Theoretical Perspectives: Feminism and the New Right

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Theoretical Perspectives Feminism and the New
Right

• This presentation outlines both the feminist and
  the New Right perspectives on the family

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Feminism

• Most feminists believe that the family oppresses
  women and keeps men in power
• Feminists believe that society is patriarchical
  (men dominate)
• Patriarchy is defined as the combination of
  systems, ideologies and cultural practices which
  keep men in power.
• The three types of feminism liberal, radical,
  marxist aim to challenge patriarchy in different
  ways

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Liberal feminists
Liberal feminists believe that the family is
sexist because its supports mainstream culture
which is also sexist. They advocate change
through legislation and education
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Liberal feminists

• Liberal feminists believe that social change can
  be enacted through changes in the law and social
  policy.
• For example
• Equal Pay Act, Sex Discrimination Act
• Laws against domestic violence, marital rape.
• Better education equal opportunity at work
  and education

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Radical feminists

• Radical feminists believe that Patriarchy is
  central source of division in society.
• Essentially men exploit women as husbands,
  partners, sons, brothers.
• This exploitative relationship is reflected in
  the family in which women do all the work for the
  benefit of men

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Radical feminists believe -

• The family is an exploitive institution
• The notion of family excludes those who pursue
  different lifestyles
• Men will always exploit women
• The family is the source of domestic violence
• Some advocate separation of men and women

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Radical feminists

• Evaluation-
• There are different versions of radical
  feminism.
• Extreme groups advocate separatism and political
  lesbianism (adopting a sexual preference for
  political reasons).
• Radical feminists identify the principle source
  of division in society to be gender hence the
  personal is political.

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Marxism

• Marxist Feminists see the principle source of
  division in society to be class the
  exploitation of women is essential for the
  continuation of capitalism
• The family produces and nurtures next generation
  workers at no cost to the capitalists housework
  is unpaid labour
• Women are also a very useful source of cheap
  labour
• Ansley suggests that the family and women soak up
  male working class frustration instead of it
  being channelled against the capitalist system

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Marxist Feminism

• Socialist Feminists
• Talk of the dual oppression of women first as
  workers then as women.
• They therefore advocate a 2 pronged attack
• 1. Fight capitalism
• 2. Fight patriarchy

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New Right Perspectives

• A very different interpretation of the family is
  given by the New Right.
• The New Right believes that the nuclear family is
  the bedrock of society.
• New Right ideas heavily influenced social policy
  while the Conservative Party were in government
  in the 1980s and 1990s and there are also
  elements of New Right thinking in aspects of New
  Labours policies.

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The New Right

• The family is seen as the central stabilising
  feature of modern life.
• It promotes decency, manners, respect for
  property and the law, self reliance etc.
• This is in keeping with a functionalist view of
  the role of the family

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The New Right

• New Right thinkers believe that the nuclear
  family has been undermined by social policies
  such as divorce legislation and welfare benefits.
• Divorce is seen as too easy and benefits too
  generous
• The New Right is alarmed by the growing numbers
  of single mothers
• The breakdown of the family is seen as the cause
  of rising crime.
• New Right thinking has had some influence on
  social policy specifically making it harder for
  people to get benefits

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The Influence of The New Right Conservative
M.Ps
"The natural state should be the 2 adult family
caring for their children" John Redwood
Conservative M.P. 1993
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The Influence of The New Right Conservative
leadership
The traditional 2 parent family is best Michael
Howard Conservative Party Leader
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The influence of the New Right is sometimes
surprising!

• One of the first things New Labour did after
  winning in 1997 was to call single mothers
  workless and cut one parent benefit

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Evaluation Of The New Right

• The New Right fails to acknowledge unequal
  relationships in families (exploitation of women)
• The New right model of the family has been seen
  as intolerant and not inclusive gay
  relationships, reconstituted families, unmarried
  parents and especially single mothers are all
  condemned by the logic of New Right thinking.

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Sources

• AS Sociology Revision CGP Publication
• E-Sociology
• Return to Families Lessons