Topic 1- Couples Flashcards
(68 cards)
What does Parsons say about couples (1955) ?
There are two roles, the instrumental and expressive roles. The roles are assigned based on biological differences.
What type of theorist is Parsons?
A functionalist
Define the instrumental role in a relationship.
The breadwinner of the family, successful at work to provide for the family and is usually the husband.
Define the expressive role in a relationship.
The homemaker who provides primary socialisation of children and meets emotional needs, they are usually the wives.
According to Parsons, what is the difference between these roles based on?
Difference of roles based on biological differences. Women are given the expressive role because they are naturally more nurturing, and men that of a provider.
What other perspectives agree with Parsons view?
The New Right.
Give two criticisms of Parsons.
Willmott and young (1962)- Men taking greater share of domestic tasks, wives become wage earners
Feminists- Reject that divide is natural and argue that it only benefits men.
What does Bott say about couples (1957) ?
There are two types of conjugal roles, the segregated conjugal role and joint conjugal roles.
Define the term segregated conjugal roles.
Where the couple have separate roles: a male breadwinner and a female homemaker/carer, as in parsons instrumental and expressive roles. Their leisure time also tend to be seperate.
Define the term joint conjugal roles.
Where the couple share tasks such as housework and childcare and spend their leisure time together.
Explain Willmott and Young’s 1950s study into segregated conjugal roles.
Studied traditional working-class extended families in Bethnal Green, east London in the 1950s. Men spent leisure time with workmates in pubs and Women spent leisure time with female relatives and had sole responsibility for housework and childcare.
Define the symmetrical family.
The roles of husbands and wives are much more similar, Women now go out to work, Men help with childcare and housework, Couples spend leisure time together
Explain Willmott and Young’s 1970s study into the symmetrical family.
Symmetrical family more common among younger couples, who are geographically and socially isolated who are well off. Rise of symmetrical family due to social changes taken place in the last century.
According to Willmott and Young, what social changes in the last century have caused for the rise in symmetrical families?
-Changes in women’s position
-Geographical mobility, living away from traditional communities
-New technology, labour saving devices
-Higher standards of living
What view do Willmott and Young take?
The march of progress view.
What is the feminist view on housework?
Reject the march of progress view. Argue that little has changes and men and women still remain unequal, this is because we are still in a patriarchal society.
What does feminist Anne Oakley say about symmetrical families?
Criticises Willmott and Young’s idea of a symmetrical family, claim their views are exaggerated. Men may claim to do more child care than they do for example taking their child to the park once a week.
What did Anne Oakley’s 1970s research show about housework?
Showed that 15% of husbands had high participation in housework, and 25% had high participation in childcare. Men only took part in the pleasurable aspects of childcare. This could mean mothers lost the rewards of childcare such as playing with the children.
What does Boulton 1983 research show?
Found that fewer than 20% of husbands had a major role in childcare. Argues Willmott and young exaggerate mens role by looking at tasks involved in childcare rather than responsibilities.
What did Warde and Heatherington 1990s research find?
Sex-typing of domestic tasks remained strong. e.g wives 30x more likely to be the last person who did the washing, husbands 4x more likely to be last person to wash. the car. Men would only carry out feminine tasks when their wive was not there.
What are impacts of women getting paid work on the family?
-Could lead to a more equal division of domestic tasks, with a ‘new man’ doing an equal share of housework and childcare (MOP view)
-Or women will now have to carry a ‘dual burden’ of paid work and domestic work. (FEM view)
What does MOP theorist Gershuny say about the impact paid work has?
Argues that women working full-time is leading to a more equal division of labour in the home, did studies and found that these women did less domestic work than others.
What did Sullivan’s 2000s MOP analyst find about the impact of paid work?
1950s-90s found trend of women doing a smaller share of domestic work and men doing more. Men participating in more traditional female work.
How much to men do according to the British Social Attitudes survey?
2012- Men did 8 hours of housework a week, women did 13
Men did family care for 10 hours a week where as women spent 23 hours. Women did twice as much work as men.
