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
1980’s and 1990’s and there are also
elements of New Right thinking in
aspects of New Labour’s 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.P’s
"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
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