Feminist perspective of the family (radical)
Marxist feminists see women as essential a tool or instrument of capitalist oppression,
- In contrast radical feminists focus on patriarchy as the instrument of oppression (emasculation) within the home.
- Bryson (1992) identifies two key characteristics of radical feminism:
- it’s a theory of and by women, rather than an amendment of predominantly other androcentric theories
- it sees the oppression of women by men (patriarchy) as universal
For Delphy and Leonard (1992) argue it is men rather than capitalism who benefit the most from exploiting women and the family is central in maintaining this structure as:
- families are structured; in this structure men dominate while women and children are subordinate (very few families are matriarchal)
- as man’s position in the family is the dominant one he tends to make the final decision on family issues
- the type of work family members do is determined by gender and marital status
- when women have paid employment outside the home, they still have to undertake household tasks – this is known as the dual burden
- while some women have paid employment outside the home while still remaining responsible for the majority of household tasks and care for children – what Duncombe and Marsden (1995) termed the triple-shift
The above points are explored in more detail below:
Delphy and Leonard recognise men do some housework, the extent of this is rather limited as they show how all the unpaid housework and childcare is done by women (Ann Oakley pointed out in the 1970s that housework is tough, demanding and unrewarding)
Women also make the largest contribution to family life, while men contribute the least but gain the most!
Women carry out housework and caring roles within the family as well as supporting men in their leisure and work activities.
They also help men emotionally in the home by providing ‘trouble free sex’ as ‘men best unwind post-coital’ w
Duncombe and Marsden argue, how from an early age girls are trained to become emotionally skilled in empathy so they can actively participate in ’emotion work’
Criticisms
- Functionalists and even the New Right would argue that feminists put too much emphasis on the negative side of family life because it ignores the possibility that women enjoy running the home, raising children and being married
- it ignores Wilmot and Young’s ideas on the symmetrical family, and how there’s greater equalities in family life with shared conjugal roles
Return to family overview page
sociologytwynham.com 
simply great
Thank you
Hi Prof.
I am a student in China. My topic is about Marx on the family. Nice to see your paper.
Wow sociology made me learn something new. There is no such thing as feminism in my country. Men work, women stay at home watching TV or talking on the phone while housework (cooking, washing, cleaning etc) is done by maids. maids are very cheap here, as cheap as 2000 PKR (20 USD!) a month. And when men get salary, they place it at the hands of their women (mother if unmarried, wife if married). Women take financial decisions and run the household, guiding others what to do.
Hi – which country do you live in?
In which country?
Hey could I use your work for my uni assignment? found it very useful!
If so could your provide me of the reference following this structure
author/ article title/ year of publication
Also do you think feminism has been able to change ideas surrounding gender as a result of the changes in the family?
Hi – of course you can. Which pages were seeking references for?
do you have a bibliography for this page? it would help me loads with my uni essay. thank you,
gemma x
Hi – here you are:
Delphy & Leonard (1992) Familiar Exploitation, Polity Press
Duncombe & Marsden (1995) Women’s Triple Shift
Dobash & Dobash (1979) Violence Against Women
Muncie et al (1993) Understanding the Family, OU Press
Thank You so much 🙂
Pleasure 🙂
An excellent article, very well written
Many thanks for the positive comment. Much appreciated 🙂
thanks so much it has helped in my reseach work. Emma
Many thanks for the positive feedback 🙂
quite interesting and useful. you rock man
Many thanks for you kind compliment 🙂
Very helpful for my GCSE exam. Thanks!
It’s a great work.
Could you please send me references with publishers.
hi, can someone answer this question please: Analyse different Marxist and feminist approaches to issues of power, patriarchy, socialisation and the family.
thank you.my assignment was the family is harmful to women .discuss
it really helped me
My pleasure. Glad you found the information so useful to you assignment 🙂