Willmott and Young - The Symmetrical Family | A Level Sociology - Families

Summary

This sociology video explores the research of Wilmot and Young on family life, focusing on the concept of the symmetrical family. Their study, conducted in the 1950s and 1970s, traces the evolution of family roles from the pre-industrial to the early industrial family, and finally to the post-war symmetrical family. They highlight how gender roles became more balanced during the post-war period, with shared leisure and domestic tasks. However, they also theorize that higher social classes may retain more asymmetrical roles. Critics argue that, despite progress, gender inequalities persist, especially with women bearing the dual burden of paid work and domestic labor.

Takeaways

• 😀 Wilmot and Young's research focused on the evolution of family life in the 1950s and 1970s, specifically in East London, using large-scale social surveys.
• 😀 They adopted a 'march of progress' view, suggesting that family life had evolved through stages and would continue to evolve over time.
• 😀 The concept of stratified diffusion was central to their theory, where norms and values of the upper classes would eventually influence the working classes.
• 😀 Their main concern was with the day-to-day organization of family life, particularly the division of tasks and leisure time.
• 😀 In their first stage of family life, Wilmot and Young identified the pre-industrial family, where families worked together in agriculture and were self-sufficient units of production.
• 😀 The second stage, the early industrial family, emerged during the industrial revolution, with families moving to urban areas to seek paid employment and becoming units of consumption.
• 😀 The third stage, the symmetrical family, emerged after the post-war period, marked by more shared roles between men and women in domestic tasks and leisure time.
• 😀 Wilmot and Young predicted that a fourth stage, the asymmetrical family, would develop among wealthier families, with more separate roles for men and women.
• 😀 However, when Wilmot and Young returned to East London in the 1970s, they found no evidence of the asymmetrical family, and the idea of increasing symmetry remained stronger in the family structure.
• 😀 Critics argue that despite the title of the 'symmetrical family,' women still carried the burden of domestic labor and emotional care, which was referred to as the 'dual burden' or 'triple shift.'

Q & A

What is the main focus of Wilmot and Young's research on families and households?

Wilmot and Young's research focuses on the evolution of family structures, particularly looking at the transition from traditional roles to more symmetrical family roles. They examined how family life had changed over time, especially with the impact of the Industrial Revolution and later developments in society.

What is the 'march of progress' view in Wilmot and Young's research?

The 'march of progress' view is the idea that family life has evolved through different stages and will continue to do so, with improvements over time. Wilmot and Young believed that the family structure moved towards more equality and symmetry as society progressed.

How did Wilmot and Young define the pre-industrial family?

The pre-industrial family was primarily a unit of production, where family members worked together in agriculture and produced goods for consumption or trade. The family operated as a team in both the home and the fields.

What changes occurred in family life after the Industrial Revolution according to Wilmot and Young?

After the Industrial Revolution, families moved to urban areas and transitioned to becoming units of consumption rather than production. This shift occurred as families started seeking paid employment in industries instead of working in agriculture.

What was the key characteristic of the early industrial family in Wilmot and Young's study?

The early industrial family was marked by gender-segregated roles. Men worked in the public sphere (in manufacturing industries), while women controlled the private sphere (managing the home), and kinship networks helped support family functions.

How did the symmetrical family differ from earlier family structures?

The symmetrical family, which emerged in the post-war period, was characterized by more joint conjugal roles, where both men and women shared household responsibilities and leisure activities. Unlike earlier families, gender roles were less segregated.

What did Wilmot and Young predict about the future of family roles in wealthier families?

Wilmot and Young predicted that wealthier families would lead to a fourth stage of family life, the 'asymmetrical family', where men and women would have separate leisure activities and responsibilities, with women using domestic labor and socializing with other wives, while men spent time in private clubs or golfing.

Why did Wilmot and Young's theory of 'asymmetrical families' fail to hold up?

When Wilmot and Young returned to their study in the 1970s, they were unable to provide evidence for the existence of asymmetrical families, as family life continued to move toward symmetry rather than diverging into separate roles for men and women.

What criticisms have been made of the concept of the symmetrical family?

Critics argue that despite its optimistic label, the family remains far from symmetrical. Women still take on multiple roles, including paid employment, domestic labor, and the emotional burden of the family, often referred to as the 'dual burden' or 'triple shift.'

What is the significance of stratified diffusion in Wilmot and Young's research?

Stratified diffusion refers to the idea that norms and values from the upper classes eventually spread to the working classes. Wilmot and Young applied this idea to predict how family roles would evolve, assuming that trends from wealthier families would influence working-class families over time.