Examine The Factors Affecting Power Relationships And Division Of Labour Between Couples

Examine the factors affecting power relationships and division of labour between couples.
There are many factors that affect power relationships and division of labour between couples, mainly the traditional division of domestic labour within the past. Other factors include the breakdown of traditions, gender inequality and negative factors such as domestic abuse and violence. There are a variety of views and approaches to the factors from Feminists, Marxists and Functionalists. Division of labour includes housework, childcare and paid work. However power relationships is where there is an evident controller of power within the relationship or whether the power is equal or symmetrical within the relationship.
The factor of gender inequality is presented by Parsons, within the family and relationships. He said that, women and men have different segregated roles that are very different and distinctly opposite to one another within couples. Parsons saw the man having the instrumental role, in which he works and provides for the family as the breadwinner. The man’s life is about providing, financially supporting the family and achieving success at work. However the women within the relationship hold the expressive role, where she provides emotional support for the family, carries out the housework and gives the primary socialisation to the children for them to learn the norms and values of society. Parsons saw that mothers had the expressive role in the family who were biologically suited to look after the emotional development of the family. This view is one of the main factors that affects power relationships by the male and the unequal division of labour between couples.
However another factor of the division of labour and power is that the traditional segregation division of labour is breaking down. This criticism of Parsons functionalist view is Young and Wilmott 1973. Young and Wilmott said that the power relationship between men and women is becoming more equal and symmetrical, this is more evident within the middle - class. They say that this change in power and division of labour is due to the increasing opportunities for women in paid employment and also women now have the power to divorce men due to the Divorce Reform Act 1969. On the other hand surveys and the study of Young and Wilmott miss out the influences that ensure power and control in the home. An example of this is the male domination which leads to domestic abuse, violence and the belief that working mothers damage children as they are not showing and giving full emotional support. This abuse then affects the division of labour and power relationships.
The factor of lack of emotional support from husbands is shown by Duncombe and Marsden. They found that women felt a lack of emotional support from their partners as men find it difficult to express their emotions and feelings toward women and children as they want to portray that they are mature and tough. They argue that because women spend so much time helping and caring for the emotions of partners and children they then neglect their own mental wellbeing and needs. This can then result in physical and mental illness.
In comparison to the lack of emotional support there is the factor of domestic abuse and oppression. This view is seen by the Radical Feminists who argue that women were excluded from paid work and placed as mothers and housewives who were dependant on male breadwinner for financial support and direction. They say that because men have the paid work they consequently have power, whereas women were only used for childcare and housework, which is free labour, (Oakley), who were exploited and oppressed by men. Radical feminists then argue that women are just there to meet the needs of men rather than everyone in society.
In conclusion the main factor affecting power relationships and the division of labour in couples is that of traditional roles being passed through generations through socialisation. This is because in the present day the roles and attitudes towards women are changing drastically so that both genders become equal and have the same ability to achieve ambitions and goals. In the present day more there has been an increase in symmetrical and equal relationships and families due to the change and development in societies views.