Topic 3 - Gender roles, domestic labour and power in the family Flashcards
What are conjugal roles?
Relationships between male and female partners in intimate relationships
How does Elizabeth Bott believe conjugal roles can be divided?
Segregated conjugal roles - couples have separate roles
Joint conjugal roles - Couples share tasks such as housework
How does Talcott Parsons believe roles are determined?
Naturally and biologically
Women’s biology meant that they gave birth and breastfed so they are better at caring so complete the expressive role
How does Gabb argue roles are given by?
They are socially constructed - most people think they are natural but have been produced by social processes
Young and Wilmott study of conjugal roles and the symmetrical family
Although women had primary responsibility for housework, men were getting more involved
72% of households studied, men contributed
Reasons for the rise of the symmetrical family according to Young and Willmott
Increased employment opportunities for women
Increased geographical mobility
Reduction in the number of children women were having
What does Ann Oakley argue about gender roles?
Rejects the March of Progress view
Men and women remain unequal - although men are helping does not mean its equal
What did Ann Oakley’s research find?
15% of husbands had a high level of participation in housework
30% high level in childcare
Men do more pleasurable household tasks
What is the domestic division of labour?
Organisation of tasks such as housework and childcare
What do Crompton and Lyonette identify as 2 different explanations for unequal division of labour?
Economic theories - Women generally earn less than men so its economically rational for women to do more housework
Gender construction theory - Division of labour is determined by patriarchal norms and values
Has the commercialization of housework had a positive impact on gender equality?
Housework is now easier and less skilled due to things like dishwashers, enabling women to do less and encouraging men more
Impact of paid work has had a positive impact on gender equality
Gershuny: women working full time is leading to a more equal division of labour
What did Braun, Vincent and Ball’s study find?
Half of the 16 w/c fathers were classified as ‘active fathers’ who were highly involved
Most of the fathers believed it was right to help their partner out with childcare
Effects of domestic work on women’s careers
It is mainly women who sacrifice their careers for families with them seen as unreliable employers and 40% of women in part-time work
What did Edgell find about women making decisions?
They only made decisions for relatively unimportant areas
