Roles: Explaning gender devision of Labour

Question 1

explanations of inequality in the devision of labour

marxist

capitalism benefits from families

Answer 1

• cultural/ideological explanation: media conditions and socialises women to be nurturing to keep their working husbands healthy
- norms and values shape expected behaviour of women and men

• material/economic explanation
- women earn less than men so it makes more sense for men to work and women to do more housework

Question 2

explanations for inequality

Functionalist

Society benefits from families

Answer 2

different tasks performed by each sex is a more effective way of ensuring society functions

Question 3

explanations for inequality

Feminist

Men benefit from families

Answer 3

unequal household roles demonstrates inequality in power - women’s roles are usually inferior thus men benefit