topic 1 - couples (decision making+dv) Flashcards
(41 cards)
aside from inequality in regards to who performs what roles, where else is there inequality
how the family’s resources are shared between the men and women
what do B and M note
Barrett and McIntosh note:
- men receive far more from women’s domestic labour than the give back in financial support
- the financial support offered was frequently inconsistent and contingent on certain conditions
In many households, a woman has…
little to no entitlement to a share of household resources
two examples as to how or why women do not have entitlement to a share of household resources in her own right
- in low income families, women are the first to deny their own needs such as eating smaller portions of food
- women also are unlikely to spend on themselves as they regard it as ought to be spent on their children
what are the two types of control over family income
Paul and Vogler:
- the allowance system
- pooling
the allowance system
men give their wives an allowance out of which they have to budget to meet the family’s needs and the man retains any surplus income for himself
pooling
where both partners have acess to income and joint responsibility for expenditure, e.g. through a joint bank account
criticisms of pooling
where the pooled income is controlled by the husband, he has more power in relation to major financial decisions
H
study to support this and futher inequalities
Hardill:
- study of 30 dual career couples who disclosed that important decisions were usually taken by the man alone
- moreover, his career took priority in major decisions such as moving house
who’s study looks into the inequality in decision making futher and how
Edgell’s study of professions couples found that:
- very important decisions such as as changing jobs or moving house were made by the husband alone or even when jointly considered, the husband had the final say
- decisions regarding childrens education or holidays were usually taken jointly
- less important decisions such as home decor or children’s clothes were usually made by the wife alone
why does Egdell think men are more likely to make important decisions and what study supports this
they earn more than women and women are economically dependent on them
who argues against this
Gershuny and Laurie:
by 1995, 70% of couples said they had an equal say in decision making, but it is important to note they found greater equality where women were high earning and well qualified
what do feminists argue
they argue this is a material explanation and it is it not enough to explain inequalities in decision making
- instead they point towards patriarchal society where men being decision makers is deeply ingrained through gender role socialisation
- change will only occur if these norms are questioned
why is there importance placed on the meaning of money
- pooling money does not always equate to inequality there are other factors such as how much each person contributes e.g. even if a man earns twice as much as rhw woman but but contribute the same amount to the pooled joint account, does this signify equality
- moreover, maintaining finances separately does not mean inequality as Vogler found that cohabiting couples who follow this system are more likely to share domestic tasks
what does N conclude
Money does not have a fixed meaning, it can differ from couple to couple so can also differ in ways it influences equality
what is the personal life perspective on money
focuses on the meanings couples give towards who controls the money
e.g. while some may see control over money as a sign of inequality, the couple themselves may not
how does S’s study support this
Smart’s study of same-sex couples found that they rarely attach connotations of control and inequality if one partner is in control of the finances, instead they are willing to leave this responsibility to their partner
- this is because they do not enter relationships with the same gender scripts which enables them to do what suits them as a couple rather than fulfil societal expectations
how does W’s study also support this
Weeks et al found that the typical pattern was pooling some money for hosuehold expenditure, whilst maintaining separate accounts for personal spending
how does the home office define domestic violence
Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening
behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have
been intimate partners or family members1
regardless of gender or sexuality
what is the common assumption about domestic violence
it is the behavuoiour of a few disturbed individuals and its causes are psychological rather than social
scale
why is this assumption not correct
domestic violence is too widespread to be commited by a few individuals
- the Women’s Aid Federation noted that dv accounts between 1/6 to 1/4 of all recorded violent crime (2014)
consistency
why is this assumption not correct
dv does not occur randomly but instead dollows particular social patterns with social causes with the most notable pattern being it is often violence by men against women
- Coleman and Osborne (2010) note that 1/3 of all female homocide victims are killed by a partner or a former partner
how do D and D studies reinforce the most striking pattern (violence by men against women)
- researched police and court records along with women in women’s refuges (Scotland) which cite examples of wives being slapped, pushed about, beaten, raped or killed
what is a possible reason as to why the violence may occur according to DandD
violent incidents could be triggered by any threat to the man’s authority such as a question regarding why he was late to come home
- moreover, marriage reinforces women’s position of dependency on their husbands so legitimates violence against women
