A male dominated society One way in which family life has a harmful effect on women would be how women absorb anger, this is how women are seen as takers as shit. They soak up their frustration and absorb it. Another way would be how women are a reserve army of cheap labour. This goes back to WWII and speaks about how they can be taken on for work and dropped when they are no longer needed. Finally, domestic violence is more likely in a household where the man dominates the family. Feminist would argue that this emphasises their negative view on the family as women are burdened with the outdoor and indoor responsibilities of nurturing the family. Firstly, item 2B speaks about how in the 19th century married women were increasingly excluded from paid work. This is due to the fact that men had to work and be the provider, meaning women were pushed into that role of doing unpaid work.
Overtime the position of women has increased and in comparison to post 19th century they are a better advantage to succeed economically and socially. Now there are changes in the position of women. Women have better educational and career prospects. Many women are now less economically dependent on men. This would relate to how it doesn’t make sense to speak about the male dominated society.
The patriarchal family relates to how the male would dominate the woman in the family. Although this was very true when we look back at history and how women were treated, when we look now at the studies and research women are more and at a better position than there have ever been. Although there is still inequality in some aspects it would not make sense to talk about the patriarchal family. Despite this, patriarchy exists in the family, the work place, the government and all throughout society. Feminists argue that men can exploit women because of childbirth and this makes them vulnerable. Men have dominated women however when women could still create a part of the family wealth and this gave women some power.
There are many different types of feminists which would believe in different ideas but fight over the same thing which is overall equality between men and women. Firstly, liberal feminism see the law plays a great part in the equality of men and women. They argue that change in the law can change the equality and can be brought through legal reform. They see men as the main cause of oppression and one thing that has helped to remove this oppression would be the sex discrimination Act and the equal pay Act. Next when looking at the Marxist feminism would say that patriarchy is a product of capitalism. They would argue that women reproduce the labour force, women absorb anger and that women are reserve for cheap labour. They believe that what would need to change would be that family would need to be abolished. Radical feminism believes that men are the enemy and that they are the source of women’s oppression and exploitation. They believe in heterosexual relationships with many would argue about and don’t see the idea as a solution. Family and marriage are the key in situations to patriarchy and that men have dominated women through violence and threat.
Groups like the new right would be totally against the idea of feminism. They are a group of people who have strong beliefs in traditional family values whereas feminist would see this as making women oppressed and male dominated. Many of their views are based on the idea that there was a “golden age” Of the family. They believe in commitment in marriage whereas feminist would see this as allowing women to be takers of shit. They are critical of single parents and like female expressive and male instrumental roles clearly defined. Problems with this is that people would argue that it ignores the darker side of family life like male dominance and violence and domestic cases. They don’t acknowledge that many nuclear families do not socialise their children properly. Overall feminists claim that they are patriarchal and sexist. Other groups such as Functionalists believe in things such as meritocracy which is a government or the holding of power by people selected according to merit. Researchers such as George Murdock thinks that the traditional nuclear family with a man and women and their children is best for society. Functionalists see the purpose of the family as a supplement of food, primary socialization, teaching you your basic norms and values. It also benefits the economic and financial needs. Finally, also giving you emotional stability. Overall we can see that they see family as a positive aspect whereas feminists would not agree with the points made.
Overall it does not make sense to speak about the patriarchal family as not all families would involve men as some families would be a same sex of women. There are also lone parent families which may not always involve the need of a man. Overall I believe that studies would show that overtime women are at a better position than ever and have outgrown the traditional view of family and even marriage.