs about the unsuitability of women for primary sector roles
women likely to experience disrupted career development = social pressure to start family = lack experience and promotion
legal and political framework in supporting women's right is weak and ineffective in workplace
two strengths as an explanation of vertical segregation
social organisation of work in western societies are patriarchal = men in power and women have subordinate status
criticisms
fails to explain inequalities in the same sector
four waves of feminism
first wave
gain right to vote
women to own property
women to go to uni
enter professions
mid 20th century = aims achieved
second wave
'personal is political'
female experiences of marriage
distribution of power in family
saw patriarchal inequalities and divisions in society as originating from family
third wave
focus on identity politics rather than shared experiences
women come from diverse backgrounds = inequalities are diverse
women should take an individualised approach to feminism
women should be able to adapt and shape this label so that it reflects their own identities and beliefs
fourth wave
new media and technology
women to build an empowering and reactive feminist movement online
digital technology could destabilise patriarchy
Laura Bates = everyday sexism
liberal feminism
focused on reforming society by identifying and highlighting inequalities in education, the workplace, the family and politics
Ann Oakley
= see gender inequality as the product of discrimination by individuals and those who run
social institutions
- religions, education, politics
having equal opportunities and rights and embedding them in the
law
= 2006 Equality Act
Oakley = gender roles in family
partly responsible for
'genderquake'
= women have changed attitudes against families, education and responsibilities compared to their mothers and grandmothers
criticisms
marxist and radical feminists claim that liberal feminists fail to explain WHY men have more power than women = critique liberal thoughts that it is due to individual discrimination
fails to account social class, ethnicity, religion differences = not all inequalities are the same
marxist feminism
all labour - paid or domestic - is exploited by the capitalist class
gender oppression is therefore part of the general oppression of the working class
patriarchy as an ideological aspect of capitalism
bourgeouise uses patriarchal ideas to divide male and female
women are inferior and subordinate to men and this makes it easier for capitalism to control and exploit both men and women
womens domestic labour is crucial to capitalism
capitalism requires a future workforce = role of mother-housewife to bring up the future workforce free of charge to benefit capitalism
women's domestic labour maintains the health and efficiency of male workforce - benefits capitalism through productivity
criticisms
some women voluntarily choose to be housewives and derive greta happiness and satisfaction from the role
dated = fails to consider genderquake and the waves of feminism which show that female don't have to conform to this role in society
women = reserve army of labour = capitalists can use when economy expands
radical feminism
society is divided into two basic gender classes =
male and female
= who's interests are opposed
modern societies = patriarchal societies = men exploit women in
all aspects of social life
nuclear family mainly functions to benefit men
gender role socialisation onto children - male and females subscribing to a set of ideas that largely confirm male power and superiority
ideology encourages the notion that the sexual division of labour is 'natural' and unchangeable - result in exploitation of women = patriarchal ideology views women as sexual object when single and mothers/housewives when married
when patriarchy ideology fails = women under threat of violence and sexual aggression which limits their capacity to live free and independent beings ==
patriarchal terrorism
men originally acquired power over women because of biological factors = women with children could not make the same economic contribution to society as men
familiar exploitation = men are major beneficiaries from marriage and children but women put more effort in but get less benefits back
compulsory heterosexuality = patriarchal ideology has demonised lesbianism as a deviant activity
believe the patriarchal nuclear family must be abolished or at least radically altered and alternative ways of living must be encouraged
criticisms
dated = failed to account recent economic and social changes - women in education and women's rejection of domestic labour
some women choose to be housewives - not due to ideology
they over emphasise the nuclear family and neglect the rich diversity in families now = female-headed families
new right
gender roles are biologically determined and that men and women play different roles in both family and society
some even believe women should not take on paid work due to it damaging the mother-child bond = children may grow up delinquent
Schlafley = marriage and motherhood are the most fulfilling roles for women and that by pursuing careers, women are pursuing false hope