How do feminists view How do feminists view the Family?the Family?

A woman’s role?A woman’s role? While Functionalists take a While Functionalists take a

positive view of the family, positive view of the family, Feminists take a critical Feminists take a critical viewview

They see families as They see families as having a negative impact having a negative impact on the lives of womenon the lives of women

They do not believe that They do not believe that women are biologically women are biologically suited to the role of suited to the role of housewife and motherhousewife and mother

They believe that society They believe that society has constructed this role has constructed this role for themfor them

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Gender rolesGender roles If it is society that states If it is society that states

that there is a clear that there is a clear difference in the roles men difference in the roles men and women take in the and women take in the familyfamily

Then how are these roles Then how are these roles learned?learned?

What do adverts tell us What do adverts tell us about gender roles in the about gender roles in the family?family?

What do we learn from our What do we learn from our own parents?own parents?

How do children learn their gender How do children learn their gender role?role?

Feminists would argue Feminists would argue that families are active that families are active in promoting gender in promoting gender rolesroles

Not just by the roles Not just by the roles they portray but through they portray but through the toys they providethe toys they provide

Also through the way Also through the way children are dressedchildren are dressed

And the way boys and And the way boys and girls are expected to girls are expected to behavebehave

A boy who is encouraged A boy who is encouraged to help his father with to help his father with home improvementshome improvements

May grow up to think that May grow up to think that this is a man’s rolethis is a man’s role

A girl who sees her mother A girl who sees her mother doing the cooking and doing the cooking and cleaningcleaning

May grow up to think that May grow up to think that this is a woman’s rolethis is a woman’s role

In this way families are In this way families are responsible for preparing responsible for preparing their children for gendered their children for gendered roles in society roles in society

ActivityActivity

Why did the adults Why did the adults treat the babies treat the babies differently?differently?

What does it say What does it say about how boys and about how boys and girls are socialised in girls are socialised in families?families?

What can you What can you conclude from this conclude from this experiment?experiment?

Who benefits from the family?Who benefits from the family?

Feminists argue that Feminists argue that families are an families are an important tool in important tool in maintaining a maintaining a PATRIARCHAL societyPATRIARCHAL society

This is a society which This is a society which is based on male is based on male dominancedominance

Within the family Within the family structure the males structure the males benefit while the benefit while the females lose out females lose out

Supporting researchSupporting research Jesse Bernard (1982) Jesse Bernard (1982)

suggested that marriage was suggested that marriage was much more beneficial for much more beneficial for women than menwomen than men

Research shows that men Research shows that men tend to need marriage much tend to need marriage much more than womenmore than women

Married men tend to have Married men tend to have much better physical and much better physical and mental health than single mental health than single menmen

However the opposite is true However the opposite is true for womenfor women

Women rather than men also Women rather than men also reported more unhappiness in reported more unhappiness in their marriage and regret in their marriage and regret in marrying marrying

Summary questionsSummary questions

How would feminists view the Warm Bath How would feminists view the Warm Bath Theory?Theory?

Why are Feminists seen as critical of the Why are Feminists seen as critical of the family? family?

Do they think women are naturally suited Do they think women are naturally suited to the role of housewife? Explain your to the role of housewife? Explain your answeranswer

How does the family reinforce gender How does the family reinforce gender roles?roles?

What is a patriarchal society? What is a patriarchal society?