Changes in Family Relationships and Conjugal Roles

Changes in Family Relationships and Conjugal Roles

IGCSE Sociology

​Lesson Objectives

• ​Describe the changes in family relationships and conjugal roles

• ​Explore ideas surrounding symmetrical family debateand gender equality within the family

​How do conjugal roles change?

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​Functionalist view on Conjugal roles

​They argue that there should be a clear separation of gender roles.

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​Man - breadwinner (instrumental)

​Woman - look after home (expressive)

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​Dividing the task makes it natural and desirable.

Open Ended

How do you think functionalist react to the increasing number of working women?

Household Tasks

Some tasks are carried out by other family members.

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​- Children doing household tasks.

​- Domestic helpers to take care of household chores.

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​Men carry tasks like gardening, repairs, maintenance, etc. (manly task)

In the absence of the mother, families hire nannies to help with children and housework.

​Domestic Division of Labor

​the way in which tasks in the home (eg. cooking, cleaning, childcare) are divided between man and woman.

​Segregated Conjugal Roles

​the husband and wife have clearly different orels within the family and different interest and activities

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​Included in the study of Peter Willmott and Michael Young about Symmetrical Family

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​They argue that families (starting 1973) had become more symmetrical.

Reasons for more symmetrical families

Nuclear families became privatised (equal partnership) instead of being community based.

Reasons for more symmetrical families

Declining extended family meant that there were less pressure from other family members to conform to the norms.

Reasons for more symmetrical families

Women have a higher status in society, so men are more likely to treat them as equals and women to insist that they do.

Reasons for more symmetrical families

Women are becoming more independent leading to more equality in decision-making within the family.

Reasons for more symmetrical families

It's now easier for both men and women to choose their roles and to negotiate them with each other.

Reasons for more symmetrical families

Labout-saving devices in the home have reduced time and effort involved in some housework and make more a more attractive place to be.

​Is equality in family roles really happening?

​FEMINISTS

​As long as the family remains patriarchal it would never be equal.

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​While men will agree to help their wives more with housework and childcare, the main responsibility will stay with the woman.

​Too optimistic

​Other scholars on domestic labour have noted that Willmott and Young seem to be too optimistic about equality of gender roles.

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​- men tend to take more important decision in the family (moving house)

​- women take less important decisions (home decoration)

​Dual Burden

​women who do paid work as well as look after the home and family are said to have a dual burden...

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- the term 'triple burden' or 'triple shift is also sometimes used, adding to work and home the expressive role of looking after the emotional needs of family members

​Supermums and Superdads

​- how media portrayed parents who are able to balance their careers and household responsibilities

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY​: Worksheet (Class NOtebook)

​Who is responsible for domestic work in your family?