couples Flashcards
what is the division of labour?
how work (housework/childcare) is divided between couples
what are conjugal roles?
roles played by husband/wife in relation to housework, childcare and paid work
what are segregated and joint roles?
segregated roles - where couples do not share housework, childcare, decisions and leisure time
joint roles - couples share jobs
what is the sex-typing of tasks?
- men traditionally do ‘masculine work’ e.g. DIY, gardening etc
- women do the bulk of ‘caring activities’ e.g. cooking, cleaning, childcare
what is the nature and value of housework?
- boring and monotonous
- no start/finish time
- unpaid, no benefits (sick days, paid holidays, pension etc)
- no employment rights as it is based off emotional relationships
- not seen as ‘real work’
- viewed as primarily a role for women
- no qualifications required
- no workmates
TALCOTT PARSONS - the division of labour
- argues there is a clear division of labour within the nuclear family
- men and women have separate roles:
men - INSTRUMENTAL
role of work,
breadwinner
and provider for the
family
women - expressive role- housewife, childcare,
primary socialisation of
children
- housewife, childcare,
- PARSONS sees these roles as natural and biological
YOUNG AND WILLMOTT - gender roles study
- 1950s study of families - found traditional gender roles
- same study in 1970s found a more symmetrical family - not identical, but similar as women go to work, men help with housework/childcare and couples spend more leisure time together
- say the family is gradually improving and moving away from segregated conjugal roles
- found symmetrical families were more common in younger, middle class families who had moved away from the extended family
YOUNG AND WILLMOTT - reasons for changes in gender roles
- changes in women’s position (going to work, even if part-time)
- social/geographical mobility (away from extended family)
-higher standards of living (dual income couples are more family focused and can buy new technology - labour saving devices which means more time for leisure)
ANN OAKLEY - criticisms of YOUNG AND WILLMOTT
- says their findings were exaggerated
- based on the response that men ‘helped’ their wives once a week - not symmetry
- her research showed only 15% of husbands has a high participation of housework, and 25% childcare
FEMINISTS - women’s efforts
- women going to work has created a dual burden/triple shift
- on average women do 13 hours of housework compared to 8 hours done by men
- women underestimate the amount of time spent on housework
female work statistics
- FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY - 77% of women do most of the household food shopping
- BRITISH ATTITUDES SURVEY - 80% of women always usually do the laundry
- SOCIAL RESEARCH CENTRE*** - despite most mothers being in full time/part time work, they are twice as likely to be involved with childcare than fathers
- EUROPEAN SOCIAL SURVEY*** - women in full time paid work and living with a male partner take responsibility for about 2/3 of the domestic household and childcare tasks
- BRITISH AND EUROPEAN SOCIAL ATTITUDES REPORT - 70% of women prepare evening meals compared to 9% by men
STEPHEN EDGELL - money and power
- studied professional, working class couples and found that whoever owns more tends to have more power
- found men usually earn more so have more power and make important decisions (e.g. changing jobs/house/main financial decisions)
- women usually earn less so make less important domestic decisions (e.g. food/home décor)
- however, later research shows that there is more equality in decision making if the woman is in high paid employment
