Gender roles

Question 1

Young and Wilmott

Answer 1

‘A symmetrical family’- strong bonds between married or cohabiting families
Symmetrical families were more common among younger couples

Question 2

Causes for the symmetrical family

Answer 2

-Improved living standards in the home
-Decline in close knit extended family
-Improved status and rights of women
-Weaker gender inequalities
-Commercialisation of housework

Question 3

Criticisms of symmetrical families

Answer 3

-Feminists argue that there isn’t much evidence that the family is now symmetrical
-Knudsen and Waerness (2004)- Study of men and women’s housework in 34 countries found that there were no modern countries where men do more housework than women

Question 4

Inequalities in the domestic division of labour

Answer 4

-2008 British social attitudes survey- reported 80% women with partners said they ‘always or usually’ did the laundry
-Ferri and Smith- Fathers took responsibility for childcare in fewer than 4% of families

Question 5

Radical feminists viewpoint on domestic labour

Answer 5

Men benefit as women are the ones who do it and it reinforces patriarchy

Question 6

Marxist feminists viewpoint on domestic labour

Answer 6

Capitalism is the main benefit as it contributes to the reproduction of labour

Question 7

March of progress view

Answer 7

Men are becoming more involved in housework as women go to work

Question 8

Feminist view on Young and Wilmott

Answer 8

Evidence for ‘jointness’ in the symmetrical family is totally unconvincing

Question 9

What percent of married men claim to help their partners in the home

Answer 9

72%

Question 10

2012- British social attitudes survey

Answer 10

Women did twice as many household tasks than men

Question 11

Parsons

Answer 11

Women as the expressive role of the family

Question 12

Triple shift

Answer 12

Paid work, Domestic labour and Emotional role

Question 13

Inequalities of power

Answer 13

2011- 59% married couples say they consult each other on all financial decisions

Question 14

Personal life perspective

Answer 14

Carol Smart- Some gay people attached no importance to who controlled the money
Weeks et al- The typical pattern was pooling some money for household spending, together with separate accounts

Question 15

Consequences of inequality in the family

Answer 15

-3/4 part time workers are women
-42% women in paid employment work part time compared to 12% men
-90% of men with dependant children are in employment regardless of the age of their youngest child

Question 16

Inequalities in employment

Answer 16

Women are seen in the employment place as:
-Unreliable- maternity leave
-Not worth investing in- training
-Hidden discrimination

Question 17

How many murders involve a partner or ex partner

Answer 17

2/3

Question 18

Domestic violence

Answer 18

1:4 women and 1:6 men will suffer some form of domestic violence at some point in their relationships

Question 19

How many people each year are killed by a current or former partner

Answer 19

150

Question 20

Domestic violence act

Answer 20

1976

Question 21

Rape in marriage

Answer 21

Only about 6% of all reported rapes lead to conviction

Question 22

Dobash and Dobash (1992)

Answer 22

Male violence against women in the family is the means by which women’s subordinate role and unequal power are enforced