Discussion of the Extent to Which Families Have Become Symmetrical

Discussion of the Extent to Which Families Have Become Symmetrical

The idea of the Symmetrical family is that of Willmott and Young

following their research into family life in London. They found that

the symmetrical family consists of a nuclear family that have become

separated from their extended kin, the husband plays a bigger part in

family life, the conjugal bond is strong and the family is home

centred. Conjugal roles are similar in terms of contribution although

there is still the divide of "men's and women's work" and the conjugal

roles are not interchangeable although each spouse contributes equally

to the running of the household.

The rise of the Symmetrical Family can be attributed to many factors.

There is less need to rely on extended family due to the welfare

state, higher wages and less unemployment; there are more employment

opportunities for women leading to shared financial responsibility;

there are fewer children therefore enabling the wife to work; better

living conditions mean the home is more attractive to the husband; in

working class families the tedious nature of jobs leads members of the

family to be more 'home-centred' rather than 'work-centred' like the

middle-class.

Despite all the reasons for the rise of the symmetrical family, many

sociologists (particularly female) argue that the extent to which

families are symmetrical has been greatly exaggerated. Anne Oakley for

example found that Willmott and Young used inadequate methodology in

their research producing results which do not give an accurate picture

of the family, her own research gives a contrasting image of conjugal

roles to that of Willmott and Young. Willmott and Young simply asked

one question to husbands in their research - "do you help with the

housework?", a 'yes' answer to this question would include men who do