Patriarch makes choices in the best interest of the family
Allows families to be treated as individuals
One person making rational decision taking into account personal needs of other family members
assume this person will behave altruistically
Idea that women only work as a function of their husband's income
legislation that allows for all men to earn a "family wage" will
keep women out of the work force beaus they can be taken
care of by breadwinning husbands
Woman of Leisure
Women do not work
duties they preform are for their families and therefor not valued in the marketplace
idea that women have comparitive advantage in reproductive activity
women should not be paid for their "natural" role in society
Free Choice
Economic actors are independent and able
to make choices based on their own needs
and desires "limited only by 'constraints'"
Falls apart when we look at
interdependent actors such as infants
or children
Not really an issue when women get
"personal value" from caring for their children
Marketplace of Ideas
Idea that best ideas will be incorporated because of their merit in a
competitive "market of ideas"
By this assumption current ideas would be the best of the best
Market is not fair to all ideas as it excludes the
ideas of those seen as unworthy or unconforming
to the ideas already entrenched
Creates cycle of problems enforced by problematic starting points