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The distribution of domestic labour — housework, childcare, and emotional work — within the family remains one of the most debated topics in family sociology. Despite significant social change, research consistently shows that women continue to do more unpaid work in the home than men, even when they are also in paid employment. This lesson examines the key theories, research findings, and debates surrounding gender roles and domestic labour for AQA A-Level Sociology (7192).
As discussed in Lesson 2, Talcott Parsons (1955) argued that within the nuclear family, men and women adopt complementary roles based on biological differences:
| Role | Performed by | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Instrumental | Husband/father | Breadwinner; provides financially; links the family to the wider economy |
| Expressive | Wife/mother | Homemaker; provides emotional warmth; nurtures children; stabilises adult personalities |
Parsons saw this as a functional arrangement — each partner specialises in what they are "naturally" suited to, maximising the efficiency and stability of the family.
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