Topic 1 -

Question 1

What does parsons believe?

Answer 1

He believes that the males have the instrumental role whereas the female has the expressive role.
Expressive role= geared towards the families emotional needs. She is a housewife rather then a wage earner.
Instrumental role= Geared towards success at work so they can provide for the family financially(breadwinner).

He believes this division of labour is beneficial to both men and women as well as to wider society. They are more naturally suited to properly providing these roles.

Question 2

Ao3?

Answer 2

Feminists- this change is not natural and only benefits men whist oppressing women.
Young and Wilmott- Couples are moving towards the symmetrical family where roles are becoming more equally shared.

Question 3

What does young and Wilmott argue?

Answer 3

–>That the family is moving towards a symmetrical one with life gradually improving for all of its members becoming more equal and democratic.
Eg, leisure time is now spent with one another in many couples.
-Many men now contribute to housework and many females now work.
They found in their study of London families, the symmetrical family was most common amongst younger families.

Question 4

Young and Wilmott sees the rise is the symmetrical family as the cause of what social changes?

Answer 4

• Geographical mobility.
• Higher standards of living.
• New technology- labour saving devices.
• Changes in women’s position.

Question 5

Ao3?

Answer 5

Feminists- inequality still exists within the family.

Oakley- Their claims are largely exaggerated.

Question 6

What do feminists believe?

Answer 6

• See the division of labour as unnatural and oppressing women.
• Argue that inequality stems from the fact that society is patriarchal.

Question 7

What did Oakley find?

Answer 7

• She found that young and Willmott claims are exaggerated: though they found that men help the women at least once a week, this was simply taking the children out for a walk or making breakfast one morning.(hardly evidence of symmetry)
• Only 15% of males had a large contribution in housework and only 20% in childcare.
• men were likely to participate in pleasurable aspects.

Question 8

Ao3?

Answer 8

• supported by Bolton who found that only 20% had a high contribution in helping their wives.
• It was the woman who took responsibility for the children’s health and wellbeing.