The March of Progress

• Who proposed the "March of Progress" theory?

  Wilmott and Young
• What does the "March of Progress" theory focus on?

  Society's development and modernization over time
• How many stages of family development did Wilmott and Young establish?

  Four stages
• What characterizes Stage One of family development?

  The family works as a unit of economic production
• In Stage One, what is the relationship between work and home?

  There is no separation between work and home
• What happens in Stage Two of family development?

  Families move into towns and cities, separating work and home
• What role do women perform in Stage Two?

  Women perform a domestic role
• How do kinship networks change in Stage Two?

  Kinship networks remain important despite family breakdown
• What social activity do men engage in during Stage Two?

  Men spend time in the pub
• What defines Stage Three of family development?

  The modern nuclear family has less gender segregation
• How does the family unit change in Stage Three?

  It becomes a unit of consumption rather than production
• What is a characteristic of families in Stage Three regarding children?

  Children remain dependent rather than financial assets
• How do family dynamics change in Stage Three?

  Families spend more time together with joint conjugal roles
• What does Stage Four suggest about family dynamics?

  Men spend leisure time outside the home
• What did Wilmott & Young concede about Stage Four?

  It did not really occur
• What is stratified diffusion according to Wilmott and Young?

  Cultural changes begin among higher social status groups
• What evidence did Wilmott and Young see regarding stratified diffusion?

  Rich families becoming asymmetrical
• What criticism do some sociologists have about the "March of Progress" theory?

  It implies family development is inherently better
• What do feminists argue about the "symmetrical family"?

  It is a myth
• How is the modern nuclear family often portrayed?

  In an idealistic way
• What does the idealistic portrayal of the nuclear family contradict?

  Many people's experiences of family life