Examine the problems faced by sociologists when trying to measure how far modern conjugal roles are egalitarian.

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 [28.2.2012]

Examine the problems faced by sociologists when trying to measure how far modern conjugal roles are egalitarian.

Many sociologists have researched and have done studies on the domestic division of labour; the separation of the household labour and childcare. They have looked at many aspects of equality to find out how equal modern conjugal roles have become. These aspects include household chores, childcare, decisions, finance and emotional work.

Parsons (1955) explains the traditional nuclear families roles as husbands and wives and argues that the husband has the instrumental role of being the breadwinner, earning for the household. He says that the wife has the expressive role which is more of the nurturer aiming to attend to the family’s emotional needs and housework. Parsons claims this division is natural and that women and men are both biologically suited to each of their roles.

Young and Wilmott (1962) criticize this view and take an optimistic view to it. They say this study is very out-dated and the division of labour has become somewhat more symmetrical as men are doing more household jobs and women are doing more men’s jobs. Feminists also disagree with this view as they say encouraging gender roles leads to inequality in the family, which could also lead to domestic violence. They also say that the ‘natural’ and biological aspect of it doesn’t that they’re unequal and by all means, doesn’t insinuate that men can’t do housework and women earn for the family.

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There are two types of conjugal roles which Elizabeth Bott (1957) distinguishes between. One being segregated conjugal roles which are when the couple have separate roles as Parsons suggest; the man being the bread winner and the woman being the nurturer, their leisure time is also separate, like their roles in the family. Joint conjugal roles are when the husband and wife have the same roles and share their domestic tasks. They also share their leisure time. Sociologists have been looking at how conjugal roles are becoming more towards joint conjugal roles.

A study which Young and Wilmott looked ...

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