Functionalists Flashcards
womens characteristics and gender roles
- passive, fragile, emotional, nurturing
- gender role= housewife, care giver, very little leisure time that was spent with female kin
mens characteristics and gender roles
- active, strong, authoritative, intellectual
- gender role= breadwinner, disciplinarian, decision maker, leisure time spent with workmates in pub
domestic division of labour
the roles men and women perform in the home
what type of role is there in traditional nuclear families
segregated conjugal roles- they have separate and distinct responsibilities
PARSONS
husband= instrumental role (breadwinner)
wife= expressive role (housewife)
-says the segregated division of labour is natural and normal as its based on biologic differences therefore as long as they’re carrying out their natural roles, they’ll both be fulfilled.
-He says this division benefits everyone- women, men, kids and society
Criticisms of Parsons
WILLMOTT AND YOUNG- men are now taking a greater share of domestic tasks and women are becoming wage earners
FEMINISTS- rejects parsons view of division of labour being natural and argue that it only benefits men
Segregated conjugal roles- ELIZABETH BOTT
couple have separate roles and leisure activities
Joint conjugal roles- ELIZABETH BOTT
couple share tasks and spend leisure time together
neo-functionalists
in 1970s some functionalists (Neo- functionalists) said theres been changes to gender roles and domestic labour- they saw it as a social progress towards equality
WILLMOTT AND YOUNG- neofunctionalists
- have a march of progress view of family and say its more egalitarian (equal) for all family members
- say theres been a trend away from segregated roles to joint ones and symmetrical families
WILLMOTT AND YOUNG- symmetrical families
husband and wife share all responsibilities equally
where both husband and wife: work outside home, share household and childcare tasks, and spend leisure time together.
