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Couples are more equal today - Coggle Diagram
Couples are more equal today
British Social Attitudes Survey
asked people whether they though it was the man's job to make money and then the women's job to look after home and family
1984 - 45% of men agreed, 41% of women agreed
2012 - 13% men agreed, 12% women agreed
division of roles less prevalent (or at least opinion on it are)
Criticism:
shows attitudes but not really about housework done
may not want to say something controversial, nay saying
Liberal feminists
believe women have made real progress in terms of equality within the family
men are doing more domestic work and socialisation of children is less gender with parents less likely to have sterotypical aspirations for them based on gender
Laws:
Equal pay act 1970
Equality act 2010
Shared parental leave 2015
Silver (1987) - the commericalisation of housework
2 major economic developments reducing burden of housework on women:
1) housework has become 'commercalised'
2) women working means they can afford to buy these goods and services
Criticism:
often housework done by migrant women, lack of gender equality
using a dishwasher (e.g.) does not show equality, woman may still be the one leading it even if less time taken
The march of progress view - Oriel Sullivan
over 40 years female domestic labour has gradually been reduced
1975, womens share of domestic work was 68% (full time), 80% (part time), 82% (unemployed)
1987, 62% (full time), 70% (part time), 73% (unemployed)
1997, 60% (full time), 69% (part time), 73% (unemployed)
Gershuny (1994) - the trend towards equality
claims that women working full time is leading to a more equal division of labour in the home
wives who did not work did 73% of housework (1997)
wives who worked full time still did majority, but the longer employed the more housework the husband did, more equal division of labour, 60% (1997)
The symmetrical family - Young and Willmott
March of progress:
they take the view that family life is gradually improving for all its members, becoming more equal and democratic
long-term trend away from segregated conjugal roles
trend towards joint-conjugal roles and the 'symmetrical family'
More likely to be symmetrical:
younger couples
those geographically and socially isolated
the more affulent
Changes that may have led to the symmetrical family:
womens changing position (women in work so more equal for paid labour, no longer spending all day at home)
geographical mobility (more couples living away from communities they grew up, less social pressure)
technology (labour saving devices, can communicate more easily)
higher standards of living (couples can afford labour saving derives & nannies / maids, also better health so less to deal with)