Gender roles

Gender roles 

Parsons: traditional nuclear family - the roles of husband and wife are separate and distinct from one another.

the husband has an instrumental role geared towards achieving success at work so that he can provide for the family financially. He is known as the breadwinner

the wife has an expressive role geared towards primary socialisation of children and meeting the family's emotional needs. they are a full-time housewife rather than a wage - earner. she is known as the homemaker

Criticisms

•  Young and Willmott argue that men are now taking a greater share of domestic tasks and more wives are becoming wage-earners
• feminist sociologists reject Parsons view that the division of labour is natural. They argue that it only benefits men

Elisabeth Bott

Segregated conjugal roles:
These are where the couple have separate roles, a…