Marriage and Relationships, SOCIOLOGY

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Marriage relationships are increasingly more equal.

It is true that marriage relationships are becoming increasingly equal, but to an extent. Since the early 1900’s the stereotypical ‘housewife’ role has changed, dramatically. This allowed men to try out, on what would have been seen as ‘Women jobs’ such as childcare, cooking and cleaning, and also women to do some ‘Men jobs’ which were mainly ‘behind the computer’ jobs and more leisure time, women also had a say in purchases and money matters, something which would have not been possible without this experience in change of gender roles.

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Young and Wilmott were functionalist sociologists who came up with a theory that; ‘Marriage roles are becoming more equal.’ They called this the Symmetrical family, this is when the husband and wife have similar roles and share tasks and work equally. They claimed to have proven this theory by interviewing 1700 or more women and only asking them one question which was “Did you’re husband contribute to housework at all this week?”

 

 Ann Oakley criticised Young & Wilmot’s methodology as her personal views were extremely diverse to theirs. She concluded it could vary from ...

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