Gender Roles, Power & Inequality in the Family

What are segregated conjugal roles?

Traditional roles where men are breadwinners and women do housework + childcare.

What are joint conjugal roles?

Partners share housework, childcare, and leisure; both often in paid work.

Who do feminists say does most domestic labour?

Women — especially routine tasks like cleaning, cooking, washing.

Who usually takes primary responsibility for childcare?

Women — men’s involvement is often optional.

What is pooling?

Both partners combine incomes; may suggest equality.

What is the allowance system?

Man controls money and gives woman an allowance — shows male dominance.

What is independent control?

Each partner manages their own income; common in dual‑earner couples

What is patriarchy?

A system where society is structured to benefit men,

What is the dual burden?

Women do paid work AND housework.

What is the triple shift?

Paid work + housework/childcare + emotion work.

What is emotion work?

Managing feelings, relationships, and family harmony.

What did Willmott & Young argue?

Families are becoming more equal (symmetrical family).

What did Oakley find about housework?

Men’s help is limited and optional; women still do most routine tasks.

What is Gershuny’s lagged adaptation?

Men do more domestic work when women work full‑time, but change is slow.

What did Pahl & Vogler say about money?

Who controls money = who has power; pooling isn’t always equal.

What did Duncombe & Marsden argue?

Women perform the triple shift; men benefit from women’s emotional labour.