Question

Analyze women’s labor participation using a conflict-oriented approach. Include discussion of Marx, Gramsci, and Dahrendorf.

Answer 1

Central tenets of conflict approach are: Society is in a continual state of flux; Conflict is an outcome of inherent inequalities in the foundation of society. These further fumed by basic collective thought of society that resources are limited behavior of uneven distribution of power, rules of "haves" and "have nots" leading to inevitable competition. It seems in thoughts of Marx that it is coercion that holds society together and not values.

Marx identified root of women’s oppression in their role within the nuclear family in class societies. He understood that women’s role as biological “reproducers” results in their subordinate/ second class status inside the nuclear family, and consequently throughout society. In capitalist societies, women in property-holding families reproduce heirs and women in working-class families reproduce labors for further generations.

According to Ralf Dahrendorf diversity is desirable in economic policies across time and space according to local needs.

Dahrendorf argued that societies are considerably different from each other, and that any one set of economic policies will not be equally well adapted to all societies (e.g. the same policies will not work as well in poor, subsistence economies as they will in advanced industrial economies). In this view economic, labor policies pertaining to women participation need to customized keeping in mind the background of culture, region etc for them to be successful.

Marx's model stresses the control dimension of hierarchical position in the workplace and Dahrendorf's emphasizes the authority dimension. Marx's and Dahrendorf's class models have important implications for men's income but women income in contrast, is little influenced by class and this explains a substantial part of the male-female income gap.

Gramsci model of "hegemony" supports heirarchial model of male dominance which places women below men. It is understood from this model that those with less power--or no power--end up following dominant values and culture. They do so because of the ideological and practical prominence of the majority culture, and not necessarily willingly.

Discrimination, as experienced by women, persons with disabilities, consists of combined elements of paternalism, neglect, and exclusion. Historically, the primary groups determining power in the lives of women and men with disabilities were members of medical and religious groups who imposed paternalistic control, social norms, and myths. These groups created an "acceptable ideology" of, and an extensive body of knowledge on what constitutes physical ability.

Women's Labor Participation using conflict oriented approach

Women long has been seen in a domestic role almost all over the world with primary duties, expectations of rearing children and being a care taker. This is also a typified role and notion hard to break even today but things are falling in place. Although lot of disparities remain. Gneder inequalities in opportunities, rise up the profession ladder, unequal pays, unequal share of household duties (unpaid work- seen as role, obligation, duty etc. ).

Early Marriage: Women’s labor market opportunities and choices are often intertwined with marriage and children.earlier cohorts of women typically left the labor force during their 20s and 30s, re-entering only after their children had grown older

Education Attainment: People with more education are more likely to be in the labor force, this growth in attainment can account for some of the rise in labor force participation.

Stagnant economic trends for men: Declining economic opportunities for married men have induced more of their spouses to enter the labor force.

Hegenomy : Seen very prominently in sports, religious worksforce, labor workforce and all ideologically percieved as roles of males affect women participation.

Policy Level: Labor force participation can respond to deliberate policy choices in addition to demographic and economic trends. For example, changes in educational investments or retirement rules can affect the labor market experiences of the youngest and oldest workers. For prime-age workers, and particularly for prime-age women, a range of workforce and child-care policies can support labor force participation.