Functionalist View of Gender Roles

Question 1

Functionalist View - Parsons: Instrumental and Expressive Roles

Answer 1

• in the traditional nuclear family, the roles of husbands and wives are segregated.
• Parsons model of the family shows there is a clear division of labour between spouses:
• husband: Instrumental Role: breadwinner
• wife: Expressive Role: housewife
  Parsons argues that this division of labour is based on biological differences.
• women naturally suited to the nurturing role and men to that of the provider
• this division of labour is beneficial to both men and women to their children and to wider society.
• New Right also hold this view

Question 2

Functionalist View: +C: Parsons

Young and Wilmott

Answer 2

argue that men are now taking a greater of domestic tasks and more wives are becoming wage earners

Question 3

Functionalist View: +C: Parsons

Feminists

Answer 3

• reject Parsons view that the division of labour is natural

- only benefits men

Question 4

Functionalist View - Joint and Segregated Conjugal Roles: Bott

Answer 4

distinguishes between two types of conjugal roles

• Segregated conjugal roles: where the couple have separate roles : male breadwinner and female homemaker. Leisure also separate.
• Joint Conjugal Roles: where the couple share tasks such as housework, childcare and leisure time

Question 5

Functionalist View - Joint and Segregated Conjugal Roles: Young and Willmott

Answer 5

identified a pattern of segregated conjugal roles in their study of traditional w/c families.

Question 6

Functionalist View - The Symmetrical Family: Young and Willmott

Answer 6

• take a march of progress view of the history of the family
• see family life as gradually improving for it’s members becoming more equal and democratic
• there has been a long term trend away from segregated conjugal roles and towards the joint symmetrical family
• By the symmetrical family they mean one in which the roles of husbands and wives although not identical are now similar:
• Women now work
• Men now help with housework and childcare
• Couples now spend their leisure time together

Question 7

Functionalist View - The Symmetrical Family: Young and Willmott Study

Answer 7

• in their study of families in London Y & W found that the symmetrical family was more common among younger couples, those who are geographically and socially isolated.

Question 8

What social changes have caused the symmetrical family? Young and Willmott

Answer 8

Y & W see the rise of the symmetrical family as the result of major social changes that have taken place:

• Changes in Women’s Position
• Geographical Mobility
• New Technology (labour saving devices)
• Higher Standards of Living