COUPLES
1. Outline and explain two arguments for the view that family is becoming more symmetrical (10 marks)
(A) Explanation Evidence Analysis
Women in Full time and part time jobs. Women have more Gershuny (women working full Feminists argued men fail to
paid work independence/freedom from male guardians time did less domestic work than take their share of domestic
other women which lead to more tasks, leading to dual burden
Men are more likely to help with housework as equal division of labour) of the wife who has to take
women have less time to deal with domestic chores on the responsibility of
= joint conjugal roles (sharing leisure time together) domestic housework as well
as commit to her paid work.
Feminism -women are breaking away from
patriarchal values through gaining financial
freedom. This means that women do not need to rely
on a man
Women also have the freedom to get a divorce and
escape abusive marriages
Values and Younger generation are breaking away from the Gershuny (1994) found that HOWEVER, Ann Oakley 🡪
norms in traditional patriarchal views of society couples whose parents had a more this is exaggerated. She
society are equal relationship, was likely to found only 15% of men did
• More common in younger couples 🡪
changing imitate. Relationships are the housework and 25%
geographical mobility (they do not take determined by patriarchal norms childcare had a high level of
the traditional values/customs of the and values that shape the gender participation in childcare.
nuclear family with them) roles in our culture. Women and Families still have not seen
men behave the way society an equal division of labour
New technology 🡪 labour saving devices (washing expects them to do and has as men are still only
machines etc means that housework can be shared socialised them to do. minority contributing to
between the men and women) = joint housework and childcare
conjugal roles/symmetrical Young and Willmott (MOP) 🡪 roles whilst women have most of
between men and women are the responsibility,
becoming more shared and equal
, 2. Evaluate view that gender roles and relationships still unequal in society today
POINT EXPLANATION EVIDENCE EVALUATION
some feminist Duncombe and Marsden: triple shift- Anne Oakley’s study: men had 15% Bott: joint conjugal roles where
sociologists Responsibility for housework and paid participation rate in housework and 25% the roles are more equal and
argue that work and emotional work whilst husband in childcare men are participating in
gender roles focuses on career ambitions with little housework
and involvement in domestic work
relationships e.g. extended families: mum has to look Postmodernism: technological
within the after her own family plus her parents advances and labour saving
family remain which leads to a greater burden devices e.g. washing machines
unequal (dependency ratio). This is more common making it easier for them to
in SA families = UNEQUAL participate in domestic work =
EQUAL
men still Allowance system – traditional where the Hardell’s study: important decisions were Paul found increase in the
dominate in wife is given an allowance from the either taken by the man alone or jointly pooling system- joint bank
terms of power husband = UNEQUAL His career was given priority when it account where the allowance is
and financial came to moving for work joint together.
control Husband has the financial control and
ultimately in charge of making decisions Financial decisions are more
Men gain more from women’s domestic equal because both are putting
work (money is used for the house rather the money in
than for the woman – she is not being
rewarded for her service, whilst men can This is becoming the most
spend on whatever they like) common system in PM society
(Feminism and women being in
the work force) showing gender
roles are becoming more equal
men now take Young and Wilmott’s march of progress Elizabeth Bott argues that couples are Anne Oakley – this is
on a more view in which families are becoming shifting from more segregated conjugal exaggerated. Men helping
domestic role more symmetrical: gender roles are roles (separated domestic and leisure women does not provide
becoming more similar time) to more joint conjugal roles in symmetry as domestic and
= EQUAL which they share domestic tasks and childcare is still on women =
leisure time. UNEQUAL
This is due to social changes such as
technological advancements which
created labour saving devices to help men
take part in domestic chores.
Domestic Radical feminists argue that the family is Dobash and Dobash’s study found that Elliot rejects this radical view
violence a key institution of patriarchal society and violent incidents between men and that all men benefit from
legitimises male oppression over women women could be set off by women violence against women as not
in the form of domestic violence challenging the authority of their husband all are aggressive and most are
(physical, sexual, financial and (such as if she asked him why he came opposed to domestic violence.
emotional). They argue that male home late). They argued that marriage
domination of women through domestic legitimises gender inequality and violence
violence is a way of men ensuring that the by granting power and authority to the
women adhere to their gender roles to husband.
which they were socialised into: to remain
obedient and take care of the house and
children.
1. Outline and explain two arguments for the view that family is becoming more symmetrical (10 marks)
(A) Explanation Evidence Analysis
Women in Full time and part time jobs. Women have more Gershuny (women working full Feminists argued men fail to
paid work independence/freedom from male guardians time did less domestic work than take their share of domestic
other women which lead to more tasks, leading to dual burden
Men are more likely to help with housework as equal division of labour) of the wife who has to take
women have less time to deal with domestic chores on the responsibility of
= joint conjugal roles (sharing leisure time together) domestic housework as well
as commit to her paid work.
Feminism -women are breaking away from
patriarchal values through gaining financial
freedom. This means that women do not need to rely
on a man
Women also have the freedom to get a divorce and
escape abusive marriages
Values and Younger generation are breaking away from the Gershuny (1994) found that HOWEVER, Ann Oakley 🡪
norms in traditional patriarchal views of society couples whose parents had a more this is exaggerated. She
society are equal relationship, was likely to found only 15% of men did
• More common in younger couples 🡪
changing imitate. Relationships are the housework and 25%
geographical mobility (they do not take determined by patriarchal norms childcare had a high level of
the traditional values/customs of the and values that shape the gender participation in childcare.
nuclear family with them) roles in our culture. Women and Families still have not seen
men behave the way society an equal division of labour
New technology 🡪 labour saving devices (washing expects them to do and has as men are still only
machines etc means that housework can be shared socialised them to do. minority contributing to
between the men and women) = joint housework and childcare
conjugal roles/symmetrical Young and Willmott (MOP) 🡪 roles whilst women have most of
between men and women are the responsibility,
becoming more shared and equal
, 2. Evaluate view that gender roles and relationships still unequal in society today
POINT EXPLANATION EVIDENCE EVALUATION
some feminist Duncombe and Marsden: triple shift- Anne Oakley’s study: men had 15% Bott: joint conjugal roles where
sociologists Responsibility for housework and paid participation rate in housework and 25% the roles are more equal and
argue that work and emotional work whilst husband in childcare men are participating in
gender roles focuses on career ambitions with little housework
and involvement in domestic work
relationships e.g. extended families: mum has to look Postmodernism: technological
within the after her own family plus her parents advances and labour saving
family remain which leads to a greater burden devices e.g. washing machines
unequal (dependency ratio). This is more common making it easier for them to
in SA families = UNEQUAL participate in domestic work =
EQUAL
men still Allowance system – traditional where the Hardell’s study: important decisions were Paul found increase in the
dominate in wife is given an allowance from the either taken by the man alone or jointly pooling system- joint bank
terms of power husband = UNEQUAL His career was given priority when it account where the allowance is
and financial came to moving for work joint together.
control Husband has the financial control and
ultimately in charge of making decisions Financial decisions are more
Men gain more from women’s domestic equal because both are putting
work (money is used for the house rather the money in
than for the woman – she is not being
rewarded for her service, whilst men can This is becoming the most
spend on whatever they like) common system in PM society
(Feminism and women being in
the work force) showing gender
roles are becoming more equal
men now take Young and Wilmott’s march of progress Elizabeth Bott argues that couples are Anne Oakley – this is
on a more view in which families are becoming shifting from more segregated conjugal exaggerated. Men helping
domestic role more symmetrical: gender roles are roles (separated domestic and leisure women does not provide
becoming more similar time) to more joint conjugal roles in symmetry as domestic and
= EQUAL which they share domestic tasks and childcare is still on women =
leisure time. UNEQUAL
This is due to social changes such as
technological advancements which
created labour saving devices to help men
take part in domestic chores.
Domestic Radical feminists argue that the family is Dobash and Dobash’s study found that Elliot rejects this radical view
violence a key institution of patriarchal society and violent incidents between men and that all men benefit from
legitimises male oppression over women women could be set off by women violence against women as not
in the form of domestic violence challenging the authority of their husband all are aggressive and most are
(physical, sexual, financial and (such as if she asked him why he came opposed to domestic violence.
emotional). They argue that male home late). They argued that marriage
domination of women through domestic legitimises gender inequality and violence
violence is a way of men ensuring that the by granting power and authority to the
women adhere to their gender roles to husband.
which they were socialised into: to remain
obedient and take care of the house and
children.
