Key Studies: Couples

Question 1

Bott (1957)

Answer 1

Bott (1957):

Joint conjugal roles - where the couple have shared responsibility for tasks such as housework and childcare and spend leisure time together.

Segregated conjugal roles - where couples have separate roles (male breadwinner, female homemaker).

Question 2

Young and Willmott (1973)

Answer 2

Young and Willmott (1973): The symmetrical family - Men and women share roles within the family and have equal responsibility for things such as, earning, childcare and housework.

Question 3

Parsons (1955)

Answer 3

Parsons (1955): Instrumental role carried out by the male - financially providing for the family.
Expressive role - carried out by the female - care giver and home maker.

Question 4

Duncombe & Marsden (1995)

Answer 4

Duncombe & Marsden (1995): “Triple Shift” - women do paid work, unpaid work in the home and then also have to manage the emotions and feelings of family members.

Question 5

Oakley (1974)

Answer 5

Oakley (1974)The idea of symmetry is over exaggerated. The housewife role has become a dominant one for many married women.

Question 6

Ferri and Smith (1996)

Answer 6

Ferri and Smith (1996): When women are in paid employment they are more likely to be carrying out roles that involve emotional labour.

Question 7

Gillian Dunne (1999)

Answer 7

Gillian Dunne (1999): Found that lesbian couple had more symmetrical relationships because of the absence of traditional heterosexual “gender scripts”.

Question 8

Dobash and Dobash (1979)

Answer 8

Dobash and Dobash (1979): Violent incidents can be triggered by what the man views to be a challenge to his authority.