Topic 1 - Couples

Question 1

Domestic Division of Labour - Parsons [3]

Answer 1

Men and women have biological differences:

• Expressive role - Women = Homemaker (involves cooking, cleaning and looking after children)
• Instrumental role - Men = Breadwinner (involves paid work, earning the income for the family)
• Domestic division of labour

Question 2

Domestic Division of Labour - Bott [2]

Answer 2

Discovered types of conjugal roles:
Segregated conjugal roles - Division of labour between men and women, couple spends leisure time separately
Joint conjugal roles - couples share domestic tasks and leisure time.

Question 3

Willmott and Young [3]

Answer 3

• Suggested family was becoming more symmetrical by the end of the modern age.
• Shared leisure time, childcare responsibilities and domestic labour
• Contrast to earlier research by Bott and Parsons - segregated conjugal roles.

Question 4

March of Progress view

Answer 4

The ‘new man’ means couples have an equal share of housework and childcare.

Question 5

What are conjugal roles

Answer 5

The roles taken on by males & females in a relationship

Can be segregated or joint/integrated

Question 6

Are couples more equal? - Feri & Smith

Answer 6

Dual Burden: Women now do paid work and domestic work

Question 7

Are couples more equal? - Duncombe and Marsden

& Fran Ansley

Answer 7

Triple Shift: Women not only carry the dual burden of paid and domestic work, but also have to do the emotional work
Fran Ansley: Women are the ‘takers of shit’

Question 8

Decision making in couples [2]

Answer 8

MATERIAL EXPLANATION
Men have more power in decision making because they earn more.

CULTURAL EXPLANATION
Gender role socialisation instils the view that men are the primary decision makers.

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Question 9

Oakley - Conventional Family [2]

Answer 9

• Despite improvements for women in the workplace they are still expected to perform a number of domestic duties
• Dual Burden: Paid employment & Responsibility for childcare and housework

Question 10

A Movement towards equality? (4)

Answer 10

• Gershunny (2000) - there has been a movement towards equality but men still ‘lag’ behind on housework.
• ONS (2016) survey into unpaid labour at home suggested men do 16 hrs/week unpaid labour c.w. women’s 26 hrs/week in partnerships where both partners work.
• Female employment led to decline in unpaid work women are doing - e.g. placing children in childcare
• Food Standards Agency (2007) - Found 77% of women take responsibility for food shopping at home

Question 11

Domestic Abuse - Dobash & Dobash [2]

Answer 11

• Marriage +nuclear family is the key institution of patriarchy, and the main source of women’s oppression.
• DV is inevitable because it serves to preserve the power men have over women.

Question 12

Domestic Abuse - Wilkinson

Answer 12

The result of stress on the family caused by social inequality.

Question 13

Domestic Abuse - Fran Ansley

Answer 13

DV caused by capitalism: males workers are exploited at work and take their frustration out on their wives.

Question 14

Hidden side of domestic violence [2]

Answer 14

• 1 in 6 men victims of DV in their lifetime
• For a man to be on the receiving end of abuse -> perceived as being weak, adds to reluctance men have to come forward & speak about it.