What is a conjugal role? Parsons - Instrumental/expressive roles
He claimed in the traditional nuclear family that the husband has an ‘instrumental
Conjugal roles within a marriage are kept by either the husband or the wife. Two types
role’ essentially providing for family; a breadwinner doing well at work.
of conjugal roles include:
The wife has an ‘expressive role’ geared towards primary socialisation of children &
- Segregated meeting family’s emotional needs. She’s home-maker, a full-time housewife rather than
Couples have separate roles (a male breadwinner and a female a wage earner.
homemaker and carer) & leisure activities which also tend to be separate.
Parsons argues these roles are naturally suited for women as
nurturing role, and for men a provider. Dark side
- Joint
Couples share tasks such as of the
housework & childcare and spend These roles are beneficial to men, family…
their leisure time together. women & children to wider society.
Symmetrical
family & division - Warm bath theory
of labour Parson’s theory for the purpose of the family -
The family (particularly the wife), acts as a
- Willmott & Young (1973) ‘safety valve’ or a ‘warm bath’ for the father
They take a ‘march of progress’ view - See life as predominantly working for the family as a way
gradually improving for all members, more equal and for him to release his stress from a long day of work. So
democratic. Family - that he will go to work the next day as a level-headed,
Conjugal Roles good worker. Contributing to the system.
They argue there has been a long-term trend away from segregated However, women work now so they aren’t necessarily filling
conjugal roles and towards joint conjugal roles - we now have the in the ‘expressive’ role as effectively.
‘symmetrical family’ We have family diversity now so this isn’t as relevant today.
Not all families engage in this ‘warm
- Symmetrical family bath’ idea.
Role of husbands and wives in the family
are very similar; equal.
Division of
labour, decision What has caused roles to become more Why may roles still not be
making & equal? equal
money:
- Changes in social attitudes - Women are still more likely to take
Increasingly in society, it is - Changes in gender socialisation. maternity leave and take responsibility
believed that domestic division of - Changes in laws regarding women’s rights. for children as paternity leave (for men)
labour has become more equal. - More women are in education/jobs. only lasts 3 days-2 weeks.
- Changing expectations in couples (couples - Still more likely to work part time as
expect equality, e.g. men to be involved in they earn less than men on avg.
childcare. - Childcare is still viewed as ‘women’s
work’ as they are better at it. Men still
just ‘help out’.
- Men still have the expectation that
wives will care for them.
He claimed in the traditional nuclear family that the husband has an ‘instrumental
Conjugal roles within a marriage are kept by either the husband or the wife. Two types
role’ essentially providing for family; a breadwinner doing well at work.
of conjugal roles include:
The wife has an ‘expressive role’ geared towards primary socialisation of children &
- Segregated meeting family’s emotional needs. She’s home-maker, a full-time housewife rather than
Couples have separate roles (a male breadwinner and a female a wage earner.
homemaker and carer) & leisure activities which also tend to be separate.
Parsons argues these roles are naturally suited for women as
nurturing role, and for men a provider. Dark side
- Joint
Couples share tasks such as of the
housework & childcare and spend These roles are beneficial to men, family…
their leisure time together. women & children to wider society.
Symmetrical
family & division - Warm bath theory
of labour Parson’s theory for the purpose of the family -
The family (particularly the wife), acts as a
- Willmott & Young (1973) ‘safety valve’ or a ‘warm bath’ for the father
They take a ‘march of progress’ view - See life as predominantly working for the family as a way
gradually improving for all members, more equal and for him to release his stress from a long day of work. So
democratic. Family - that he will go to work the next day as a level-headed,
Conjugal Roles good worker. Contributing to the system.
They argue there has been a long-term trend away from segregated However, women work now so they aren’t necessarily filling
conjugal roles and towards joint conjugal roles - we now have the in the ‘expressive’ role as effectively.
‘symmetrical family’ We have family diversity now so this isn’t as relevant today.
Not all families engage in this ‘warm
- Symmetrical family bath’ idea.
Role of husbands and wives in the family
are very similar; equal.
Division of
labour, decision What has caused roles to become more Why may roles still not be
making & equal? equal
money:
- Changes in social attitudes - Women are still more likely to take
Increasingly in society, it is - Changes in gender socialisation. maternity leave and take responsibility
believed that domestic division of - Changes in laws regarding women’s rights. for children as paternity leave (for men)
labour has become more equal. - More women are in education/jobs. only lasts 3 days-2 weeks.
- Changing expectations in couples (couples - Still more likely to work part time as
expect equality, e.g. men to be involved in they earn less than men on avg.
childcare. - Childcare is still viewed as ‘women’s
work’ as they are better at it. Men still
just ‘help out’.
- Men still have the expectation that
wives will care for them.
