Couples Flashcards
A functionalist’s theory over the model family, where the wife assumes an expressive role and the man an instrumental role, and that this is due to their biological differences.
What theorist is that?
What other perspective supports this functionalist view?
That is Parsons’ domestic division of labour. New Right and other conservative thinkers support this perspective.
Conjugal roles can vary amongst couples, there are two types according to a sociologist*. Joint and segregated roles. Joint, the couple shares expenses, chores and child raising. Segregated, very similar to Parsons Instrumental and expressive role theory, where couple have little overlap in their roles and leisure times tend to also be separate.
Who is the theorist behind this?
Bott
A couple of sociologist found that in the 1950s men and women took on a segregated role (theory by Bott) and spent their leisure time (when not breadwinning) with workmates and in the men’s club. Women on the other hand were full time housewives and mothers, they had assistance from relatives and also spent their leisure time with the female relatives.
However now, men are taking greater share in domestic tasks and wives becoming wage earners.
They argue for the factor that now there is such a rise in joint conjugal roles (Bott) that families are becoming symmetrical. Making a ‘symmetrical family’.
Who were these two sociologists?
What are the demographics of the symmetrical families?
What could be some factors influencing the rise in symmetrical families
Young and Willmott. Are part of the march of progress
Young couples, who are more geographically and socially isolated, more affluent.
Changes in women’s position; Geographical mobility; New technology and labour-saving devices; higher standards of living.
What feminist criticises Young and Willmott’s symmetrical family theory.
Why does she criticise it?
What evidence does she use to support her criticism?
Oakley. She argues that men “helping” at home is
hardly evidence if symmetry at all.
Only 15% of men helped often in childcare and assumed mostly the pleasurable aspects of housework
A feminist sociologist found that fewer than 20% of fathers take a major role in childcare, men may help but women are in the end, responsible for the child’s security and well-being.
This supports Oakley as it suggests the lack of symmetry in family roles
Who is that sociologist?
Boulton is the feminist sociologist
A ‘march of progress’ sociologist argues that when the woman works full time the division of labour is more equal. He also found that the couples whose parents have a more equal relationship tend to reproduce it themselves. He argues that society is gradually adapting and changing to more equality in relationships.
Who is that march of progress sociologist?
Who is a different sociologist that supports this?
Her theory is based on the data she acquired in 1975, 1985, 1997, where women progressively do less chores and man more.
Gershuny
Sullivan is the supporting theorist.
Who identified two different explanations for the unequal division of labour? What were the two explanations?
Crompton and Lyonette identified
. the cultural or ideological explanation of inequality
. the material or economic explanation of inequality
What is the cultural or ideological explanation of unequal divisions of labour according to Crompton and Lyonette
The division of labour is determined by patriarchal norms and values that shape gender roles in our culture. Women perform domestic labour because that is what society expects them to do and has socialised them to do.
What is the material or economic explanation of unequal division of labour according to Crompton and Lyonette?
Women generally earn less than men which means it is more economically rational for women to do more of the housework and childcare while men spend more of their time earning money.
Who found that cohabitating couples were less likely to pool their money but more likely to share tasks equally, perhaps from a desire to maintain their independence.
Vogler, et al
_______ et al found that women were —- likely than men to have experienced ‘intimate violence across all four types of abuse:
——– abuse
—— abuse
—— assault
s——–
Coleman et al found that women were —- likely than men to have experienced ‘intimate violence across all four types of abuse:
partner abuse
family abuse
sexual assault
stalking
Who found that two women a week or one third of all female homicide victims are killed by a current or former partner?
Colemen and Osborne
The low percentage of domestic violence crimes being reported is due to the state agencies assuming that
1. family is a private sphere,
2. a good thing (which makes them neglect the darker side)
3. that individuals are free agents, free to leave an abusive relationship. However they forget that most times the abusive relationship also comes with economic dependence which makes the victim unable to leave.
Who argues the point above?
Cheal
Who argues against radical feminists saying that not all men are aggressive and most are opposed to domestic violence. And radical feminists fail to explain female violence, including child abuse by women and violence against male partners and within lesbian relationships?
Elliot.
The Crime _______ for England and Wales found that ??% of men (2.9M) have experienced domestic violence since the age of ??.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales found that 18% of men (2.9M) have experienced domestic violence since the age of 16.
