Domestic Labour Debate

• What is the focus of Lesson 1 in the study material?

  Domestic division of labour and gender roles
• What does Parsons argue about the roles of husbands and wives in a traditional nuclear family?

  They have segregated and distinct roles
• What is the instrumental role according to Parsons?

  The husband as the breadwinner
• What is the expressive role according to Parsons?

  The wife as the housewife
• What does Parsons claim about the division of labour?

  It is based on biological differences
• What does Bott distinguish between in conjugal roles?

  Segregated and joint conjugal roles
• What are segregated conjugal roles?

  Separate roles for male and female
• What are joint conjugal roles?

  Shared tasks and leisure time
• What did Young and Willmott argue about the nuclear family in the 1970s?

  It was becoming more symmetrical
• What does egalitarian mean in the context of family roles?

  All people are equal in rights
• What did Young and Willmott claim about the division of labour?

  It was no longer based on gender
• What is Ann Oakley's criticism of Willmott and Young's study?

  It oversimplifies joint conjugal roles
• What does the term 'symmetrical family' refer to?

  Couples sharing domestic tasks equally
• What factors contribute to the emergence of symmetrical families?

  Changes in women's position and technology
• What criticism is made about the symmetrical family theory?

  It neglects emotional and mental labour
• What do feminists argue about the division of domestic labour?

  It remains unequal despite claims of symmetry
• What did Mary Boulton argue about men's involvement in childcare?

  Men's involvement is exaggerated
• What did Warde and Hetherington find about sex-typing of domestic tasks?

  It was still strong in the 1990s
• What is the impact of paid work on domestic equality?

  It may lead to a dual burden for women
• What did Knudsen and Waerness find in their study of housework?

  Women do more housework than men
• What did Lader et al. find in their 'Time Use Survey'?

  Women spend more time on housework
• What is the 'triple shift' as identified by Duncombe and Marsden?

  Paid work, domestic tasks, and emotional support
• What does emotion work involve?

  Maintaining relationships through emotional support
• What does Southerton argue about mothers' responsibilities?

  Mothers coordinate family quality time
• What is a significant issue in studies of conjugal roles?

  They often ignore time pressures on women
• What are the implications of geographical mobility on family roles?

  Couples live away from their communities
• How does new technology affect domestic labour?

  It provides labour-saving devices
• What does the dual burden refer to?

  Women managing paid and domestic work
• What is the significance of emotional work in family dynamics?

  It maintains relationships and family cohesion
• How do societal changes impact family structures?

  They lead to evolving roles and responsibilities
• Why is time use important in measuring domestic roles?

  It indicates time spent on tasks by gender
• What critique is made about the 'new man' concept in modern families?

  It may not reflect true equality in roles
• Who is primarily responsible for emotional work in relationships?

  Women
• What did Duncombe & Marsden (1995) identify as part of a woman's role?

  Emotional work
• What is the 'triple burden' faced by women?

  • Paid employment
  • Domestic activities
  • Emotional support role
• How many couples did Duncombe & Marsden interview?

  40 couples
• What did most women complain about regarding men in relationships?

  Men's emotional distance
• What role do women often take on regarding family time?

  Coordinating and managing quality time
• What does Southerton (2011) argue about family life?

  It has become de-routinised
• What do studies of conjugal roles often overlook?

  Being pushed for time