Family&Households: Topic 1- Couples

Question 1

The domestic division of labour

What are the factors of the domestic division of labour?

Answer 1

• Parsons: instrumental and expressive roles
• Joint and segregated conjugal roles
• The symmetrical family
• A feminist view of housework

Question 2

The domestic division of labour: functionalist view

What does Parsons argue about the gender roles in family?

Answer 2

There should be a clear labour of division:
* Instrumental: Men, breadwinner, financial support
* Expressive: Women, socialise kids, meet famliy emotional needs

Parsons believes based on biologically differences, these roles are ‘naturally’ suited

Question 3

The domestic division of labour

How do feminists crticise Parsons view on gender roles?

Answer 3

They argue that it only benefits men

Question 4

The domestic division of labour

What does Bott argue about joint/segregated conjugal roles?

Answer 4

Two roles in marriages:
* Seperated conjugal roles: Seperate tasks and leisure time
* Joint conjugal roles: Joint tasks and leisure time

Question 5

The domestic division of labour: MOP view

What does Young and Willmott argue about the symmetrical famliy?

Answer 5

They believe the family is becoming more equal and democratic, becoming a ‘symmetrical’ family. More women are working, men help with housework & childcare, couples spend time together.

Question 6

The domestic division of labour: MOP

What factors are causing a rise in symmetrical families? Explain them.

Answer 6

• Changes in womens position: Women are going to work
• Geographical mobility: Families can move to where work is, but more expensive so women work too
• New technology: Labour saving devices men can use
• Higher standards of living: Cost of living has increased

Question 7

The domestic division of labour: feminist view

What is Oakleys view of houswork?

Answer 7

Feminists reject the MOP view as the family is still patriachal and unequal. Oakley says Young & Willmott are exaggerating as only 15% of husbands do housework and 25% do childcare.

Question 8

The domestic division of labour: Femininst

What is the feminist view of housework?

Answer 8

• Women have a dual burden
• British social attitudes survey found men did 8hrs a week and women did 13hrs in 2012

Question 9

Are couples becoming more equal?: MOP

What does Sullivan argue about the view of housework

Answer 9

Oakleys view is seen as outdated mainly from the 1970s. Sullivan collected data in 1975, 1987 & 1997 and found trends of women doing less domestic tasks, as men are doing more traditional ‘women’s’ tasks.

Question 10

Couples becoming more equal?: The feminists view

What is the feminist view on the couples becoming more equal?

Answer 10

Women going into paid work has not led to greater equality, theres little sign of the ‘‘new man’. In 2012 men did 8hrs of housework per week, whilst women did 13hrs.

Question 11

Are couples becoming more equal?: Taking responsibility for children

What does Dew and Ward argue about the responsibility of children?

Answer 11

Although fathers perform some childcare, women takes responsibilty for the childs security
* Dew & Ward argue that 78% of men played with their child, but only 1% of them cared for their sick child.

Question 12

Are couples becoming more equal?: Emotional work & the triple shift

What does Hochschild argue about emotional work?

Answer 12

Women are often required to perform emotional work of children and husband, whilst controlling their own emotions

Question 13

Couples becoming more equal?: emotion work & the triple shift

What does Duncombe and Marsden argue about the triple shift?

Answer 13

Women performs a triple shift:
* Housework
* Paid work
* Emotional work

Question 14

Couples becoming more equal?: Taking responsiblity for ‘quality time’

What does Southerton argue about taking responsibility for ‘quality time’?

Answer 14

Quality time for responsibility falls on mothers rather than fathers. Men are likely to experience uninterrupted leisure time while womens is punctuated by childcare.

Question 15

Couples becoming more equal?: Explain gender divisoin of labour

What does Crompton & Lyonette argue about the explanations for gender division of labour?

Answer 15

Theres 2 reasons for the unequal divison of labour
* Cultural/ideological explanation: The view that women performs more domestic labour due to patriahcal norms and values
* Material/economic explanation: Women earn less so it makes sense for women to spend more time on houswork/childcare

Question 16

Couples becoming more equal?: Explain gender divisoin of labour

What is the evidence Dunne gives to explain cultural deprivation?

Answer 16

Lesbians are more symmetrical due to the absence of traditional heterosexual norms.

Question 17

Couples becoming more equal?: Explain gender divisoin of labour

What is the evidence Ramos gives to explain material deprivation?

Answer 17

Found that when women is a full-time breadwinner and the man is unemployed he does as much domestic labour as she does

Question 18

Resource and decision making in households

What does Barrett and McIntosh argue about the control of family income?

Answer 18

Theres an inequality between men and women with family resources. Barret & McIntosh argues:
* Men make important decisions
* The financial support men give to wives is unpredictable
* Men gain more from women domestically

Question 19

Resource and decision making in households: Money management

What does Pahl and Volger argue about money mangagement?

Answer 19

2 main types of control over family income
* Allowance system: Men gives women allowance for the family and keeps the rest for themselves
* Pooling: Both parents have access to income responsiblity

Question 20

Resource and decision making in households: Decision-making

What does Edgells argue about decision making?

Answer 20

Men are more likely to make decisions as they earn more, while women are economically dependent on men.
* Very important decision: Done by husband
* Important decisions: Joint or by women
* Less important decisions: done by women

Question 21

Resource and decision making in households: decision making

What does Smart argue about the ‘personal life’ perspective on money?

Answer 21

The meanings money has in relationships cannot be taken for granted. E.g. same sex couples have a different meaning of money control. Smart argues:
* Gay and lesbian people attached no importance of money control and are happy with their partners

Question 22

Domestic violence and abuse

What are the trends for DV on the crime survery for England and Wales?

Answer 22

2.1mill people have reported having been vitims of DV in 2023

Question 23

Domestic violence and abuse

What does Coleman argue about the trends of domestic abuse?

Answer 23

Women are likely to experience intimiate violence compared to men

Question 24

Domestic violence and abuse

What does Yearnshire argue about official statistics underestimating DV?

Answer 24

Women are unwilling to report to police. E.g. women suffer 35 assults before reporting

Question 25

Domestic violence and abuse

What does Cheal argue about why O.S underestimate DV?

Answer 25

Police many not do anything as women are free to leave from abuse but male abuse is coupled with economic power

Question 26

Domestic violence and abuse: Radical feminist

What does Millett and Finestone argue about the explination to DV?

Answer 26

• They see famliy/marriage as the key institution in patriachal society
• DV is inevitable
• Men are the enemy: women are opressed and exploited

Question 27

Domestic violence and abuse

How does Elliot critic the radical feminist explanation?

Answer 27

Not all men are aggressive

Question 28

Domestic violence and abuse

What does Wilkinson and Pichett argue the material explanations for DV are?

Answer 28

• Sees Dv as a result of stress of family caused by society
• W/C have more stress, meaning they’re more at risk

Question 29

Domestic violence and abuse

What are the strenghts and weaknesses of the material explanation of DV?

Answer 29

• Strengths: showshow social inequality can trigger violence
• Weakness: Doesnt explain why women are mainly the victim of DV