Families and Households - Couples

Parsons (1955)

• Instrumental and expressive roles

• The D of L is based on biological differences, with women ‘naturally’ suited to the nurturing role and men to that of provider

• Beneficial to both men, women, their children and society

Willmott and Young (1962) (criticism of Parsons)

• Criticise Parsons

• Argue that men are now taking a greater share of domestic tasks and more wives are becoming wage earners

Feminist criticism of Parsons

• Reject the view that the D of L is natural

• Argue that it only benefits men

Bott (1957)

• Segregated conjugal roles and joint conjugal roles

Young and Willmott (1973)

• Symmetrical family

• March of progress view

• They see family as gradually improving for all members

• There’s been a long-term trend away from segregated conjugal roles and towards joint conjugal roles and the ‘symmetrical family’

• Women now go to work, although this may be part-time rather than full-time

• Men now help with housework and childcare

• Couples now spend leisure time together

• Found that this was more common in younger, more affluent couples who are geographically and socially isolated

• Rise in symmetrical family is due to major social changes:

• Changes in women’s position

• Geographical mobility - more couples living away from where they grew up

• New technology - and labour-saving devices

• Higher standards of living

• These factors are inter-linked eg married women bringing in a second wage increases standards of living

Oakley (1974)

• Feminist view of housework

• Criticises the view that the family is now symmetrical

• Although Young and Willmott found that most husbands they interviewed ‘helped’ their wives at least once a week, this could include simply taking the bins out once a week

• Oakley did find some evidence of husbands helping in the home but no evidence of a trend towards symmetry

• Only 15% of husbands had a high level of participation in housework, and only 25% had a high level of participation in childcare

• Husbands were more likely to share in childcare than housework, but only it’s more pleasurable aspects, leaving women with the less pleasurable aspects

Boulton (1983)

• Found that less than 20% of husbands had a major role in childcare

• Young and Willmott only look at the tasks involved in childcare rather than the responsibilities. It was almost always the mum who was responsible for the child’s security and well-being