Domestic Divison of Labour

• What is the domestic division of labour?

  The roles that men and women play in relation to housework, childcare, and paid work
• What is a non-symmetrical family?

  A family where roles are not equally shared between partners
• What is a symmetrical family?

  A family where marital roles of husbands and wives are similar, though not identical
• What did Parsons (1955) believe about segregated conjugal roles?

  He believed they are found in traditional nuclear families with distinct roles for husbands and wives
• What is the instrumental role in a family according to Parsons?


  The role where men act as the financial breadwinner
• What is the expressive role in a family according to Parsons?

  The role where women act as homemakers and carers
• What reason does Parsons give for segregated conjugal roles in nuclear families?

  He claims women are biologically suited to nurturing roles and men as providers
• What is the 'march of progress' view regarding domestic division of labour?


  It suggests there is a move towards equality in the domestic division of labour
• What did Sullivan (2000) find regarding joint conjugal roles?

  He found evidence of an increase in couples with joint conjugal roles
• What are some reasons Sullivan suggested for the new symmetry in domestic roles?

  Increase in women working, commercialisation of housework, and shifting social attitudes
• What did the British Social Attitudes Survey (2013) reveal about gender roles?

  It showed a significant decline in traditional views on gender roles from 1984 to 2012
• What did Young and Willmott (1973) suggest about family structures?

  They suggested evidence of a move towards symmetrical families with joint conjugal roles
• What reasons did Young and Willmott provide for the symmetry in families?

  Greater affluence and geographical mobility
• What do feminists believe about family relationships?

  They believe family relationships are unequal and socially constructed
• What percentage of husbands participate in housework according to Oakley (1974)?

  Only 15% of husbands have a high level of participation in housework
• How do men typically participate in childcare according to Oakley?

  Men may help with pleasurable aspects but rarely take full responsibility
• What did Braun et al (2011) find regarding fathers' roles in childcare?

  In only 3 out of 70 families was the father the main carer
• What is the dual burden as described in the study material?

  It refers to women doing both paid work and unpaid domestic labour
• What is the triple shift in the context of women's roles?

  It includes paid work, domestic work, and emotional work
• What new responsibility do women manage as both partners work according to Southerton (2011)?


  Family 'quality time'
• What are cultural/ideological explanations for the lack of symmetry in domestic roles?

  Patriarchy and gender scripts that dictate traditional roles
• What evidence suggests change in domestic roles among younger generations?

  Younger men do more domestic work than their fathers, and younger women do less than their mothers
• What is the material/economic explanation for women's domestic roles?

  Women generally earn less, making it economically rational for them to do more domestic work
• What did Kan (2001) find regarding women's earnings and housework?

  For every £10,000 a year more a woman earns, she does 2 hours less housework a week
• What social class differences exist in the division of labour?

  Middle class women do less housework due to the ability to buy help, unlike working class families
• How do lesbian couples differ in their domestic roles compared to heterosexual couples?

  Lesbian couples tend to have more symmetry in their relationships
• What issues arise from time-use surveys in studying domestic roles?

  Women often underestimate and men overestimate their time spent on domestic tasks
• What conclusion can be drawn about gender equality in domestic roles?

  Despite moves towards greater equality, patriarchy still oppresses women
• How does economic factors influence the domestic division of labour?

  Economic factors such as paid work significantly affect the domestic division of labour
• What happens in same-sex relationships regarding domestic work?

  When one partner does more paid work, the time spent on domestic work is likely to be unequal