COUPLES Flashcards
In a nutshell
Sociologists have different opinions on how couples do and should divide up domestic labour. They also have different opinions on how decision making happens. Finally, some sociologists believe domestic violence results from patriarchy (Dobash and Dobash), whereas others believe it’s cause by stress from being poor (Wilkinson).
Domestic Division of Labour means
chores that are completed around the house such as cleaning, laundry, cooking, DIY and gardening.
March of Progress View: Wilmott and Young
Argues there has been a shift toward the symmetrical family. -
= Less patriarchal and male dominated
= Both partners share household chores , decision making
= Partners involved in paid employment
= Domestic division of labour has shifted from seg conjugal roles to more equally balanced integrated conjugal roles
Ann Oakley disagreed with young an Willmott instead Oakley instead argued…
There has NOT been a shift toward the Symmetrical family
feminist like O highlight the fact that there is not really much evidence that family is not typically ‘symetrical’ .
However, there does seem to be more role integration in leisure activities and some decision-making but housework and childcare remain predominantly women’s work
ARE COUPLES MORE EQUAL?
The impact of paid employment?
The Triple Shift
- However, othe sociologists are there still inequalities within couples
= DELPY AND LEONARD argue that women take the major responsibility of emotional labour and managing the emotional side of the family. This is known as ‘emotion work’ and involves women adopting the ‘expressive role’
= Examples of the emotion work include talking to partners and children about things that interest them, smiling all data takin pleasure n their success
However this expressive role of women in the emotional side of family life now often comes on top of their instrumental responsibilities in paid employment and domestic labour. This means they often take responsibility for 3 jobs (emotions work, domestic labour and paid employment) =TRIPLE SHIFT
THE IMAPCT OF PAID EMPLOYMENT = DB
DUAL BURDEN
- women` despite entering PIAD EMPLOYMENT they still expected to do most of the housework
evaluation = M/C male partners are likely to do housework
W/C males are likely to do less housework
Decision making = Inequalities in power and authority
+ criticism
SEGREGATED
Edgell found that some decisions in fam are taken jointly, very few are taken by women alone.
in research, women had sole responsibility for decisions only In relatively unimportant areas like home deco children’s clothing and domestic spending. Decisions were viewed as v important such as moving housed were made by men
Criticisms, however, much of the research is not rep of contemporary society as does not consider decision making amongst homosexual couples
Domestic Violence = seg
+ fEM EXPLANANTION + CRITICISM
offical states = 1in4 women and 1in6 will experience some form of domestic violence in their relationships
89% by women
approx 150 women killed DV 80% WOMEN
FEM explains
- radical feminist explain DV a means for men to exercise patriarchal power, to control and intimidate women, and to keep them in state of submission
Evaluation -
- The growing privatisation of famil meant that accurate evidence on the enxten and abuse inside is difficult tot obtain - fear and shame = cover it up
- As estimated 2/3 victims of DV do not seek help because they ashamed fear
Theoretical perspectives on the causes of Domestic Violence Radical Feminist DOBASH DOBASH
DOBASH AND DOBASH:
Marriage and the nuclear family is the key institution of patriarchy, and the main source of women’s oppression. Domestic violence is inevitable because it serves to preserve the power men have over women.
Theoretical perspectives on the causes of Domestic Violence Marxist Feminist
ANSLEY:
Domestic violence is the product of capitalism: males workers are exploited at work and take their frustration out on their wives.
WILKINSON:
Domestic violence is the result of stress on the family caused by social inequality.
criticism
Doesn’t explain male
victims DV is not limited to working class.
Not all men are violent to their partners.
postmodernism - couples overall
suggest that the growth of emotional democracy in some families conribute to greater levels of joint conjugal roles. more spec that family structures are becoming are more open and equal than ever before. ALL fam memebers including children have greate rlevels of active participation
Decision mking and the GAYS lol
Same sex couple dont give a fuck they share it equally = they don’t have the same values as a traditionally nuclear families held. AALSo same sex couple don’t link control over money with inequality in the relationship - they oragnise on what the best - partners don’t have the same ideas about gender and money that heterosexual couples have traditionally held
