Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the division in labour in couples is now equal.

Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the division of labour in couples is now equal.                          (20 marks)   (My mark = 17)

It has been continuously argued about how evenly the division of labour within a family is actually spread and whether this division has in fact changed. There are functionalist sociologists who argue that it is necessary for segregated conjugal roles, where as the 'march of progress' sociologists would argue the family is becoming more symmetrical. Feminists would completely disagree saying that men still do litlle work and that women now have a dual burden.

Functionalists argue for the necessity of segregated conjugal roles based on biological differences between sexes. Parsons' explained that the husband has an instrumental role where the goal is achieving success at work so that he can provide for the family financially. Whereas, the wife has an expressive role, where she provides primary socialisation to the children and meet the family's emotional needs. She is a homemaker and full-time house wife rather than a wage earner. Parsons argues that the men have the instrumental role because they are more suited to the role of provider and women are better suited to have the expressive role because they are 'naturally' suited to the more nurturing role. According to Parsons, this would mean that men and women have completely different roles within the family and it also means that biologically they cannot share these roles with each other. This has recieved some criticism. For example, Young and Willmott argue that men are now taking a greater share of domestic tasks and more wives are getting paid jobs, as the nuclear family has developed. Feminists completely reject this idea due to the fact it is arguing that the division of labour between men and women is natural. They also state that it only benefits the men and women gain nothing out of thir share of tasks.

On the other hand, 'march of progress' sociologists believe that family life is gradually improving for all of its members. They believe that it is becoming more equal and that there has been a long-term…