Distribution of Resources and Decision Making of the Family Flashcards
What 3 concerns do Barrett and McIntosh (1991) raise about the distribution of resources?
- men earn more money than women
- men have more control over the woman’s finances
- the labour the women contributes to the family goes unrewarded
Explain Barrett and McIbotsh (1991) issue with men earning more money than women?
As the man earns more than the women, they assume the man should control how that money is spent. This gives them control as it determines what the family can and cant buy
Explain Barrett and McIbotsh (1991) issue with men having more control over the women’s finances?
Whilst the man is free with what he can or can’t buy, he can restrict what the women can buy through terms and conditions of what she can spend her money on (spending on the household)
Explain Barrett and McIbotsh (1991) issue with the woman’s domestic labour going unrewarded?
Women contribute far more to the family in terms of domestic labour than their husbands contribute financially however the work of the women goes unrecognised and unrewarded
What two ways do Pahl and Volger (1993) believe the family distributes its resources?
- pooling
- allowance system
What is pooling according to Pahl and Volger?
Far more common, both partners put their income into a shared bank account which they then use to support the family
What is the allowance system according to Pahl and Volger?
The man is the sole breadwinner, he keeps most of the money for himself but pays his wife a sum of money a week for herself.
Evaluation of the claim of there is inequality in the distribution of resources?
-ignores the fact that some couples have separate accounts for themselves to spend as they wish
What does Hardill (1997) believe about decision making?
She studied 30 dual career couples, found that when couples were making big decisions, the husbands job was always factored in as a priority/
What does Finch (1983) find about decision making?
Found that women were expected to adapt their lives to suit their husbands careers
What did Edgell (1980) find about decision making?
There is a hierarchy in decision making. The very important discussions tended to be discussed jointly but the husband would have the final say. Medium level decisions such as schooling for children, were taken jointly. Unimportant decisions such as dinner was made by the women
Evaluation of the claim there us inequality in decision making?
-more and more women are becoming the dominant money maker meaning her job will prioritise in decision making
