The Domestic Division of Labour
Willmott and Young vs Ann Oakley
Willmott and Young (1973)
They argued from a Functionalist perspective,
They claim that the nuclear family has gradually become more symmetrical,
In the 1950s Y&W did some research in Bethnal Green – they found that families were extended.
Later in the 1970s they did some further research and found that family structure had changed dramatically – nuclear, isolated, self-supporting.
Y&W believed these changes had occurred because of industrialisation
1950s extended family
Characterised by a clear division of labour along gender lines,
Men went out to work and socialised outside of the home,
Women looked after the home and cared for children,
Call on other family members – grandparents, uncles, aunts etc for support – advice, emotional, childcare, money.
1970s isolated, nuclear family
Characterised by shared conjugal roles (symmetrical),
Man and woman work but social and leisure activities take place at home in nuclear family unit,
Man and woman have equal responsibility for all main household duties including childcare,
There is less contact with wider extended family and contact is social rather than obligatory.
Ann Oakley (1974)
She argued from a radical feminist perspective,
Challenged virtually all Y&W research,
She believes that women end up taking responsibility for all aspects of household care whatever type of family they live in,
In nuclear family roles are NOT symmetrical,
Women may now work (although typically in part-time, lower paid jobs), but still have to do the housework and childcare in addition to this,
This has become known as the double burden or triple shift.
So, who is right?
You will now be doing some tasks designed to help you make your mind up,
As you do the tasks think about how you might apply these ideas to an exam question.
Explain the term symmetrical family (2 marks)
Suggest 3 ways in which it can be argued that family roles have become more symmetrical in the last 30 years (6 marks)
Outline how feminists argue that the family is not symmetrical (12 marks)
Assess the view that despite improvements in women’s position in society their role within the family remains largely unchanged since the 1950s (24 marks)