A Feminist view of housework Flashcards
(21 cards)
What do feminists reject?
The ‘march of progress view’
Why do Feminists reject the view of Symmetrical families?
They believe little has changed, segregated conjugal roles still exist
Where do they believe this inequality stems from?
Male-dominated and patriarchal society and family
What do they believe women occupy?
A dependent role within family and wider society
Who does Ann Oakley critique?
Young and Willmott’s view
What does Oakley critique about symmetrical families?
That the family isn’t symmetrical
What did Young and Willmott find?
That most of the husbands they interviewed ‘helped’ their wives at least once a week
How did husbands ‘help’ out once a week?
Taking kids for a walk, making breakfast on one occasion
What were husbands more likely to share in?
Childcare more than housework
What did couples define the father’s role as?
‘Taking an interest’
What was the definition of a ‘good father’?
Playing with the children in the evenings and ‘taking them off her hands’ on Sunday morning
What was the result of a ‘good father’?
Mother lost the rewards of childcare, and were left with more time for housework
What did Oakey find about husbands helping in the home?
(Statistics)
15% participated in housework
Only 25% had a high level of childcare participation
Who supports Oakley’s findings?
Mary Boulton
statistic
How does Mary Boulton support Oakley’s findings?
Found that fewer than 20% of husbands had a major role in childcare
What does Mary Boulton argue?
Young and Willmott exaggerate men’s contribution by looking at childcare tasks instead of responsibilities.
What is an addition of Mary Boulton’s argument for domestic tasks?
Father may help with tasks, but child’s security and well being is still on mother
What did Warde and Hetherington find about sex-typing?
That sex-typing of domestic tasks remained strong
What does sex-typing mean?
Belief that certain roles are dedicated for one sex
How did the sex-typing of domestic tasks remain strong?
(Statistics)
Wives = 30x more likely to be the last person to wash up
Husbands = 4x more likely to be the last person to wash the car
In general, what did Warde and Hetherington find out?
Men would only carry out ‘female’ tasks when they weren’t around
