Shirley Valentine
Shirley Valentine is a useful film to help students understand the feminist perspectives of the family. Indeed it’s useful for developing criticisms of functionalist perspectives.
Watch the film (below is a short clip to refresh your memory about the film) and then in groups answer the following points:
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In what way is Shirley Valentine stratified in her marriage?
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How is Shirley Valentine stereotyped?
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Why is Shirley Valentine socialised into her social role?
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What sociological theme can be used to make a connection between Shirley Valentine’s daughter; her best ‘feminist’ friend and the people in the hotel restaurant?
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Shirley Valentine is a feminist film. Does the script writer Willy Russell take a Marxist feminist or a Radical feminist perspective? Indentify key points to explain your answer
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How might the New Right criticise people like Shirley Valentine, especially if she’d left for Greece when her children were young.
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How might Delphy & Leonard (1992) interpret the scene in Willy Russell’s script where the girls were discussing the clitoris?
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What might have Margaret Benston (1972) focused on in the film?
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How do Functionalist views on the family fail to consider female roles once the children have left home?
sociologytwynham.com 
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