Theoretical perspectives Families/Households: Feminist

Theoretical Perspectives on Families/Households: Feminist View

Overview of Feminist Perspectives

Feminist theories challenge the traditional, male-centred interpretations of family life.
Feminists view society as patriarchal - dominated by males, and see the family as a key institution where women are oppressed.

Liberal Feminism

Liberal feminists accept the basic structure of society but campaign for reform to improve women’s rights and opportunities.
They target culturally engrained sexism and seek to challenge stereotypes that limit women’s roles within the family.

Marxist Feminism

Marxist feminists believe that the root of women’s oppression is capitalism, an economic system they argue benefits from women’s unpaid labour in the family.
They argue that wives serve to reproduce and maintain the labour power of their husband, and upbringing of children ensures the continuance of the labour force.

Radical Feminism

Radical feminists see male domination and patriarchal power as the main cause of women’s oppression.
They prefer a complete overthrow of the current family system, viewing the traditional nuclear family as a powerful tool of female subordination.

Difference Feminism

Difference feminists challenge the homogeneity of ‘women’s experience’ arguing that different groups of women have diverse experiences and interests based on intersections of class, race, etc.
Within the context of family, they highlight diverse female identities and experiences within different family structures.

Feminism and Domestic Labour

Feminists argue that the expectation that women perform domestic chores is a form of oppression.
Key theorists like Ann Oakley have highlighted how unpaid housework and childrearing roles primarily fall on women, reinforcing a gendered division of labour within the home.

Feminism and Abuse within Families

Feminists highlight how the family can be a site of abuse and violence against women and children.
This abuse is often seen as tied to the power imbalances built into family structures.

The Feminist Impact on Family Policy

Feminist activism and research have influenced family policy in areas like domestic violence, parental rights, and divorce regulations.
Policies that encourage shared parenity, offer support to single mothers, or safeguard against domestic violence, are seen as direct results of feminist advocacy.

Criticism of Feminist Perspectives

Critics argue that these perspectives often portray men as oppressors and women as victims, creating an overly-biased view of family life.
They also question whether these perspectives adequately account for the diverse range of family types distinct from the traditional nuclear family.
Others challenge the validity of assertions around overarching patriarchal oppression, citing examples of women’s increased agency and power within families in recent years.