functionalist explanations of gender inequality
- Created by: livviemann
- Created on: 07-04-15 12:18
View mindmap
- Functionalist explanations of gender inequality
- Gender roles in families are different and not unequal
- Parsons argues women are more suited to the expressive role of caring and nurturing, whilst men are suited to the instrumental role of the breadwinenr
- Murdock supports this view aruging one of the 4 functions of the family is to educate children into accepted norms + values including their gender roles
- Human Capital Theory
- Some economists argue men have more human capital than women as far as work is concerned
- Men have more commitment to work, more experience and undertake more training
- Therefore it can't be a surprise that they get paid less- they have less training and less chance of promotion
- Dual Labour Market- Barron and Norris
- 2 main labour market
- Primary- jobs are secure and there are good working conditions
- Secondary- characterised by lower paid jobs with less security that are often part time or temporary
- Women are more likely to be employed in the secondary labour market because employers are less interested in women than men
- Criticised by Burchell and Rubery 1994- argue division between primary and secondary labour markets is too simplistic. Their research revealed at least 5 divisions that weren't all gendered
- 2 main labour market
- Hakim 2004
- Argues there have been improvements in opporunities for women
- Preference theory
- Women can choose to have a career, look after children or a combination of the two
- They can make a rational choice and exercise a preference
- Preference theory
- Argues there have been improvements in opporunities for women
- Parsons argues the family have two functions
- Socialising children
- Stabilisation of the adullt personality
Similar Sociology resources:
Teacher recommended
Teacher recommended
Comments
No comments have yet been made