family- couples and childhood

The roles that men and women play in relation to housework, children and paid work

Traditional nuclear family, separate and distinct roles. This division of labour is based on biological differences, and it benefits both men and women, children and society. (new right)

husband has an instrumental role so he can provide for the family. They are the breadwinner where as the wife has the expressive role so supports primary socialisation meeting emotional needs of homemaker and housewife.

Young and Willmott - traditional segregated division of labour is breaking down. Men are taking on a greater share of domestic tasks and more wiser, becoming wage earners., Feminist - the division of labour isn’t natural. they argue it only benefits men. as mean are breadwinner they make financial decisions which makes an unbalance

the separation of roles within the household based on the individual's gender

says there are two types of conjugal roles. Segregated conjugal roles and integrated/joint conjugal roles.

Couples have separate roles. A male breadwinner and a female homemaker as in persons model. The leisure activities also tend to be separated.

couples share tasks such as homework and childcare. If this happens, they are more likely to do larger things together as well.

The roles of husbands and wives, and now more similar

Family life is gradually improving for all the members as it’s becoming more equal and Democratic. Families are moving towards joint conjugal roles and symmetrical families. Women now work, even if this is just part time and men help with housework and childcare. Also family is more homes centred and leisure time is spent together.

The changes in women’s position - meaning they can go to work and earn their own wages or so they have a choice on marriage, Highest standards of living - because of this, it means that majority of families need to wages coming into the family to be able to support their family

Oakley - some evidence of men helping in the home, but not to the extent of symmetry. Only 15% has high levels of participation in housework and only 25% with children., Boulton - fewer than 20% of husbands, took a majority role of childcare

Oakley

Instead of a march of progress, the housewife role has become more dominant. industrialisation in the 19th century so separation of paid work from home. Women were gradually excluded from the workplace and confound to their home with the responsibility of housework and childcare. This made them financially dependent on men.

Cohabitating lesbian couples

Lesbian couples/families are more likely to describe the relationship as equal as characterised, traditional roles of domestic division do not appear within the lesbian couples relationship/family

Generally, the individual that brings in the biggest amount of money will have more power over someone who does not bring in as much money or if any. As money gives people choice and power.

Sclater - some behaviours like punching kicking are easy ways that we can recognise violence, but threats that are verbal abuse or psychological manipulation and sexual intimidation are harder

Research shows that violence by men against women accounts for 1/3 of all reported crimes, Stanko 2000- one incident is reported every minute to the police, Mirrlees-Black - 1/4 women have been assaulted by a partner at sometime in her life, and 1/8 repeatedly

Violence occurs against women when husband feels authority is challenged. Marriage legitimises violence against women as it gives authority and financial control to the man.

Elliot - rejects the idea that all men benefit from violence against women. Not all men are aggressive and most are strongly opposed to domestic violence., radical feminist failed to explain, feminine violence, including child, abuse and violence against male partners Mirrlees-Black found about 1/7 men had been assaulted and 1/20 had repeatedly been so

Domestic violence is the result of stress on family members caused by social inequalities. People on lower income or living in crowded accommodation are likely to experience high levels of stress. Distress might spill over into domestic conflict.

it shows how people with less money status, power and wealth are more likely to experience domestic violence, but it does not explain why women are always the victim

childhood is created and defined by a society. They argued that what people mean by childhood is not fixed and changes between different times cultures and places.

The most important feature of modern idea of childhood is the separateness. Childhood is seen as a clear, distinctive life stage and children in our society occupy a separate status to adults.

says that an adult and a child are different and separate, but a 12-year-old child, and a two-year-old child are given the same status, but are different

James and Prout- view of children based on the assumption of their mental and physical immaturity

argues that children in simpler in non industrial societies are generally treated differently from western countries

he studied children take on responsibilities at a younger age if they think they can do it. there parents will let them do this as well

agues that the idea of childhood in the Middle Ages did not exist and children do not be been as having a different nature. E.g children were seen as mine adults with the same rights, duties and skills. They faced the same punishments and they dressed the same., Modern cult of childhood” However modern childhood has appeared since the 13 century, schools focused on educating children, changing between adult and children clothing, also had books on how to raise their children. The work is obsessed with childhood . The 20 century is the century of childhood.

March of progress, child centredness, adult and child conflict and inequality - laws

Aries believe that children in today’s society • Are more valued • Are more protected • Are better educated • Are healthier • Have far more rights

On average you will cost your parents £227,000 by the time you reach your 21st birthday • Because of pester power • Child growing also if you are at school still depending on parents, and have to equip them for education, uniform pens • Shops aim children to get parents to pay for items • Why it makes childhood better - gives an element of freedom because of support, by them being costly they will have less children so they will be closer and spend time with children

The introduction of compulsory schooling, Laws restricting child labour and excluding children from paid work., Child protection and welfare legislation

The 1889 prevention of Cruelty to Children act. Also the 1989 children act and welfare of the children fundamental principles underpinning the work of things like social workers

Gave the poor education for free and the raising of the schools leaving age has extended this period of dependency

From being economic assess children have now become economic liabilities to parents

disappearece of childhood, childhood in postmodernity, toxic childhood

Postman

he thinks that childhood is disappearing, he thinks that the shift from print culture (written words) to television culture has been the cause of change.

Children lacked literacy skills so they couldn’t explore adult matters and material such as • Sex • Money • Violence • Illness • Death

• Adult authority is weakened • Boundaries between adults and children are blurred • Information available to adults and children alike

Palmer