Which theory asserts that the breadwinner-homemaker model inherently produces gender inequality?

Which theory asserts that the breadwinner-homemaker model inherently produces gender inequality?

• A. Feminist theory
• B. Conflict theory
• C. Structural functionalism
• D. Exchange theory

Answer: (A)

Feminist theory explains gender inequality as something built into social structures and everyday life, including how families organize work. The breadwinner-homemaker arrangement assigns men to paid work and women to unpaid domestic labor, which creates economic dependence for women, unequal access to resources, and power imbalances within households. Because these outcomes arise from a structured pattern that privileges men and devalues women’s commonly unpaid labor, feminist theory argues that this model inherently produces gender inequality rather than simply reflecting it. Other theories offer useful insights about roles or power dynamics, but they don’t center the claim that this specific family arrangement structurally creates inequality to the same extent.

Feminist theory explains gender inequality as something built into social structures and everyday life, including how families organize work. The breadwinner-homemaker arrangement assigns men to paid work and women to unpaid domestic labor, which creates economic dependence for women, unequal access to resources, and power imbalances within households. Because these outcomes arise from a structured pattern that privileges men and devalues women’s commonly unpaid labor, feminist theory argues that this model inherently produces gender inequality rather than simply reflecting it. Other theories offer useful insights about roles or power dynamics, but they don’t center the claim that this specific family arrangement structurally creates inequality to the same extent.