Sociology · Year 10 · Families and Households · 3.º Período

Conjugal Roles and Childhood

Students investigate the division of domestic labour and power relationships within the family. They will also assess how the social construction of childhood has evolved.

TL;DR:This unit dives into the internal dynamics of the family, focusing on power and the division of labour. Students examine 'conjugal roles', the parts played by partners in a marriage or cohabitation. They debate Young and Willmott's theory of the 'symmetrical family', where roles are more equal, against Feminist arguments that women still carry the 'double burden' of paid work and domestic chores. This includes a sensitive look at domestic abuse and how power imbalances can lead to conflict.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• GCSE Sociology (AQA 8192) 3.3.3: Conjugal role relationships
• GCSE Sociology (OCR J699) 2.1: Power and relationships

About This Topic

This unit dives into the internal dynamics of the family, focusing on power and the division of labour. Students examine 'conjugal roles', the parts played by partners in a marriage or cohabitation. They debate Young and Willmott's theory of the 'symmetrical family', where roles are more equal, against Feminist arguments that women still carry the 'double burden' of paid work and domestic chores. This includes a sensitive look at domestic abuse and how power imbalances can lead to conflict.

Students also explore the social construction of childhood. They look at how the experience of being a child has changed over time, from the 'mini-adults' of the Victorian era to the 'child-centred' society of today. They will evaluate whether childhood is a 'golden age' or if children are increasingly under pressure. This topic benefits from active learning where students can compare historical and contemporary primary sources to see how childhood and domestic life have been reshaped.

Key Questions

1. Is the symmetrical family a reality in modern Britain?
2. How is domestic abuse viewed sociologically?
3. Has the position of children in society improved?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Childhood is a natural, biological stage that is the same for everyone.

What to Teach Instead

Childhood is 'socially constructed', meaning it is defined differently by different societies and eras. A collaborative investigation into childhood in non-Western cultures helps students see that our current UK version of childhood is not the only one that exists.

Common Misconception

Equality in the home has been achieved because men 'help out' more.

What to Teach Instead

Sociologists distinguish between 'helping' and taking 'responsibility'. Feminists argue that even if men do more tasks, women still manage the 'mental load'. A role play about planning a child's birthday party can surface the difference between doing a task and being responsible for it.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game

The Domestic Labour Audit

Students are given a list of 20 household tasks. They must 'allocate' these tasks to a hypothetical couple based on different scenarios (e.g., both work full-time, one works part-time). They then compare their results to see if they've defaulted to traditional gender stereotypes.

30 min·Individual

Gallery Walk

The Evolution of Childhood

Display images of children from different eras: working in a Victorian mine, a 1950s street game, and a modern child with a tablet. Students move in groups to list three 'rights' or 'dangers' present in each image, discussing if childhood has truly 'improved'.

35 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share

The Symmetrical Family

Students read a summary of Young and Willmott's research. In pairs, they must find two pieces of evidence that support the idea of symmetry (e.g., men doing more DIY) and two pieces of evidence that challenge it (e.g., the 'triple shift').

20 min·Pairs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 'double burden'?

The 'double burden' (or dual burden) is a term used by Feminists to describe the situation where women go out to do paid work but are still expected to do the majority of the unpaid domestic labour and childcare when they get home. This is a key argument against the idea that the modern family is fully equal.

How has the status of children changed in the UK?

The UK has become more 'child-centred'. This means children are now the focal point of the family, with parents investing more time and money into their upbringing. Laws protect children from work and abuse, and their 'voice' is more likely to be heard in family decisions. However, some sociologists argue this has led to 'toxic childhood' due to increased testing and technology.

What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching conjugal roles?

Data-matching and 'time-use' diaries are excellent. Have students track their own household's division of labour for a day (anonymously) and then aggregate the class data. This active participation makes the statistics about the 'gender gap' in housework feel real and immediate, sparking much more engaged debates about why these patterns persist in the 21st century.

What is a 'symmetrical family'?

A symmetrical family is one where the roles of the husband and wife, while not identical, are becoming more similar. Both partners are likely to work, and they share domestic tasks and leisure time more equally. This concept was developed by Young and Willmott, who argued that the British family was moving toward this model.