Conjugal Roles

• The term conjugal role is used to describe the roles of husbands and wives in households. Today, this would extend to unmarried partners too. Alcott Parsons described the classic division of roles, with men being instrumental leaders (the “breadwinner”, head of the household and in charge of discipline) and women being expressive leaders (emotional support, nurturing and caring and domestic duties).
• Parsons thought men and women were naturally suited to these roles
• Elizabeth Bott (1957) described two approaches to conjugal roles:

  • Segregated conjugal roles: Men and women had distinct roles and responsibilities (similar to Parsons).
  • Joint conjugal roles: Less segregation; decisions are taken together, some leisure time is spent together and men may do some domestic chores/ women to some paid work (the latter was not the norm in the 1950s).