COUPLES Flashcards
What does Parsons say about the domestic division of labour in families?
Biologically suited roles
Expressive role:women=homemaker
Instrumental role:men=breadwinner
How can you criticise Parsons view of the domestic division of labour?
Willmott and Young: there is now share of domestic tasks
Feminisists: division only benefits men
What does Bott say about the domestic division of labour?
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
What study can you use to support Botts claim of segregated conjugal roles?
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
What does Willmott and Young say about the domestic division of labour?
There are now more symmetrical families, roles in the family are much more similar- a march of progress view
What are some examples of the family bring more symmetrical according to Willmott and Young?
Women now go to work- this may be part-time
Men now help with housework and childcare
Leisure now is spent together
Who criticises Willmott and Young’s march of progress view?
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’
What are the sociologists with the different views of the domestic division of labour?
Parsons: Expressive and instrumental roles
Bott: Segregative and joint conjugal roles
Willmott and Young: Symmetrical familes
Ann Oakley: Feminists housework
What is the march of progress view on couples becoming more equal?
Men are becoming more involved in housework and childcare and women are going into paid work
What can you use to support the march of progress view on couples becoming more equal?
Changes in women’s position
New technology
Higher standards of living
How can you criticise the march of progress view?
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
What is the triple shift and who view is this?
Duncombe and Marsden
Women carry the burden of paid, domestic and emotional work
What is the dual burden and who’s view is this?
Feri and Smith
Women now do paid work and domestic work
What are the two different ways of explaining the gender divions of labour?
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
What are the three explanations on decision making in couples?
Material explanation
Cultural explanation
Personal life perspective
What is the material explanation for decision making in couples?
Men have more power in decision making because they earn more
What is the cultural explanation of decision making in couples?
Gender role socialisation instils the view that men are the primary decision makers
How does the personal life perspective look at decision making in couples?
Focuses on the meanings couples give to whole controls the money
What example does the personal life perspective bring for the decision making in couples?
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
What sociologists provide the three explanations of domestic violence?
Dobash and Dobash
Ansley
Wilkinson
What does Dobash and Dobash say about the reasons for domestic abuse in couples?
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
What does Ansley say about the reason for domestic violence in couples?
Domestic violence is a product of capitalism male workers are exploited at work and take their frustration out on their wives
What does Wilkinson say about the reason for domestic violence?
Domestic violence is the result of stress on the family caused by social inequality- low income or overcrowded living brings stress
