Domestic Division of labour

Question 1

Domestic division of labour

Answer 1

The chores that are completed, around the house such as cleaning, laundry, cooking, and gardening

Question 2

Traditional views of the domestic division of labour

Answer 2

Parson’s sex Role Theory

• Instrumental role: The rational male role that is the breadwinner of the family and the disciplination of the family
• Expressive Role: The emotional and caring role that is usually carried out by the female in the family. It includes child care and most of the domestic labour

Question 3

Decision making in the family

Answer 3

• EDGELL: Very important decisions are taken by men, important decisions taken jointly, day to day decisions taken by women.
• FEMINISTS: Decision making isn’t linked to money but cultural expectations of a patriachal society and gender role socialisation

Question 4

PAUL: individualisation

Answer 4

• Pahl found there is growing individualisation in finances
• Couples have more independence such as separate bank accounts and credit cards
• This is much more likely to happen with younger couples

Question 5

Reasons why the difference in power and authority

Answer 5

1. greater economic power of men (men still earn more)
2. Women’s family and domestic responsibilities disadvantage them in the job market
3. Patriarchal gender socialisation reinforces cultural norms including that women are the homemakers

Question 6

March of progress view: Willmott and Young

Answer 6

Families are becoming more equal and democratic. There is a move away from the seperate conjugal roles of Parsons and move towards a more joint conjugal roles. With women going out to work, men need to take more of an active role in the family and couples are more likely to spend their lesuire time together

Question 7

Reasons for the March of progress

Answer 7

• Decline in extended family: With fewer family members around to help with things like childcare and the couple need to be more equal.
• Weakening gender roles: With the rise of gender neutrality in terms of roles and jobs there is less pressure to conform to traditional roles

Question 8

Has the level of change in domestic divison of labour been exaggerated??

Answer 8

NO: Willmott and Young: Rise of the symmetrical family

• Acceptance of the interchangability of roles. 7/10 women of working age now have jobs. 1/2 of mothers with children under the age of 5 are in work. 36% of couples would say that the man is the main carer

YES: Views on house work
- Rapopart and Rapopart: Career women were still viewed as ‘wives and mothers’

• Anne Oakly: Jointly does not mean equally, men participanting in domestic tasks are doing so to ‘help their wives’
• Morley: Women see the home a s a place of work, men a place of lesiure