This document includes the theories' perspectives on conjugal roles, as well as the domestic division of labour, the impact of paid work, resources and decision making and domestic abuse, the dark side of the family.
Conjugal roles: Jobs in the marriage
- Everything has a function, family and everybody in it has a function.
- Men must fulfil the important role of being the breadwinner, providing money and
resources for the family - INSTRUMENTAL ROLE.
- Women are naturally more caregiving, fulfil the childcare responsibilities and give
children primary socialisation. Women are natural homemakers, keep the house
clean and make meals - EXPRESSIVE ROLE.
- If the mother does her job correctly she will teach the children their gender roles
(canalisation), showing the girl to be kind and how to cook. The boy must be brought
up to realise he will be the head of the household and will be the one earning the
money and providing.
AO3 CRITICISMS OF FUNCTIONALIST
- Ignore many families are dysfunctional. Feminists say women suffer domestic abuse
from men - Fran Ansley: women’s role in the family as “takers of shit”.
- Dated, today both partners are likely to work, so there is more likely to be at least
some sharing of the tasks in the household.
- No biological explanation for why women are “naturally” more suited to caregiving
and domestic roles and men more suited to paid employment.
- Ignore that women work double, they have the burden of paid employment and
doing 90% of the childcare and domestic tasks.
- Ignore that not all families are nuclear and therefore do not explain how same sex or
lone parent families would fill these roles.
, MARXIST PERSPECTIVE
Eli Zaretsky: Family exists as it benefits the capitalist class women are exploited. Men are
fed and kept healthy, so they can fulfil their roles and make the bourgeoisies more money.
Men see the family home as a place of relaxation and rest away from the harsh realities of
capitalism.
- Marxists agree with feminists that women’s conjugal roles are exploiting them.
- Women doing unpaid work in the home is supporting capitalist society.
- The fact men and women have different roles within the family is evidence of how
much power capitalism has over family.
- Women’s role in capitalism is to feed and refresh the workforce ready for work the
next day.
- The work of women means the bourgeoisie can keep wages low so they can reap
maximum profits. If workers had to pay for domestic and childcare services then
wages would have to be higher (current monthly minimum wage salary is £420 and
paying for a nanny, chef and cleaner could easily cost double monthly salary) and
there would be less profit to be made.
AO3 CRITICISMS OF MARXISM
- Dated, not all families are nuclear, cannot explain how diverse family types would
perform conjugal roles.
- Marxists see women’s exploitation as a consequence of capitalism ignoring other
causes, the patriarchy.
- Functionalists: Marxists ignore that the family performs functions which are good for
the members.
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