Roles + Family structure - stages of development

Question 1

What is Willmott and Young’s theory about the 3 stages of family development (changes in structure)

Answer 1

Stage 1: family work together as an economic production unit
Stage 2: extended family broken down as men leave to work
Stage 3: consumption overrules production - family focus is personal relationships and lifestyle: the symmetrical family develops (men and women have joint roles)

Question 2

Stage 1: Segregated conjugal roles: couples have separate roles + separate leisure time e.g
instrumental + expressive roles

(-) men ‘help’ with housework now

(-) feminists say it benefits men and exploits women

Answer 2

• instrumental = husband. breadwinner

* expressive = wife. homemaker (emotionally nurturing children, housework)

Question 3

Stage 3:

joint conjugal role

Answer 3

couples share tasks such as housework, childcare. spend leisure time together

Question 4

Why has there been a rise of the symmetrical nuclear family? (both working equally)

Answer 4

• changing position of women (married women going out more to work, girls focussing on careers and education) WILKINSON: education seem as more important than having children
> women have more economic influence in household: breaks down ‘expressive’ and ‘instrumental’ roles

• new technology - women can work at home
• geographical mobility

Question 5

‘march of progress’

Answer 5

• family life is gradually getting better, more equal and democratic - segregated conjugal roles in decline

Question 6

Match of progress true?

Answer 6

(-) men ‘help’, still ‘woman’ jobs and ‘men’ jobs in the house e.g even though the male is more involved the mother is still expected to nurture children and care for a sick child - links to duel burden proposed by feminists