couples Flashcards
What is the functionalists idea of couples?
Parsons identifies two conjugal roles within a couple. Instrumental role, the idea that the man is the breadwinner and the expressive role, the idea that the female is the nurturer/carer.
What does parsons argue about for the gender division of labour?
Parson argues that the it is functional for the family and society. it is biologically based as women are naturally nurturing and men provide.
Functionalists evaluation - new right
The new right agree with parsons that this biologically based division of labour is the best way of organising family of life as it keeps order for the family as it is important for the children to have a stable family and that ideally the wife should be able to stay and look after the children.
Functionalist evaluation - feminists
Feminists reject the division of labour as it is not natural and only benefits men. It helps create a patriarchal society as women become more exploited resulting in dual burden and triple shift.
What is the march of progress and what are the two types?
The march of progress is the view of the conjugal roles becoming more equal in modern society, the two types are segregated conjugal roles and joint conjugal roles.
Explain the term segregated conjugal roles.
Segregated conjugal roles consists of Parson’s ideology of the harsh division of labour between the breadwinner and the female homemaker. Willmott and young found segregated conjugal roles in w/c extended families in the 1950s.
Explain the term joint conjugal roles.
Where a couple share both duties of domestic tasks and leisure.
The Symmetrical family (Willmott and Young)
Long term trend of joint conjugal roles and the symmetrical family where roles are more equal and similar. e.g. women now going to work and men becoming more home-centered
Reasons to the rise of the symmetrical family.
Due to major social changes during the 20th century e.g. higher living standard, labour saving devices, better housing, women working and smaller families
Feminists view on the march of progress
Feminists reject the march of progress as they see the family as patriarchal and not symmetrical or equal as women still do most of the housework and childcare.
Oakley (liberal feminist) march of progress
Argued that the concept of the symmetrical family is flawed as well as Willmott and Young’s data. e.g. only small contributions to housework by men was used by the research to show that housework was shared and therefore the family was symmetrical. Instead Oakley argued that women had now had a dual burden - more women going out to work but also doing the bulk of the housework and childcare. The increased female employment had not made the family more equal but just meant that women had to work two jobs.
Boulton (feminist)
Fewer than 20% of men had a major role in the care of the children
Sullivan - march of progress
trend towards greater equality as men did more domestic work as there is an increase in the number of women working full time - data collected 1975, 1987 and 1997
