AQA Sociology: Gender Roles in Modern Society

These flashcards cover key concepts, theories, and evidence related to gender roles in modern society as discussed in the AQA Sociology lecture.

What do gender roles refer to in the context of family dynamics?

Expected patterns of behaviour for men and women within the family.

What is the functionalist view on gender roles according to Parsons?

Gender roles are based on biological differences that promote family stability.

What did Young & Willmott (1973) find about family dynamics?

They found that society has moved towards the symmetrical family with increasing equality in domestic labor.

How has women's employment affected domestic labor in modern society?

Many couples are now dual-earner households, with men participating in domestic tasks.

What counter-argument does Oakley (1974) provide against the functionalist view?

She found that few men share housework equally, suggesting ongoing inequality.

What is the feminist perspective on domestic labor?

Feminists argue that despite social change, domestic labor remains unequally divided.

What did Oakley (1974) discover about husbands’ participation in housework?

Only 15% of husbands had a high level of housework participation.

What is the concept of a triple shift as described by Duncombe & Marsden (1995)?

Women perform paid work, domestic work, and emotional labor.

How did the COVID-19 lockdown affect unpaid labor among women?

Women did 60% more unpaid labor than men during the lockdown according to IFS (2020).

What is the Marxist feminist view on women's unpaid domestic work?

It benefits capitalism by reproducing and stabilizing the labor force.

According to Benston (1972), what role does the housewife's unpaid labor play in capitalism?

It supports capitalism cheaply by reproducing the labor force.

What does the term 'individualisation thesis' refer to in postmodernist views?

People now make their own choices about family life rather than adhering to traditional roles.

How do shared parental leave policies illustrate changing gender roles?

They allow fathers to take up to 50 weeks of leave, promoting involvement in child-rearing.

What major societal shift is illustrated by the rise of same-sex couples and cohabiting partners?

They often divide tasks by preference rather than strictly by gender.

What do postmodernists argue about the nature of gender roles in modern families?

Gender roles are fluid, diverse, and negotiated rather than fixed.

What ongoing issue does the UK gender pay gap highlight in terms of gender roles?

The ongoing economic inequality between genders, evidenced by a 14.3% gap in 2024.

In conclusion, what does the overarching theme of gender roles in modern society suggest?

Gender roles have become more flexible and negotiated, but patriarchy and capitalism still underpin inequality.

According to Parsons, what are the two main roles within a family based on gender?

The instrumental role (men, breadwinner) and the expressive role (women, nurturing and emotional support).

What are the key characteristics of a symmetrical family, as described by Young & Willmott?

Spouses perform similar but not identical tasks, sharing domestic labor, childcare, and leisure time more equally.

What does the 'dual burden' refer to in the context of women's work?

Women taking on both paid employment and a significant portion of domestic labor and childcare.

How do shared parental leave policies aim to challenge traditional gender norms in parenting?

By encouraging fathers to take a more active and extended role in early childcare, thereby normalizing male involvement beyond traditional provider roles and potentially redistributing parental responsibilities.

When did Young & Willmott publish their findings on the symmetrical family?

1973

During the COVID-19 lockdown, what proportion more unpaid labor did women perform compared to men, according to IFS (2020)?

Women did 60% more unpaid labor than men.

What was the reported UK gender pay gap in 2024?

14.3%

What is the maximum duration of shared parental leave that fathers can take?

Up to 50 weeks