March Of Progress Theory

Question 1

Outline the 3 stages in which the family has developed according to Young + Willmott

Answer 1

1) Pre-industrial family
- Home and work not separated
- Extended families most common

2) Early industrial family
- Ind. Rev. resulted in mass prod of consumer items
- Men work in factories; division of labour established (s.c.j.)

3) Symmetrical family
- Nuclear family most common
- Families become “home-centred and privatised”
- Parents share domestic tasks (j.c.r.)

Question 2

4 reasons as to why there is a symmetrical family

Answer 2

1) Women having more freedom (careers etc)
2) Geographical mobility
3) New technology (Skype etc)
4) Higher standards of living

Question 3

Outline the idea of ‘stratified diffusion’

Answer 3

The ideas of family life were started by the upper classes and over time has been filtered down through to the lower classes

Question 4

Outline Bott’s 3 type of women

Answer 4

1) Transitional (works when single, stops when child born)
2) Traditional (accept to do majority of housework even if breadwinner)
3) Autonomous (independent financially; doesn’t have to do housework)

Question 5

Outline Bott’s 3 types of men

Answer 5

1) Hardliners (refuse to help with housework)
2) Co-operators (if needed, will do housework - is fair to partner)
3) Adjusters (very willing and even happy to do housework)

Question 6

1) Family associated with joint conjugal roles

2) Family associated with segregated conjugal roles

Answer 6

1) Middle class families

2) Working class families

Question 7

3 supporting criticisms of Young + Willmott’s ‘symmetrical family’ research

Answer 7

1) Joint conjugal roles common (Bott)
2) The more hours the woman works, the more the housework is shared (Pahl)
3) Financial decisions are shared (Pahl)

Question 8

4 conflicting criticisms of Young + Willmott’s ‘symmetrical family’ research

Answer 8

1) The word ‘help’ used in interviews was subjective (Oakley)
2) Women still cope with pressure of dual burden (Brayfield)
3) Y+W presumed childcare was woman’s job (Jones)
4) Men handle major financial decisions (Edgell)

Question 9

Pahl’s 4 ways in which families organise money

Answer 9

1) Husband-controlled
- No joint bank or pooling of money
- Husband handles all finances
- Wife given allowance to manage groceries

2) Wife-controlled
- No joint bank or pooling of money
- Wife handles all finances
- Neither work, rely on welfare state

3) Husband-controlled pooling
- Both work + pool money in joint bank account
- Husband controls all finances
- Common in u/c families

4) Wife-controlled pooling
- Both work + pool money in joint bank account
- Wife handles all finances
- Common in m/c families