Domestic division of labour

Refer to the roles men and women play in relation to housework childcare and paid work.

Parsons (1955) instrumental and expressive roles

• Functionalist model of the family.

• There is a clear division of labour between spouses.

Instrumental role

• Husbands role.

• Provide financially for the family (breadwinner).

Parsons (1955) instrumental and expressive roles

• Functionalist model of the family.

• There is a clear division of labour between spouses.

Instrumental role

• Husbands role.

• Provide financially for the family (breadwinner).

Expressive role

• Wives role.

• Meet emotional needs of family.

• Primary socialisation for children.

• Housewife rather than wage earner.

Parsons (1955) argument

• Argues that is based on biological differences

• Women are ‘naturally‘ suited to nurturing role and men to that of provider.

• Claims it is beneficial to both men and women, to their children and to wider society.

Critics of Parsons view - Young + Willmott (1962)

• Argue that men are not taking a greater share of domestic tasks.

• Wives are now becoming wage earners.

Critics of Parsons view - Feminist sociologists

• Reject his view that the division of labour is natural.

• Claim that it only benefits men.

Botts (1957) joint and segregated roles

• There are are two types of conjugal roles within marriage

Joint conjugal roles

• The couple share tasks such as housework, childcare and spend leisure time together.

Segregated conjugal roles

• Couples have separate roles.

• Men are breadwinners.

• Woman are homemaker.

• Parsons expressive and instrumental roles.

• Leisure activities are separate.

Young + Willmott study

• A pattern of segregated conjugal roles in traditional working-class families extended families in Bethnal Green.

• Men were the breadwinners.

• Spent leisure time with workmates in pubs

• Women were full-time housewives.

• Limited leisure was spent with female kin

Young + Willmott (1973) the symmetrical family

• ‘march of progress‘ view.

• Sees families as gradually improving for all of its members, becoming more equal and democratic.

• Towards joint conjugal roles.

Meaning of a symmetrical family

Although they are not yet identical they more similar.

• Women now go to work and have a career (although this may not be full time)

• Men now help with housework and childcare.

• Couples now spend their leisure time together.

Young + Willmott study

• Study of families in London found that symmetrical family was more common in younger couples who are geographically isolated.

Reasons towards change towards symmetry

1. Change in women’s position - including married women go out to work.

2. Geographical mobility - more couples living away from the community which they grew up in.

3. New technology - labour saving devices.

4. Higher standards of living.

Feminist view of housework

• Reject ‘march of progress view‘

• Argued that little has changed and women still do majority of the housework.

• they see inequality stemming from the fact that family and society are male-dominated or patriarchal.

Oakley (1974) criticism of Young and Willmott

• She claims that Young + Willmott’s claims are exaggerated.

• Although, they claimed from interviews that they ‘helped‘ at least once a week that could be taking children on a walk

Oakley’s own research

• Oakley found evidence of husbands helping but no evidence of symmetry.

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

• Only 25% had a high level of participation in childcare.

Support of Oakley - Mary Boulton (1983)

• Found fewer than 20% of husbands had a major role in childcare.

• Criticises Young + Willmott by saying they exaggerated men’s contribution by looking at the tasks involved rather than responsibility.