Willmott and Young

• What do Willmott and Young say about the Symmetrical Family (1973)

  .said the family evolved into a ’symmetrical family’-based on extensive research,interviewing working class families,found relationships became more equal and called it a march or progress towards gender equality
• What are the key features off the symmetrical family

  .In 72% of household men contributed to housework

  .husband and wife increasingly shared responsibilities for decision making and discussed household finance and childs education
• Why have the changes to the family to a symmetrical family happened

  1.Increased employment opportunities for women-women also become breadwinners

  2.Increased geographical mobility-sever ties with extending families and strengthen bond between couples

  3.Reduction in number of children-more opportunity for women to work

  4.Dual-earner families-living standards rose
• What do Willmott and Young say about family now

  .its symmetrical

  .argued that the family has adapted and changed over time
• How did Willmott and Youngs find their information

  .extensive research

  .interviewed working class families

  .first interviewed in 1950s in Benthal Greens where there was more traditional gender roles and again in 1970s in another part of London and interviews couples and found relationships had become more equal