Gender Roles & Power Relationships

• Define Domestic Division of Labour

  The roles that men and women play in relation to housework, childcare and paid work.
• What does Pahl say about how the domestic division of labour has changed

  'Housework' is a relatively modern invention created during the industrial revolution when men became increasingly involved in production, while women would do the housework
• What does Parsons say about the domestic division of labour?

  Men= Instrumental role (breadwinner, financial support)

  Women= Expressive role (primary socialisation, emotional needs)

  
  

  - Division of labour is biologically determined

  - Women 'naturally' suited to the nurturing role

  - Division of labour is beneficial to men & women
• Who came up with the idea of conjugal roles?

  Elizabeth Bott
• Segregated conjugal roles (Bott)


  Husband and wife perform different tasks and have a number of separate interests and activities.
• Joint conjugal roles (Bott)


  The couple share tasks and roles such as housework and childcare and spend leisure time together
• What do Willmott & Young believe about the family?

  'March of progress' view

  - family is gradually improving for all its members

  - joint conjugal roles= more common
• Symmetrical Family (Willmott & Young)

  Roles of husbands & wives are much more similar and spend leisure time together
• What evidence is their to support the Symmetrical family?

  Willmott & Young studied families in London

  - Found symmetrical families were more common amongst younger couples & more affluent
• 5 reasons for rise in symmetrical families

  1. Changes in women's position in society

  2. More women working

  3. Geographical mobility

  4. New technologies & labour saving devices

  5. Higher standards of living
• 6 causes of growing equality in families

  1. Improved standards of living

  2. Greater geographical mobility

  3. Improved status & rights of women

  4. Increased women in paid employment

  5. Commercialisation of housework

  6. Weaker gender identities
• What does Oakley (feminist) argue about the domestic division of labour

  - Rejects the 'march of progress' view

  - Men & Women remain unequal- women do most of the housework

  - Fun tend to do the more 'fun' household tasks
• What are the + impacts of paid work on the family

  + Dual income= better quality of life

  + Women can pursue their career dreams

  + Women more independent

  + Positive role models for children
• What are the - impacts of paid work on the family

  - Time taken away from childcare

  - Stresses from workplace can cause unnecessary conflict between couples
• How many women are in paid employment in the UK

  3/4 of married or cohabitating women are in paid employment in the UK
• What does Man-Yee Kan say about the impact of paid employment on families

  For every £10,000 increase in salary there is a 2hr decrease in housework
• What does Gershuny argue about the impact of paid work on families?

  Negative impact- Dual burden & triple shift

  - No work: 83% of housework

  - Part time: 82%

  - Full time: 73%

  
  

  BUT- gradual increase in equality due to shift in norms around paid work
• What does Crompton argue about the impact of paid work?

  - The trend towards equality is linked to earning power (money) rather than changing norms and values

  
  

  - until we have truly equal pay then the division of labour will remain unequal