2 Examine critically the contribution of labelling theory to our understanding of deviance.

‘The New Man’ is said to have integrated conjugal roles when it comes to housework. However evidence shows that there are still clearly inequalities in the division of labour in the household. According to the British Social Attitudes survey (1992) most women still do the majority of household tasks even when they are in employment themselves. According to the Office for National Statistics (online 2003) women spend on average three hours a day on housework compared with the one hour forty minutes spent by men. Ann Oakley (1974) is totally unconvinced by Young and Willmott’s evidence for ‘jointness’ in the symmetrical family. As Oakley points out, the seventy-two per cent of men that claimed to help their partners out in some way could have meant anything by ‘help’. Such as tucking the children into bed or vacuuming occasionally and it is hardly evidence for equality in marriage. Rapoport and Rapoport’s (1976) study of professional and business couples, found that although in full time demanding careers wives were still responsible for dealing with sick children, childcare and housework and primarily treated as housewives/mothers at home, this research was carried out on the group that Young and Willmott argued would be the most likely to display results that supported the idea that symmetry in marriage was prevalent.

The unequal distribution of power and authority in marriage and cohabiting relationships again criticises the view that domestic life is becoming a partnership of equals. Most decisions that are seen by couples as very important, such as moving house, have the final decision made by men. Some important decisions may be taken jointly, very few are made by women alone. Egdall, in middle class couples (1980) discovered that women only made decisions that were seen as relatively unimportant such as, what colour to decorate the house, where to go shopping and how to dress the children. This was later backed up by a survey conducted by a well known financial service in June 2000. This survey highlighted that, only in 53 per cent of cases would a decision be made jointly on major spending over one thousand pound. Only one in ten important financial decisions were made by women and the men clearly still hold on to the control of finances. More often than not women are put in a position of economic dependence as the man is often the only or majority earner. There are many relationships where the man uses his power to get what they want. This is more commonly known as domestic violence, it is estimated that one in four women will suffer some form of domestic violence at some point in their life. Domestic violence is more often than not dismissed by the legal system and it is almost seen as a ‘normal’ part of a relationship. Domestic violence is not always just physical abuse, it comes in many forms such as emotional and financial. However in recent years there has been a rise in the amount of men whom have been the victims of domestic violence, the figures are estimated to be much higher than the national statistics because not all victims come forward and report the abuse.

When it comes to the emotional side of family life there is little evidence to support ‘The New Man’ taking on this important part of family life. Duncombe and Marsden (1995) found that men were not putting in the emotional work to keep their family together. Women were very much the partner to put in all the emotional effort to keep their relationship going strong. This was very much the same when it came to their children, women seemed a lot more involved when it comes to the emotional side of parenting. This goes against the view that the ‘new man’ has an interest in developing his fathering skills.

Women are believed to do the ‘triple shift’ this means that they have three jobs, paid work, domestic labour and childcare. In comparison to the one job there partner has. Having all of these domestic responsibilities is according to BBC News (Online 2010) holding women back in their careers. Because women are normally expected to take responsibility for childcare this limits them in the jobs which they are able to do. Even when both partners have relatively successful careers, if a child is sick the woman is still the one expected to take time out of work. Having this domestic burden means that women have to sometimes take part time jobs, less pay and less chance of promotion therefore reinforcing the mans superior status in the economy and authority in the family.

Because of the certain factors that influence the society that we live in today, it has been shown that ‘The New Man’ does exist. However not in the large numbers that Young and Willmott suggest. The emergence of the symmetrical family has bought with it shared responsibility. As traditional heavy industries and manufacturing jobs, which were once the domain of men, have declined. They have been replaced with jobs that have promoted more equality, such as the leisure industry and telesales. This has made it easier for women to support their families and have careers meaning men have more of a chance to share domestic duties. However the research on the conjugal role is unrepresentative of the population. Much of the research has been taken out on a very small number of couples in selected areas therefore the research cannot be said to reflect the whole of society. Much of the criticism levelled at the idea of shared conjugal roles and “The New Man” was offered by feminists, whose view is obviously bias towards men in general.

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