Topic 4: Feminist view of the family
Feminism
Feminism challenges:
Patriarchy: dominance of family and society as a whole by older males
Women’s exploitation: as unpaid domestic workers and carers
Low expectations: of female capabilities outside the home
Male control: over family decision making and finance
Domestic abuse
Socialisation of girls: into stereotypically feminine roles
Views that traditional gender roles are natural and inevitable
Feminist explanations of gender socialisation
Name: OAKLEY
Concept: Canalisation
Argument
Suggested that children learn gendered behaviour through ‘canalisation.’
Boys- assertive outdoor play, construction toys and weapons
Girls- cookery sets, dolls, miniature household appliances, read and draw quietly
Appellation (the way they are addressed) differs- ‘brave boy’ ‘pretty girl’
Name: MCROBBIE
Concept: Girls bedroom culture
Argument
Described girls bedroom culture
Spent free time at each other’s houses trying out hairstyles and cosmetics, influenced by the
ideology of romance, with little interest in careers
Boys played games like football, in bigger groups in the streets, reflecting their future, more
public roles
Evaluation
Some parents now try to avoid canalisation because of Oakley’s study
The feminist movement has influenced teenage girls to give greater priority to education
and careers and they tend to marry and have children later than in the 1970’s, when
McRobbie’s study was conducted
WISE- Women Into Science and Engineering/ GIST- Girls Into Science and Technology
Studies like this have made people more aware that gender roles are socially constructed
and so can be challenged
Feminism
Feminism challenges:
Patriarchy: dominance of family and society as a whole by older males
Women’s exploitation: as unpaid domestic workers and carers
Low expectations: of female capabilities outside the home
Male control: over family decision making and finance
Domestic abuse
Socialisation of girls: into stereotypically feminine roles
Views that traditional gender roles are natural and inevitable
Feminist explanations of gender socialisation
Name: OAKLEY
Concept: Canalisation
Argument
Suggested that children learn gendered behaviour through ‘canalisation.’
Boys- assertive outdoor play, construction toys and weapons
Girls- cookery sets, dolls, miniature household appliances, read and draw quietly
Appellation (the way they are addressed) differs- ‘brave boy’ ‘pretty girl’
Name: MCROBBIE
Concept: Girls bedroom culture
Argument
Described girls bedroom culture
Spent free time at each other’s houses trying out hairstyles and cosmetics, influenced by the
ideology of romance, with little interest in careers
Boys played games like football, in bigger groups in the streets, reflecting their future, more
public roles
Evaluation
Some parents now try to avoid canalisation because of Oakley’s study
The feminist movement has influenced teenage girls to give greater priority to education
and careers and they tend to marry and have children later than in the 1970’s, when
McRobbie’s study was conducted
WISE- Women Into Science and Engineering/ GIST- Girls Into Science and Technology
Studies like this have made people more aware that gender roles are socially constructed
and so can be challenged
