ABSTRACT
Society has changed almost out of all recognition from the male-dominated society in which feminism first formulated its demands. Then, the assumption that women would find exclusive fulfilment in the home and in her children led to discrimination against women in the labour market as well as frequent abuse of rights within the home. The open emotion shown on the streets for Diana's funeral similarly indicated the end to emotional repression, the behavioral manifestation of the social structure of the British patriarchal family. Yet any knowledge of the poor and impoverished communities described by theories involves understanding that expectations about masculinity and femininity are closely intertwined, that women's expectations of men encourage many of the acts of violence and bravado, and much of the crime too. Some of feminism's responses to the changing family roles and situations have been unhelpful. Fearing to support patriarchy, many feminists have poured scorn on the role of the father altogether.
