Couples- are they becoming more equal?

Question 1

which three categories can we look at to decide whether couples are becoming more equal?

Answer 1

1) The domestic division of labour
2) Decision making and control of resources
3) domestic violence

Question 2

The domestic division of Labour

Answer 2

This refers to the roles women and men play e.g. housework, childcare, paid work

Question 3

Key functionalist for view on division of labour

Answer 3

PARSONS

Question 4

What is PARSONS view on the domestic division of labour?

Answer 4

There are two conjugal roles;
Men = instrumental role (breadwinner)
women = expressive role (carer)
.

Question 5

How does PARSONS argue this benefits society?

Answer 5

he argues this division is functional for the family ,its members and wider society. He sees the division as biologically based - women suited to nurturing and men to providing

Question 6

Who agrees with PARSONS view on the domestic division of labour?

Answer 6

The new right - this biological based gender division is best way of organising family life.

Question 7

Who rejects PARSONS view?

Answer 7

Feminists argue the division is not ‘natural’ and only benefits men.

Question 8

Two main sociologist for the March of progress view on the domestic division of labour

Answer 8

• Bott

- Young and willmott

Question 9

How does the ‘march of progress’ view the domestic division of labour?

Answer 9

They seethe conjugal roles as becoming more equal.

Question 10

What does BOTT identify ( DDL)

Answer 10

Two types of conjugal roles;
segregated conjugal roles= this a sharp division between male breadwinner and female homemaker (like parsons). Husband and wife spend leisure time separately .
Joint conjugal roles = couples share domestic tasks and leisure time.

Question 11

What does YOUNG AND WILLMOTT identify? (DDL)

Answer 11

A long term trend towards joint conjugal roles and the symmetrical family, where roles are more similar and equal.

Question 12

How does YOUNG AND WILLMOTT argue are the roles of men and women more equal in the ‘ Symmetrical family’?

Answer 12

• more women now go out to work
• men help with housework and childcare
• couples spend their leisure time together. men have become more home-centered and the family more privatised

Question 13

What are the five reasons for the rise of the symmetrical family?

Answer 13

• Changes in the position of Women
• New technology (dishwasher, tumble dryers)
• Higher standards of living
• Better housing
• smaller families

Question 14

Feminist view on the domestic division of labour

Answer 14

They reject the march of progress view. They argue little has changed, the family is still patriarchal and women still occupy a subordinate n dependent role.

Question 15

Two main feminists for the domestic division of labour

Answer 15

• Oakley

- Boulton

Question 16

Who does OAKLEY critises?

Answer 16

Young and Willmott’s view that the family is now symmetrical.

Question 17

Why does OAKLEY critises Young and Willmott?

Answer 17

she claims they have exaggerated the help husbands give around the house e.g “helping” could jus mean ironing one shirt a week - This is hardly evidence of symmetry.

Question 18

What did OAKLEY find in her research?

Answer 18

only 25% of husbands and a high level of participants in childcare.
only 15% had a high level of participation in housework

Question 19

CRITISMS of OAKLEYS view

Answer 19

• husbands more likely to be involved in the more pleasurable aspects of childcare
• outdated?

Question 20

BOULTON view on the domestic division of labour

Answer 20

supports Oakley view and HIGHLIGHTS that we should look at who is responsible for tasks not just who performs them.
dad may help but usually it is mum responsible for the Childs security and wellbeing.

Question 21

What did the British Social Attitude Survey find?

Answer 21

There has been a shift in attitudes towards the division of labour. There has been a decline in the number of people who have the belief that the mans job is to earn money and the women’s job is to stay at home.

Question 22

What do Feminists believe about BSA?

Answer 22

They do not believe women working has led to greater equality, but led to Dual burden.
For example, BSA shows do twice as much and couples still divide households tasks along typical gender lines.