Criticisms- Is modern relationships more equal?

• Inequalities in domestic division labour:

- Domestic labour- Refers to unpaid houswork and childcare= Clear inequality between gender, No pay, no pensions, no holidays and unlimited working hours

-TOFNS 1997- Time spent on unpaid work was valued at the same average pay rate in PE

-European social survey 2010- Women in PE responsible for two-thirds of total time spent on housework

- British social survey 2008- 80% of women said they "always/ usually did the laundry"

-Elston's- Professional wives expected to take major responsibility for dealing with childcare arrangments and houswork

-Oakley- Disagrees with Young& Wilmott= Unconvincing evidence for symmertry

-Boulton- Surveys exaggerates how much childcare men do

-WHO BENEFITS: RF- Problem with patriarchy, MF- Contributing to reproduction of labour power& patriarchy. Women in PE are still primarily houswives, women who have to make sacrifices

• Inequalities in power and authority:

- Decision-making: Edgell- Women have responsibility in unimportant areas

-Financial decision making: Pahl- Growing individualisation in couples- Financial independence- Men are the major earners, stronger bargaining than women

• Emotional side of family-"Triple-shift"

- Triple shift: Paid work, domestic labour and emotional work- Additional work: Functionalists- Parsons view "expressive role" now takes "instrumental" responsibilities 

- Ducombe and Marsden- Long term relationships held by together by women

-Taylor-Gooby- Public attitudes, gender equality doesn't apply at home