Domestic Division of Labour

Question 1

Explain symmetrical family

Answer 1

Parents have shared responsibilities - mainly nuclear, limited contact with extended kin.

Question 2

What are conjugal roles?

Answer 2

The separation of a couples household roles based on the gender.

Question 3

What is the domestic division of labour?

Answer 3

The way that domestic work is divided out between partners.

Question 4

What is an egalitarian marriage?

Answer 4

A marriage where power is equally distributed.

Question 5

What is malestream sociology?

Answer 5

Sociology has been male dominated meaning there is little sociological research on issues that affect women.

Question 6

Marxist feminists claim the ______ ____ want women to stay at ____ because:
They _______ future ______, ____ of charge to ________.
The ________ is an _______ consumer, ________ to _______.

Answer 6

a) ruling class
b) home
c) produce
d) workers
e) free
f) capitalists
g) housewife
h) important
i) contributing
j) capitalism

Question 7

Radical feminists claim ____ work hard to maintain ________ ______ roles in the ________.
The _______ role serves ____ and their _______.

Answer 7

a) men
b) patriarchal
c) gender
d) household
d) housewife
e) men
f) interests

Question 8

Criticisms of feminism - H_____ (19__) argues many women make a _______ decision to ______ their roles as ______ over their ______.
Some aren’t ________ in truly ________ marriage - they get their ______ from the ____ they fulfill in the _____.

Answer 8

a) Hakim (1996)
b) rational
c) prioritise
d) mothers
e) careers
f) interested
g) egalitarian
h) self-worth
i) roles
j) home

Question 9

Criticisms of feminism - who is the primary critique of the feminist outlook?

Answer 9

Hakim (1996)

Question 10

Functionalist - Parsons stated women are ________ leaders and men are __________ leaders.

Answer 10

a) expressive

b) instrumental

Question 11

Functionalist - Parsons stated women are expressive leaders and men are instrumental leaders.
What does this mean?

Answer 11

Expressive = emotional support
Instrumental = breadwinner in charge of discipline

Question 12

Feminist - what did Wilmott & Young (1975) find after interviewing 2,500+ people across London?

Answer 12

Symmetrical family became the norm across working-class & middle-class communities.
Composed of 2 parents & their children.
‘Privatised’ (infrequent contact with extended family).
Dual-career & egalitarian.

Question 13

Feminist - what did Wilmott & Young (1975) state characterised the symmetrical family? (3)

Answer 13

2 parents & their children.
‘Privatised’ (infrequent contact with extended family).
Dual-career & egalitarian.

Question 14

Radical feminist - what did Oakley state about the reality of research/theories into symmetrical families & the domestic division of labour?

Answer 14

‘What people say is more egalitarian than what they do’.

Question 15

Radical feminist - what did Oakley (1974) find after interviewing 40 housewives in London?

Answer 15

The patriarchy was present: 15% of husbands regularly participated in housework & of this 15%, some saw it as favours to wives.

Question 16

Feminist - Wilmott & Young (1975) & Oakley’s (1974) research was from the 1970s.
Give evidence of similar findings in the 21st century.

Answer 16

Craig (2007) found women do 30-50% more housework than men, despite common female employment.

Question 17

Functionalist - what is Charles Murray’s ‘Relative Resources Theory’?

Answer 17

Domestic responsibility should be dependent on how much you earn.

Question 18

Feminist - it is argued women have a dual-burden of work. What do Dunscombe and Marsden (feminists) state about this?

Answer 18

It isn’t a dual-burden but now a triple shift where they do a full day’s paid work, housework/childcare & emotional work.

Question 19

Feminist - Diane Bell (1990) described the _____________ where women manage family’s _______ just as men may manage the ____________.

Answer 19

a) ‘economy of emotion’
b) emotion
c) household budget

Question 20

Feminist - what did Dunne find that relates to differences between heterosexual couples and lesbian couples regarding the domestic division of labour?

Answer 20

They were symmetrical with an equal distribution between housework & childcare.

Question 21

Evaluation - the _______________ of 20__ found that a very _____ _______ supported a _________ model where the ____ went out to ____ and the _______ looked after _____ & _______.

Answer 21

a) British Attitudes Survey 2012
b) small minority
c) traditional
d) men
e) work
f) women
g) home & family

Question 22

Postmodern feminist - the PERSONAL LIFE PERSPECTIVE (Carol Smart) suggests family ______ should be considered by the _______ family ______ put on them rather than _______ they fit ___________ structures.
How people choose to divide ________ tasks could have a number of ________ and not necessarily a _________ of _______ structures in society.

Answer 22

a) relations
b) meanings
c) members
d) assuming
e) marxist/feminist/functionalist
f) household
g) meanings
h) reflection
i) power

Question 23

Radical feminist - when did Dobash and Dobash (1980) find male violence most often occurred?

Answer 23

When men believed their wives weren’t performing their sex and housework roles correctly.

Question 24

Radical feminist - Dobash and Dobash (1980) found male violence occurred when men believed their wives weren’t performing their sex and housework roles correctly.
How did 1/3 of women interviewed feel?

Answer 24

They deserved the attacks.

Question 25

Radical feminist - Dobash and Dobash (1980) found male violence occurred when men believed their wives weren’t performing their sex and housework roles correctly.
What was the intent of their research?

Answer 25

To highlight the ‘dark side of the family’ in contrast to idealistic functionalist picture.

Question 26

Radical feminist criticisms - how can Dobash and Dobash (1980) be criticised?

Answer 26

Many men don’t report domestic violence as a result of the patriarchy.

Question 27

Radical feminist criticisms - some argue Dobash and Dobash’s (1980) work is ________ and done at a time at which ______ didn’t take the issue __________.
However, a recent __________ study found very _____ numbers of ___________ incidents end in the _________ of the __________.

Answer 27

a) outdated
b) authorities
c) seriously
d) Women’s Aid
e) small
f) domestic violence
g) prosecution
h) perpetrator