Feminist, constructionist and other critical theories

While the feminist perspective is widely viewed as a form of critical theory, social constructionism and critical theory are often considered divergent by social scientists who prefer conventional theoretical traditions. It is thus fruitful to offer a review to readers – both sociologists in general and researchers specializing in analyzing families – of how feminism, constructionism and critical theory came to constitute a “critical approach” in family studies, an approach which endeavors to connect micro family issues with the macro institutional, societal and ideological contexts. This chapter will review the basic tenets of the feminist and constructionist perspectives as featured in recent family studies literature, with an emphasis on the trends and developments of the “critical approach.”