Feminism - AVI

Question 1

Why is feminism considered a conflict theory?

Answer 1

• Feminists share the view that capitalism is bad for both men and women.
• The emergence of capitalism altered the relations between men and women
• Therefore feminists recognise that the struggle is not just against capitalism but also against the patriarchy

Question 2

Abbott

Answer 2

Women’s experience of social class is worth exploring because women’s experience of work is different from men’s.

Question 3

Glass ceiling

Answer 3

An unacknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession. Feminists that the existence of the glass ceiling aids male social mobility.

Question 4

Arber, Dale and Gilbert

Answer 4

Invented the Surrey Occupational Class Schema as an alternative to existing social class classifications which is viewed as patriarchal.

Question 5

The Surrey Occupational Class Schema + Evaluation

Answer 5

• Women are classified on the basis of their own occupations, whereas in other scales married women are classified by their husband’s occupation. Reflects gendered nature of work.
• Critics argue that women’s occupations are not necessarily a good guide to their class position because many women work part-time because they move in and out of work due to pregnancy and childcare.

Question 6

Ken Roberts

Answer 6

Argues we can no longer assume that women share a class position with their male partners because women are increasingly choosing to remain single and divorce is more common.

Question 7

The Reserve Army of Labour

Answer 7

Is used by capitalists to suppress workers demands for higher wages during economic booms when there is a higher demand for labour. When this happens capitalists recruit extra workers which allows them to protect their profits through booms. When there is a recession capitalists will fire the woman.