basically - who does what? Is it proscribed by gender, ideology?

Parsons - nuclear family; roles equal but different

Wilmott &Young - gender roles evolving towards equality, in which instrumental and expressive roles were shared

Friedan - marriage enslaves women, role of mother/housewife undervalued

Oakley - equality still not the norm

developments from 1950s study of the East End of London to the 1970s, led W&Y to believe that marriage was becoming egalitarian.

Women in paid employment, contraception, fragmentation of extended family, geographical mobility.

the symmetrical family was the result - everything was shared.

Oakley - pointed out that housework hadn't really been studied; patriarchy still dominant, women still subordinate . Housework = 'her work'.

Craig - 'partnership penalty' and 'mother penalty'

Ben-Galim & Thompson - research shows very little has actually changed

Green - concepts of leisure time

Evaluation: change IS happening

Data appears to show that men are taking more responsibility for childcare

BUT

need to consider the form this takes - women may still be working the dual burden/triple shift by multi-tasking and completing practical tasks with children whilst men play

Edgell -
Very important: ££
Important: family life
Less important: shopping

changes depending on class, employment status

women are more likely to take care of emotional support or 'work' within the family.

They may neglect their own wellbeing in favour of everyone else.

Women more likely to begin divorce proceedings; less likely to remarry.

Dunne - studied 37 lesbian couples - more egalitarian/symmetrical than traditional nuclear families...until there is a difference in income.

Carrington - studying gay & lesbian couples found tension similar to that within heterosexual households.

Biology: the sexes are 'naturally different' (Func)

Familial/patriarchal ideology: dominant thinking of 'ideal' family life; instrumental and expressive leaders (Fem/Postmod)

Ideology of mother/fatherhood: view that mothers should prioritise childcare as being best person for the job; women working outside the home seen as less important than men, women take work which is compatible with childcare

Gender socialisation: the believe what they see to be 'the way' - views set by 8 years old (think of several current TV shows which have reflected these ideas)

Relative resources: economic advantage did mean that men dominated decision making but changes in the status of women means that women have more of a role than before - there are issue with this view though, check them!

Feminism: Marxist - women serve needs of capitalism; Radical - housewife role created by the patriarchy. Eval - Feminist views can diminish female experience and range of experience possible.