COUPLES

Question 1

What does Parsons say about the domestic division of labour in families?

Answer 1

Biologically suited roles
Expressive role:women=homemaker
Instrumental role:men=breadwinner

Question 2

How can you criticise Parsons view of the domestic division of labour?

Answer 2

Willmott and Young: there is now share of domestic tasks

Feminisists: division only benefits men

Question 3

What does Bott say about the domestic division of labour?

Answer 3

Distinguishes two types of roles within marriage
Segregated conjugal roles: separated roles, breadwinner and homemaker, lesuire activities also are separate [similar to Parsons]
Joint conjugal roles: couples share domestic tasks and leisure time

Question 4

What study can you use to support Botts claim of segregated conjugal roles?

Answer 4

Willmott and Young did a study of traditional working-class extended familes in Bethnal Green in the 1950s. Men were breadwinners and played little time in home life, women were full-time housewives

Question 5

What does Willmott and Young say about the domestic division of labour?

Answer 5

There are now more symmetrical families, roles in the family are much more similar- a march of progress view

Question 6

What are some examples of the family bring more symmetrical according to Willmott and Young?

Answer 6

Women now go to work- this may be part-time
Men now help with housework and childcare
Leisure now is spent together

Question 7

Who criticises Willmott and Young’s march of progress view?

Answer 7

Feminist Ann Oakley
Research of housewives: only 15% of husbands had higher levels of participation. Only 25% had participation in childcare- this was mostly considered to them as ‘babysitting’

Question 8

What are the sociologists with the different views of the domestic division of labour?

Answer 8

Parsons: Expressive and instrumental roles
Bott: Segregative and joint conjugal roles
Willmott and Young: Symmetrical familes
Ann Oakley: Feminists housework

Question 9

What is the march of progress view on couples becoming more equal?

Answer 9

Men are becoming more involved in housework and childcare and women are going into paid work

Question 10

What can you use to support the march of progress view on couples becoming more equal?

Answer 10

Changes in women’s position
New technology
Higher standards of living

Question 11

How can you criticise the march of progress view?

Answer 11

Feminists argue there is little signs of this- did a survey

2012: men did 8 hours of housework a week, whereas women did 13 hours

Question 12

What is the triple shift and who view is this?

Answer 12

Duncombe and Marsden

Women carry the burden of paid, domestic and emotional work

Question 13

What is the dual burden and who’s view is this?

Answer 13

Feri and Smith

Women now do paid work and domestic work

Question 14

What are the two different ways of explaining the gender divions of labour?

Answer 14

The cultural explanation of inequality: determined by patriarchal norms and values. Equal divisons will come if there is change in men and women attitudes

The material explanation of inequality: women earn less than men, makes sense for men to work. Equal divions will come if there is equal earning in the labour force

Question 15

What are the three explanations on decision making in couples?

Answer 15

Material explanation
Cultural explanation
Personal life perspective

Question 16

What is the material explanation for decision making in couples?

Answer 16

Men have more power in decision making because they earn more

Question 17

What is the cultural explanation of decision making in couples?

Answer 17

Gender role socialisation instils the view that men are the primary decision makers

Question 18

How does the personal life perspective look at decision making in couples?

Answer 18

Focuses on the meanings couples give to whole controls the money

Question 19

What example does the personal life perspective bring for the decision making in couples?

Answer 19

Carol Smart: found that same sex couples saw no importance to who controls the money

Weeks et Al: found the typical pattern was pooling some money for household spending with separate accounts for personal spending

Question 20

What sociologists provide the three explanations of domestic violence?

Answer 20

Dobash and Dobash
Ansley
Wilkinson

Question 21

What does Dobash and Dobash say about the reasons for domestic abuse in couples?

Answer 21

Marriage and the nuclear family is the key institution for patriarchy, domestic violence is inevitable because it serves to preserve the power men have over women

Question 22

What does Ansley say about the reason for domestic violence in couples?

Answer 22

Domestic violence is a product of capitalism male workers are exploited at work and take their frustration out on their wives

Question 23

What does Wilkinson say about the reason for domestic violence?

Answer 23

Domestic violence is the result of stress on the family caused by social inequality- low income or overcrowded living brings stress