Couples

Question 1

Domestic division of Labour

Answer 1

The roles that men an women play in relation to housework, childcare and paid work

Question 2

Parson : Instrumental and Expressive roles

Answer 2

Talcott Parsons’ (1955)
The husband has an instrumental role, geared towards achieving success at work so that he can provide for the family financially. He is the breadwinner.
The wife has an expressive role, geared towards primary socialisation of the children and meeting the family’s emotional needs. She is the homemaker, a full- time housewife rather than a wage earner.
Parsons argues that this division of labour is based on biological differences, with women ‘naturally’ suited to the nurturing role and men to that of provider. He claims that this division of labour is beneficial to both men and women, to their children and to wider society.

Question 3

Critisims of Parsons

Answer 3

Young and Willmott (1962) argue that men are now taking a greater share of domestic tasks and more wives are becoming wage earners.
Feminist sociologists reject Parsons’ view that the division of labour is natural. In addition, they argue that it only benefits men.

Question 4

Joint and segregated conjugal roles: Bott

Answer 4

Elizabeth Bott (1957) distinguishes between two types of conjugal roles; that is, roles within marriage:

• Segregated conjugal roles, where the couple have separate roles as in Parsons’ instrumental and expressive roles. Their leisure activities also tend to be separate.
• Joint conjugal roles, where the couple share tasks such as housework and childcare and spend their leisure time together.

Question 5

Yong and Willmott: The symmetrical family

Answer 5

Young and Willmott (1973) take a ‘march of progress’ view of the history of the family. They see family life as gradually improving for all its members, becoming more equal and democratic.
They argue that there has been a long-term trend away from segregated conjugal roles and towards joint conjugal roles and the ‘symmetrical family.

Women now go out to work, although this may be part- time rather than full-time.
Men now help with housework and childcare. Couples now spend their leisure time together instead of separately with workmates or female relatives.

Question 6

Young and Wilmott Study

Answer 6

In the study of families in London, Young and Wilmot found that the symmetrical family was more common among younger couples , those who are geographically and socially isolated, and the more affluent. Young and Willmot see the rise of the symmetrical family as the result of major social changes that have taken place.

Question 7

A Feminist view of housework

Question 8

Oakley Research

Question 9

Research support: Mary Boulton

Question 10

March of progress view

Answer 10

Sociologists argue that women going out to work is leading to a more equal division of labour. In this March of progress view, men are becoming more involved in housework and childcare, just as women are becoming more involved in paid work outside, the home

Question 11

Jonathan Gershuny

Answer 11

Argues that women working full-time is leading to a more equal division of labour.