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Can someone mark my sociology essay please?

Assess the view that it is no longer important to talk about the patriarchal society today (24 marks)

In the 19th century (or even a century before) society was deemed upon as a patriarchal dominance. (Male dominating society). Where husband/father would work and provide money for the family, whereas the wife/mother was be seen as the nurturer or carer for everyone; especially for the children. Also doing (domestic chores). However it is now possible to state, in the 21st century the roles have switched and women have become more independent in terms of finance; more women orientated, and more men as househusbands.

The functionalist view of talking about the patriarchal today is relevant, as they still deem upon how men and women portray the roles which were present from the 1950s era.
Men would express the 'instrumental role' the position of a person who supports the family with finance and also known as the authority figure, whereas women would be stereotyped as the 'expressive role', and would stay at home and and look after the children. (housewife) The husband and wife would have segregated conjugal roles. Where they would have different roles and spend their leisure time separately. Conversely, Willmott and young would argue that this was not the case now in the 21st century; as men and women have switched roles; and therefore it is irrelevant to consider the family as patriarchal. The symmetrical family is evident in today's day and age as more women go to work; whilst many husbands stay home and look after the kids. Willmott and Young assessed the family with their leisure time spent together, and the family more privatised.

From the feminist perspective, Ann Oakley believed that Will and Young exaggerated about the symmetrical family; she found absolutely no symmetry in domestic labour, how husbands 'helped' by ironing their own shirts once a week. From her viewpoint it is relevant to talk about the patriarchal society today; she believed that the housewife role unfortunately was still seen as the primary role for women, and it was the factory production and industrialisation of the 19th century, which led to the separation of paid work from home. She also believed that women were actually excluded from the workforce. As male were the actual 'sole breadwinners' this would results into women's economic dependence. Even Bolton (1993) contradicted Will and Young's theory as he believed it is the person who is responsible for all the work and chores that they do, not someone who just performs them. He assessed that women are the main responsibility of this, as when the husband went out to work they would look after the children and would be responsible for the children's welfare. Whereas 1 in 5 men would not participate; and hardly took part in childcare.

Bott (1957) talked about the march of progress view. From here he underlined segregated conjugal roles and joint conjugal roles. Segregated conjugal roles, shows a division between male breadwinner and female house maker. And shows how they spent their leisure time separately; however some families had joint conjugal roles; where they both shared the same role and accompanied each other with leisure time. However Willmot and Young found that leisure time with working family in class (1950) was spent differently as the man would be the breadwinner and the female the housewife and they would use their leisure time separately. The husband would spend it with his workmates; whilst the housewife would be accompanied with other females/housewife.

Item B underlines; “violence by men against their wives was apparently widespread and divorce was granted more readily to men then their wives”. This explores how women felt oppressed of how their husbands did not show any affection to them or their kids. There was an increase in divorce as, it had been legalised; not like in the 1950s, or before. Dobash and Dobash stated the use of violence that men used on women which led to divorce. Men who felt that they were being challenged at work by the higher authority; would suppress their pain and violence on their wives. So forth to feel of a higher status and dominating in some aspect.

Lastly, decisions. With decision making and paid work men took a greater share and more resources as they earned more. This is supported by Pahl and Vogler (1993). They believed in pooling and allowance system. Pooling reflected on the bases of the husband and wife having a joint bank account or joint responsibility. Sharing the same responsibility. Whereas Allowance system; was when the men would give their non-working wives allowances from which they budget to meet the families need's.
However Edgell's observation was with the professional couples and found many inequalities. Very crucial decisions were taken only by the husband alone or with him having a final say. Less important such as food purchases was usually taken by the wife. He believed with Economic men had power in decision making because they earn more. Women are economically dependant, thus have less to say. Edgell lastly stated, patriarchal socialisation; of how feminsit would argue that gender socialisation still instils the idea of male being the decision makers.

In conclusion, by assesing the view of the patriarchal society, it makes sense to discuss about it in today day and age, as the patriarchal family still exits, according to Ann Oakley, Dobash and Dobash, Edgell and Boulton.

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