families and households - the domestic divison of labour - couples

Question 1

functionalism

Answer 1

•parsons: claims that women okay the expressive role and the men play the instrumental role
- claims this division is functional for the family and the wider society
- he sees this division as biologically based - women are naturally suited nurturing and men providing so it benefits everyone

Question 2

the new right

Answer 2

would agree with functionalist/parsons that this biologically based gender division is the best way of organising life

Question 4

the ‘march of progress’

Answer 4

this views sees conjugal roles becoming mote equal. bott identifies 2 types:
•segregated conjugal roles - are separate. there is a sharp division of labour between the male breadwinner and the female homemaker (like the parsons instrumental and expressive roles)
•joint conjugal - involves couples sharing domestic tasks and leisure

young and willmott see a long term trend towards joint conjugal roles and the symmetrical family where the roles are more similar and equal:
•more women go out to work now
•men now help with childcare and housework
•couples spend more leisure time together. men have become more ‘home centred’

Question 5

feminism

Answer 5

•feminists would reject the ‘march of progress’ view
•they see the family as patriarchal (male dominated), not symmetrical or equal
•oakley found no evidence in symmetry in domestic labour she argues young and willmott exaggerate men’s role: although men could of just ‘helped’ this could of just been ironing their own shirt once a week