Question
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the extent to which today's society can be seen as patriarchal.
Item
Feminists argue that society continues to be patriarchal. Radical feminists argue that patriarchy is the most important organising principle in society and strongly disadvantages women. Examples of this include the gender pay gap in employment as well as the inequalities and oppression experienced in the private world of the family. However, Marxists would argue that many feminists ignore the influence of capitalism as an organising principle in determining inequalities and oppression in today's society.
Feminism is a structuralist conflict theory which argues that society is patriarchal. A branch of feminism, radical feminism, argues that patriarchy is a essential in organising principles in society and also strongly limits women in all aspects of society. However, another structural conflict theory known as Marxism would oppose feminism, arguing that they ignore the influence of capitalism as an organisation of determining inequalities and oppression in contemporary society.
Radical feminists argue that patriarchy exists in all societies and all men take advantage of this oppression as it benefits them in many ways. Feminists widely argue that there are six structures of patriarchy in the British society, the state, domestic labour, violence, culture, sexuality and paid work. For example, when it comes to policies on sensitive things like abortion, the government which consists of mainly men make decisions on it despite their limited knowledge on the human female body. In addition, in almost all aspects of life, women face inequality. For example, in the workplace, horizontal and vertical segregation as Hakim highlights. Hakim argued that vertical and horizontal segregation limits women's opportunities in the workplace as it limits them from going into higher paid fields or resisting the glass ceiling barrier, thereby showing that patriarchy is the most important organising principle in society as suggested. in the item. Therefore, the society can be seen as patriarchal as it reinforces patriarchy by giving more opportunities to men in all aspects of life like the workplace. However, different branches of feminism, such as difference feminists, would argue that women aren't a homogenous group who all share the same problems. Sociologist Crenshaw argues that BAME women are excluded from feminism research e.g., in the workforce. BAME women are way more unlikely to even be hired and also treated unfairly.
Furthermore, feminism would also argue that men also benefit from the oppression in the private life of the family. Feminist Ansley argues that women are the 'takers of ****,' who absorb all the anger and emotional overload from the children and their husbands after a long day at work. This is because the women are expected to have an expressive role where she needs to be nurturing and be caring. Ansley argues that men benefit from oppression in the family by relying on women for comfort and to relax them, thereby showing patriarchy is a problem in the private world of the family. Therefore, the society stated in the item. Therefore, society can be seen as patriarchal as it reinforces men's oppression in the family by encouraging the gender role norms. However, functionalists such as Parsons would critique this by arguing that stabilization of adult personalities is necessary for the family to ensure the husband is refreshed for the next day of work so he can maintain his breadwinner and instrumental role to be able to provide for the children.
Despite this, Marxists would argue that capitalism is a bigger factor in society which determines inequalities and oppression. Althusser argues that the ruling class owns the producers of ideas means the ideas expressed in society come from the dominant class, for example, through the use of the media, religion, and education. They can express their ideologies, e.g., expressing the meritocracy in education and helping pupils to foster a false consciousness to help maintain class inequality. Thereby, Althusser's explanation shows that capitalism is a huge factor in determining inequalities and oppression in society. However, feminists would still argue that Marxists take a class first approach and ignore the very real disadvantages patriarchy causes, such as the glass ceiling barriers which prevent women in many ways.
In conclusion, feminists would argue that society disadvantages women in many ways through the workforce and at home life. However, Marxists would oppose feminism, saying capitalism is a bigger factor in influencing inequalities, with institutions like the school and media helping to generate false class consciousness.