Theorists - Power in the Family

Question 1

KEY THEORISTS - BARRETT AND MCINTOSH (1991): POWER WITHIN THE FAMILY.

What do they believe?

Answer 1

• Although men contribute more money due to having higher wages, they also gain more because:

1) Women do more housework
2) Men’s financial contributions come with strings attached as they make decisions about spending.

• Inequality comes in terms of sharing resources as women’s needs come last.

Question 2

KEY THEORIST - KEMPSON (1994): POWER WITHIN THE FAMILY

What do they believe?

Answer 2

• Working class women often deny their needs (i.e. skipping meals) to allow their family to get by.

Question 3

KEY THEORIST - HARDILL ET AL (1997): POWER WITHIN THE FAMILY

What did they find?

Answer 3

1) Important decisions were made by the man

2) Less important decisions were made by the women

Question 4

KEY THEORIST - EDGELL (1980): POWER WITHIN THE FAMILY

What did they find?

Answer 4

• The very important decisions such as moving house or job were made by the man.
• The important decisions such as the children’s education were decided jointly but hardly by the wife alone.
• The less important decisions such as home decor and children’s clothes were decided by the wife.

Question 5

KEY THEORISTS - PAHL (1989 AND 1993) AND VOGLER (1994): POWER WITHIN THE FAMILY

What do they believe?

Answer 5

• There has been a shift in family finance and the sharing of money.
• Its become more common for younger couples to put all their money into one place and then each person to have a monthly allowance.

Question 6

KEY THEORISTS - DUNCOMBE AND MARSDEN (1995): EMOTIONAL LABOUR IN THE FAMILY

What do they believe?

Answer 6

• Emotional labour is an invisible element of a women’s domestic work.
• Many women express dissatisfaction with their partners input in the family.