Evaluate the view that the family is a patriarchal institution.
CAMBRIDGE
A level and AS level
2022
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Introduction
Introduce the essay topic: the debate surrounding whether the family is a patriarchal institution. Briefly define patriarchy and explain its relevance to the family. State your thesis statement, outlining whether you believe the family is inherently patriarchal or not.
Arguments in Support of the View
Cultural and Religious Factors
Discuss how cultural norms and religious beliefs often support traditional gender roles, reinforcing male dominance within the family. Provide examples of cultural practices and religious texts that uphold patriarchal family structures.
Unequal Distribution of Domestic Labour
Explain how women disproportionately bear the burden of domestic labour, including both childcare and housework. Reference concepts like the 'dual burden' and 'triple shift' to illustrate the unequal distribution of work and its impact on women's time and energy.
Power Dynamics Favouring Males
Analyze the power dynamics within the family, highlighting how men often hold a position of authority and decision-making power. Discuss the potential for men to exert control over finances, household decisions, and women's lives.
Biological Strength and Domestic Violence
Explore the argument that men's physical strength historically provided them with an advantage in asserting dominance. Discuss how this has contributed to patterns of domestic violence against women by men.
The "Warm Bath" Theory
Explain the "warm bath" theory, suggesting that women are expected to act as emotional buffers for men, absorbing their stress and providing comfort. This reinforces the idea of women as subservient to men's emotional needs.
Arguments Against the View
Egalitarian Relationships
Examine the growing prevalence of more egalitarian domestic relationships, including shared decision-making, housework, childcare, and power within the family. Provide evidence of changing gender roles and the rise of "new men" who are more engaged in domestic life.
Female Independence
Discuss how increased female independence, particularly financial independence, has diminished men's ability to exert control over women. Analyze how women's economic empowerment has challenged the patriarchal family structure.
Dual-Income Families and Female Breadwinners
Highlight the rise of dual-income families and female breadwinners, suggesting that women's economic contributions have shifted the balance of power within the family. Explain how this has undermined the traditional male authority in the home.
Family Diversity
Discuss the decline of the traditional nuclear family and the emergence of diverse family forms, including single-parent households, same-sex couples, and blended families. Analyze how these changes challenge the notion of a universally patriarchal family structure.
Alternative Perspectives on Gender Roles
Explore perspectives that argue that the family has never been inherently patriarchal, but instead has been based on biologically determined gender roles. Discuss the limitations of this view and how it fails to account for the historical and social construction of gender.
Focus on Capitalism
Introduce Marxist feminist perspectives, which argue that capitalism, rather than patriarchy, is the primary source of oppression for both men and women within the family. Explain how capitalist systems exploit both genders, limiting their autonomy and creating inequality.
Conclusion
Summarize the key arguments presented, reaffirming your thesis statement. Conclude with a balanced evaluation, acknowledging the complexities of the family structure and the potential for both patriarchal and egalitarian elements to co-exist. Offer a final thought on the future of the family and its relationship to patriarchy.
Research Evidence
Weave in relevant research evidence throughout the essay, using the provided list of scholars and concepts to support your arguments. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Radical feminism (Greer, Firestone, Oakley)
- Parsons' functionalist view of the family
- Marxist feminism
- Willmott and Young's study of symmetrical families
- Chester's view of the "neo-conventional family"
- Liberal feminism
- Evidence from legislation like the Equal Pay Act, Sex Discrimination Act, and Equality Act
When referencing research, ensure you provide specific examples and insights from the studies to strengthen your analysis.
Evaluating the Patriarchal Nature of the Family
The family, a fundamental social institution, has long been a subject of debate regarding its patriarchal nature. While some argue that the family inherently reinforces male dominance, others contend that it has evolved to become more egalitarian. This essay will critically evaluate both perspectives, drawing upon sociological research and concepts.
Arguments Supporting Patriarchy Within the Family
Proponents of the view that the family is patriarchal highlight several key points. Firstly, cultural and religious norms often underpin patriarchal family structures. In many societies, traditional beliefs and practices perpetuate male authority and female subordination within the family unit. For instance, certain religions grant men greater decision-making power or limit women's roles to domesticity.
Secondly, the burden of domestic labor often disproportionately falls on women, even in households where both partners work outside the home. This "dual burden" or "triple shift," as described by Oakley (1974), reinforces traditional gender roles and benefits men who are relieved of their fair share of domestic responsibilities. This imbalance contributes to unequal power relations within the family, favoring men.
Furthermore, domestic violence, primarily perpetrated by men against women, stands as a stark manifestation of patriarchal power dynamics within the family. Radical feminists like Germaine Greer (1970) and Shulamith Firestone (1970) argue that men use violence, or the threat of it, to maintain control and dominance over women in the domestic sphere.
Challenges to the Patriarchal View of the Family
However, the view of the family as inherently patriarchal faces considerable challenges. The concept of the symmetrical family, as proposed by Willmott & Young (1973), suggests a shift towards more egalitarian partnerships. They observed a trend of men taking on more domestic responsibilities and couples sharing decision-making. This suggests a move away from strictly segregated conjugal roles towards more joint conjugal roles.
The rise of dual-income families and female breadwinners further challenge traditional patriarchal norms. As women gain greater financial independence, they are less likely to accept male dominance within the family structure. This economic empowerment provides women with greater autonomy and bargaining power within their relationships.
Moreover, the decline of the traditional nuclear family and the growth of diverse family forms, such as single-parent families and same-sex couples, challenge the very notion of a universal patriarchal family structure. These diverse family forms often operate outside traditional gender roles and power dynamics.
Conclusion: A Nuanced Perspective
While historical and cultural factors undoubtedly contribute to the persistence of patriarchal elements within some families, it is overly simplistic to categorize the family as inherently and universally patriarchal. Societal changes, such as increased female independence, evolving gender roles, and the diversification of family structures, suggest a move towards greater equality. The family exists on a spectrum, with some reflecting more traditional patriarchal patterns, while others embody a more egalitarian model. Recognizing this complexity is essential for a nuanced understanding of the family in contemporary society.
It is important to note that the evolution of the family is an ongoing process. While progress has been made in challenging patriarchal norms, complete gender equality within the family remains an ongoing goal.
Free Mark Scheme Extracts
Evaluate the view that the family is a patriarchal institution.
In support of the view:
- Cultural/religious support for patriarchal family relationships.
- Burden of domestic labour remains on the female / dual burden / triple shift to the benefit of males.
- Unequal power relations in the family favouring the male.
- Men use biological strength advantage to dominate women / Domestic violence against females by males.
- Women act to absorb the stresses of the men / warm bath.
- Any other appropriate point.
Against the view:
- Rise in more egalitarian domestic relationships e.g. sharing chores/power/decision making.
- Increase in female independence – no longer need to rely on a man for security meaning men are less likely to enforce their rule to avoid relationship breakdown.
- Growth in dual income families / female breadwinners – means less inclined to accept male dominance.
- Growth of family diversity / decline of traditional nuclear family.
- Family has never been patriarchal, rather an equal relationship based on biologically determined gender roles.
- Family is not oppressed by patriarchy rather capitalism / men in the family are also exploited and oppressed by capitalism.
- Any other appropriate point.
Research evidence:
- Radical feminism, Greer, Firestone, Oakley, Parsons, Marxist feminism, Willmott & Young, Chester, liberal feminism, Equal Pay Act / Sex Discrimination Act / Equality Act, functionalism.
Additional concepts:
- Triple shift, gender socialisation, ideology, gender roles, segregated conjugal roles, warm bath, safety valve, March of progress, new man/father, gender scripts, joint conjugal roles, Symmetrical family.
The above content is indicative and other relevant approaches to the question should be rewarded appropriately. Use the levels of response marking grids at the end of the mark scheme to assess Question 5.