SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES FOR HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Unit 7Lesson 2

Feminism and Interactionism

Learning Objectives

• To describe 2 of the main sociological perspectives: –Feminism–Interactionism

FEMINISM

CONFLICT MODEL

WHO DOES WHAT IN YOUR HOME (MALE OR FEMALE OR BOTH)

• COOKING• HOUSEWORK• WASHING UP• PUTTING OUT RUBBISH• PAYS THE BILLS• MAIN BREADWINNER• WASHING THE CAR• LAUNDRY• PLANS DAY TRIPS• PLANS HOLIDAYS

What is Feminism?

A woman’s place is in the

kitchen…Do you agree?

OVER TO YOU….You are going to have a DEBATE…One group – For restrictions on

women.One group – Against restrictions

on women.You have 5 minutes to prepare a

suitable argument for your cause.

What is Feminism?

• Feminism is an alternative conflict theory, like Marxists.

• Both Marxists and Feminists see soicety as being divided, with one factor ruling over the other.

• Marxist – division of social classes.• Feminists – see society as being fundamentally divided

by gender.• Feminists believe that women are unfairly treated and

they want to change society so that there is equality between men and women.

Where it all began…The Suffragettes

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gw4L6UJIJ7Q

HISTORY OF FEMINISM

• 1ST WAVE– Suffragettes wanted the right to vote– 1918 rights given to women over 30– 1928 equal right given at 21yrs

• 2nd WAVE– 1960s concentrated on equal rights in

the workplace– 1961 free contraception– 1970 equal pay act– 2008 women's pay still averaged

2/3rds of men's which decreased after 40yrs.

IMPACTS OF FEMINISM ON SOCIETY

PAY/LAW

WORKPLACE

FAMILY

EDUCATIONSOCIAL POLICY

IMPACTS OF FEMINISM ON SOCIETY

FAMILYWomen go to work

and contribute financiallyHave more say in

family mattersStay at home dads

less of a stigma

WORKPLACELess sexism

(nude calendars, innuendos)Better chance of promotion PAY/LAW

Equal pay actPension age

discrimination

EDUCATIONGirls are treated more

equally in schools and are out achieving

boys

SOCIAL POLICYMaternity leavePaternity leave

Family tax creditsNursery vouchers

Feminists believe..

• Men have tended to dominate social life.• Other sociological perspectives have been

developed by men from men's points of view.

3 main approaches:• Marxist Feminism• Radical feminism• Liberal Feminism

Marxist Feminism

• Women, especially working class women, are seen as being oppressed both by the system and by men. She is expected to be a support worker to the system in socialising her children to ‘fit in’ and at the same time propping her man with home comforts so he can work.

Radical Feminism

• Men are the main problem as the family is seen to be patriarchal and using women as ‘domesticated housekeepers’ is a form of oppression.

Liberal Feminism

• This is a more modern view, which believes changes have been made in society especially about the attitudes expressed above.

• Legislation has underpinned this view: Equality Act, Equal Pay etc

DIVISIONS OF FEMINISMMARXIST

•Combines key concepts of patriarchy with Marxism

•Women’s oppression is a symptom of a more fundamental form of oppression

– CAPITALISM•Role of women in the family serves the interests of the economy and the

ruling class

RADICAL•Society is patriarchal and biased

towards men•Do not think lobbying will bring

equality•Men use aggression to control women

and thus maintain their dominant position

•Highlights dark side of family life

LIBERAL•Equality can be brought about through legal reform

•Men need to be educated of women’s potential•Advocate changing the system from within (lobbying and protesting)

Who says what?RADICAL

FEMINISTSMARXIST FEMINISTS

LIBERAL FEMINISTS

Who says what?

RADICAL FEMINISTS

MARXIST FEMINISTS

LIBERAL FEMINISTS

Marriage is the theft of women’s labour

Marriage gives men property rights over women

Fathers should also have right to a close relationship with their children

Divorce allows women to escape a violent marriage

Women ‘service’ men like a car going to a garage

Many couples have equal partnership

Men do very little housework and childcare compared to women

Women are useful if there are plenty of jobs to fill but when there is not they are sent back to be housewives

Man is in touch with his feminine side

A ‘lighter’ approach

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=oftOCN1jkNo

INTERACTIONISM

INTERACTIONISM

Rather than focus on large institutions, interactionism

focuses on small groups and how they influence individual behaviour and shape society.

• This theory does not believe we are programmed by the ‘socialisation’ process but individuals interpret situations, how we see ourselves and other people and how they see us.

• May study groups as diverse as teenage gangs, staff, patients and visitors on hospital wards, etc.

• Will study the dynamics within these groups and may ask

INTERACTIONISM

How do different members of the

group see themselves?

Do some have more power than

others?

Who are the formal leaders?

Are there some informal leaders who actually

have power in the group?

• Do not believe that we are ‘programmed’ by the socialisation process.

• See individuals as being influenced by the socialisation process, BUT having the power to choose how they will actually behave and create their own roles.

• See our behaviour as driven by the way we interpret situations, how we see ourselves and other people, and how they see us.

INTERACTIONISM

• A mother may understand what is expected of a ‘good mother’ but interactionist (aka social action) theorists think that social roles are not clearly defined.

• Believe the mother will interpret what that means for her in the context of her family, her relationship with her children and her links with wider society.

Role of the family

• Main aim:

To understand how people interpret situations and behave in small-group face-to-face situations.

INTERACTIONISM

Criticism of Interactionism

• Not enough attention given to issues of power within society.

• Social action theorists are criticised for not describing the wider social factors or historical factors that may have influenced a situation.

Now you can complete the Feminism and Interactionism section of P1

• Explain the principal sociological perspectivesProduce an information booklet or a set of factsheets explaining the principal sociological perspectives:

Assignment 1