Conjugal Roles Flashcards
What are the two main types of conjugal roles?
Segregated Conjugal Roles and Joint Conjugal Roles
Segregated roles involve distinct responsibilities for men and women that are performed separately e.g. housework, decisions ,while joint roles involve shared responsibilities e.g. childcare.
Who proposed the concept of the Symmetrical Family?
Young and Willmott
They suggested that roles within families have become more symmetrical (more equal than shared).
Influenced by factors such as increased female participation in the workforce, and changing attitudes towards marriage and family life.
What is a key feature of Marxism in relation to family roles?
Roles are more symmetrical but little research exists on gender roles and relationships
Marxism highlights how these roles are shaped by the needs of capitalism with it benefiting from the unpaid domestic labour contributed by women
What percentage of men did housework according to Young and Willmott?
72%
What does Postmodernism suggest about family practices?
Family members create their own family practices.
This perspective emphasizes the individuality of family structures.
What criticism does feminism have regarding the study of family roles?
(Opposed Postmodernism)
Oakley: housewife role still primarily the role for married women.
Radical Feminists: way gender roles organised in family reflects patriarchal nature of traditional families.
What transformation in intimate relationships does Giddens discuss?
Women have more dominance, choice, and equality
Giddens argues that families now operate more as teams as men engage more with the family and show more emotions.
What does Giddens mean by ‘democratisation of family’?
Families engage more emotionally and share responsibilities.
This refers to a shift towards more egalitarian family dynamics.
According to radical perspectives, how are gender roles organized in families?
They reflect patriarchal nature and structures
This view emphasizes the power dynamics at play within family roles.
What issue does the Marxist perspective highlight regarding familial violence?
Violence and child abuse are commonly committed by men
This perspective, noted by Stanko, points to systemic issues within societal structures.
What critique does Oakley provide regarding family role studies?
Inadequate methodology and contradictions to Giddens’ findings
Oakley argues that existing studies do not capture the complexity of family dynamics and that women still mostly do housework and childcare.
Postmodernist view
Too much focus on roles and relationships in traditional nuclear family. Not generalised to other types.
Parsons
Division of responsibility- functional assuring family economically and emotionally supported and that each partner specialises in the role to which they are most suited to.
