Introduction
Ranson introduces his works by arguing that the arrival of a child in configures the relationships and interactions in families. The writer says that this is evident in all families that seem to be stable and committed to long-term relationships. In fact, the arrival of the child means the family has been established officially. In other words, the child signifies parenthood in the life of couples meaning that married life is not complete without children. The writer discusses extensively the life of parents and relationships in a family. The major challenge in a family setting is how to balance economic life with social relationships and interactions. This paper analyzes the findings of Ranson and goes on to evaluate his conclusions, in an attempt to situate them in the modern life. The paper specifically challenges his ideas on the role of family members. This essay will use two of his first chapters for analysis.
Synopsis
In chapter one, the writer argues that the Second World War gave women a chance to empower themselves economically. Jobs were opened up for women, which encouraged them to challenge men in the labor market. The economic recession of1930s affected the social structure, whereby women rose up to the occasion to provide basic needs to their families (Ranson, 2010). The war consumed many resources forcing the government to withdraw support for social services, most of which were enjoyed by women. After joining the labor market, the author argues that women formed trade unions that advocated for their rights. The unions ensured that women were given fair treatment and their culture was respected. Education played a big role because women utilized their knowledge of the constitution to claim for their rights. The royal commission boosted the morale of women because it formulated some policies that gave women rights and freedoms to participate in economic and political development. Consequently, women were granted the right to maternity leave in 1971. The law was extended to include maternity leave for men in 1990 (Ranson, 2010). This law changed the parenting structure in the family because it provided that both men and women were in charge of child rearing.
In chapter two, the writer argues that women have more roles as compared to men because they are primary caregivers, what is referred to as intensive mothering in Northern America. In this case, the mother spends much of her earnings in upbringing of children. Women face major challenges because they are expected to deliver both at home and in places of work. Family members expect the mother to provide all basic needs or contribute in providing them while men are excused from some family roles such as childcare. This is what scholars refer to as cultural contradiction. At places of work, women are expected to deliver in the same way as men. The scholar argues that cultural contradictions force women to reframe their roles in order to survive. It is argued that the mother delegates her child caring duties to another person, who is identified in the text as men (Ranson, 2011). The major challenge that women encounter is balancing their relations with children after they delegate the role of care giving to their partners as they take executive responsibilities.
Evaluation of Ranson’s Ideas
The writer documents some of the problems encountered by women in parenting and in places of work. From feminism theory, women have been forced to believe that they are inferior and they are under men in any societal organization, be it socio-cultural, economic or political. Gender disparity is one of the thorny issues that face the modern society. The issue was chosen because it has been an issue all through history. Women are present in all social organizations but are not recognized. This paper applies some theories in explaining the relationships between women and other members of society. Feminism theory considers some of the ways in which physical qualities are utilized by culture and social structure to portray that women are assigned inferior and degrading activities, for instance motherhood. Women face a big problem of being frequently secluded from public activities, as well as being demoted to the clandestine domain of the home. In society, women are trained from childhood to respect the desires and wishes of men on grounds that they are not fully developed morally. Such claims portray women as weak creatures who cannot make their own decisions. Women are attributed particular feminine traits and identity through socialization process. In fact, women live in a state of false consciousness.
Feminism criticizes the position of women in society, which is traced to the writings of Mary Wollonstonecraft, Stuart Mill and Fredrick Angels (Mitchell, 2009). Subjection of women started with the rise of private property, which subordinated them to men. Women subjection is the product of overall exploitation and injustice that are found in capitalistic societies. In fact, radical feminist scholars view the oppression of women as inevitable in all male dominated societies. Political and economic power is concentrated in male hands. Actually, there is substantial social differentiation between the sexes in the family, which shows up in parenting. Functionalist scholars concur to the sentiments of their feminist counterparts by arguing that it is impossible to change gender roles rapidly in a family setting without revising the social structure. The scholars assert that if there is change in the social structure, social disorder will be inevitable. On the other hand, conflict theorists tend to differ with functionalist canvassers because no social structure is safe if it is maintained by oppressing a majority of its members.
From the pre-industrial period, men were powerful because of their physical strength and freedom from childbearing duties, which allowed them to dominate women physically. Cultural beliefs support a social structure that puts men in dominant positions hence children are socialized to accept traditional gender roles as natural and just, all away from childhood. Men are likened to the bourgeoisie because they own and control most of society’s prestige and power. Conversely, women are like the proletariat who are the subjects, work under the directives of the bourgeoisie, exploited and their culture is never valued. Ranson challenges the stereotyping of women and suggests a gender balanced study of society in which women’s experiences and contributions are viable as those of men. In a study of positions of men and women in salaried work for instance, it is conclude that most workers are found in sex-segregated jobs. Such segregation is not natural but it is a societal creation. The society is structured to channel people into occupations based on gender and to reserve positions of authority to men. Public places are places of inequality in everyday life of women.
References
Mitchell, B. (2009). Family Matters: An Introduction to Family Sociology in Canada. Toronto: Canadian Scholar’s Press.
Ranson, G. (2010). Against the Grain: Couples, Gender and the Reframing of Parenting. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.