Unit 1 SCLY1 - Culture and Identity; Families and Households; Wealth, Poverty and Welfare
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Evaluate the view that the main function of laws and policies on families and households is to
reproduce patriarchy. [20 marks]
Liberal feminists take on a march of progress view towards achieving gender equality. They believe
that with adequate legal reforms and changes in social attitudes, family life can be made equal for
both men and women. They note the legal and social changes that have positively impacted women
in families and heterosexual relationships. For example, men and women in the same employment,
performing equal work, are entitled to equal pay under the Equality Act 2010 unless a pay difference
can be justified. Wilkinson (1994) notes that women now have more economic power because of the
rise of women in the workforce, particularly in the services sector. Economic independence can
enable women to have more agency and control over their lives, including their roles within families
and relationships. This economic empowerment can contribute to more equal family dynamics. This
suggests that because of laws and policies the power dynamic in the family is shifting as the role that
women play in the home is becoming more instrumental. However, the liberal feminist view often
assumes a heteronormative framework and focuses primarily on heterosexual relationships. This
perspective may overlook the unique challenges faced by same-sex couples, non-binary individuals,
and other non-traditional family formations. Achieving true gender equality in family life requires
inclusive perspectives that consider diverse family structures and relationships.
In contrast to the liberal feminist view, many feminists reject the view that reformist policies can
liberate women. Radical feminists argue that the state perpetuating women’s subordination through
their social policies. This is because the state bases its policies on the nuclear family. By offering
benefits and support primarily to married couples, the state reinforces the notion that the nuclear
family is the ideal and preferred family type. This results in policies which create a self-fulfilling
prophecy by encouraging the nuclear family and making it difficult to create other family types. This
restricts the ability to create alternative family forms. For example, government policies assume that
the family will provide care for the sick and elderly. However, it is the women within the family who
take on this job because it falls under the expressive role. This results in women performing the ‘triple
shit’ of paid work, domestic work, and care work. This suggests that laws and policies impacting
families and households lead to women being trapped in traditional gender roles and perpetuate
their subordination due to the unequal distribution of responsibilities. However, the New Right would
argue that policies which reinforce the conventional nuclear family is beneficial for society. This is
because they argue that the nuclear family, with a male breadwinner and a female homemaker,
fosters self-sufficiency and reduces reliance on the welfare state. Policies supporting this family
model, such as tax incentives or benefits for married couples, are seen as promoting personal
responsibility and reducing dependency on government support.
Marxist feminists agree with radical feminists on the account that laws and policies help in
oppressing women. However, Marxist feminists specifically argue that these laws and policies
operate to serve the needs of capitalism and reinforce women's exploitation within the family. For
example, the provision of healthcare services through the NHS may address some healthcare needs,
but it fails to challenge the underlying economic and social structures that contribute to women's
oppression within the family. Marxist feminists argue that the capitalist system, which prioritises
profit and the accumulation of wealth, relies on the unpaid domestic labour of women. They suggest
that policies, including the NHS, operate within this capitalist framework. This results in perpetuating
women's subordination and reinforcing their role as caregivers. From a Marxist feminist perspective,
the provision of healthcare services through the NHS do not challenge the gendered division of
labour within the family. Women continue to bear the primary responsibility for caregiving, even if
healthcare services are more accessible. The unpaid domestic labour performed by women within the
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