1.1 Couples (Content)

Question 1

1.1 Parsons

Answer 1

• Argues the traditional nuclear family has 2 segregated roles…
• Instrumental Role: successful at work so that he can provide for the family financially (Breadwinner)
• Expressive Role: Primary socialisation of the children and meets the emotional needs of the family (Homemaker)
• Parsons argues this division is based on biological Differences

Criticisms:

• Y + W: men are now taking a greater share of domestic tasks and more wives are becoming wage earners
• Feminists: division is not natural (only benefits men)

Question 2

1.2 Bott

Answer 2

• Distinguishes between two types of conjugal roles with marriage
  1. Segregated Conjugal Roles: Couple have separate roles (breadwinner and homemaker), leisure activities also tend to be separate
  2. Joint Conjugal Roles: Couples share tasks such as housework and childcare and spend leisure time together
• Y + W identifies a pattern of segregated conjugal roles among traditional WC families in the 50s.

Question 3

1.3 Young and Willmott

Answer 3

• Take a ‘March of Progress’ view
• Family life is gradually improving and becoming more equal
• There has been shift away from segregated CR to joint CR and the ‘symmetrical family
• Symmetrical Family: Women now work, men how help with housework / childcare and couples spend leisure time together.
• Reasons for Shift: women’s position, Geographical Mobility, New Tech, higher standards of living

Question 4

1.4 Feminist View of Housework

Answer 4

• Argue little has changed
• Family and society is patriarchal and unequal
• Oakley: Y + W claims are exaggerated. Although men may ‘help’ they are not doing enough to show ‘symmetry’
• Oakley: Only 15% of husbands had a high level of participation in housework
• Boulton: Fewer than 20% of husbands had a major tole in childcare
• Oakley argues men ‘took an interest’ only in pleasurable aspects of childcare. (Women lost rewards of childcare)