Sociology AQA families and households Topic 1: couples

What did parsons argue about family roles?

Husband plays an instrumental role geared towards achieving success at work so he can provide for the family financially. The woman has an expressive role geared towards primary socialisation of children and meeting the family’s emotional needs.Parsons argued this division of labour is based on biological differences between men and women as women are naturally suited towards nurturing role and men to a powerful role.

What did willmott and young say about family roles?

Family is progressing equally for all members as it is becoming more democratic and equal. They argue that the segregated conjugal roles are become less common and families are becoming more symmetrical. Women now go out to work whether it is part or full time. Men now help in childcare and housework finally Couples spend more time together rather than separately.

What study did Willmott and Young do on gender roles and explain?

They found that younger couples were more symmetrical especially if they were more affluent and had moved away from Bethnal green.Also more likely to be symmetrical if they moved away from extended family. Due to the decline of the extended family, increased geographical mobility, feminist movements, contraception, development of home based entertainment (spending more time at home).

What do feminists argue about family roles?

Argue that little has changed; men and women remain unequal in the home with women still doing most of the work. They argue this is because society is male orientated and patriarchal, with women being subordinate and having a dependent role in society.

What did Ann Oakley argue about the roles of the family

Exaggerated the changes. She argued that they claim men help but this would mean cooking once a week or taking children for a walk. Not equal distribution of chores.Oakley found in her own research some evidence of men helping but it was not by any means symmetrical. Only 15% had a high level of involvement and only 25% had high involvement with childcare. Also Husbands are more likely to share childcare than housework but again only it’s more pleasurable aspects i.e. play, and mother was still in charge of feeding, cooking, bathing etc

What did Boulton argue about family roles?

Found that fewer than 20% of husbands had a major role I childcare. She argues that young and Wilmot exaggerate the contribution of men by focusing on the number of tasks rather that the responsibility of that role.

What did wards and Hetherington argue about the roles of the family?

Found sex typing of domestic tasks remains strong. For example women were 4 times more likely to have last washed the dishes and men morelikely to have washed the car last.Men seemed more likely to only do female work when they were left to their own devices and women were not around.However men are not as old fashioned and do not necessarily believe it is a woman’s job to do all the tasks.

What did the dirtier foundations study say about the roles of the family?

Looked at 1000 adultsFound that 60% of men claimed to do more housework than their father and 75% of women do less housework than their mother.However women still spend about 2.5 hours a day on housework compared to the 1 hour men spend on average.

What did Elizebeth Bott say about family roles?

distinguishes between two roles within a marriage;segregated conjugal roles where the couple have separate roles i.e. the man is the breadwinner and the wife is the homemaker. They HAVE SEPARATE LEISURE ACTIVTIES and spend spare time apart. Joint conjugal roles where the couple share tasks such as housework and spend their leisure time together.