Conjugal Role Relationships » Dual Career Families

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The definition and characteristics of dual career families
How dual career families differ from traditional family structures
The advantages and disadvantages of dual career families
Key sociological perspectives on dual career families
How dual career families manage the division of labour
The impact of dual career families on children and family life
Recent trends and statistics on dual career families in the UK

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Introduction to Dual Career Families

Dual career families have become increasingly common in modern society as more women enter the workforce and gender roles continue to evolve. This shift represents one of the most significant changes in family structure over the past few decades.

Key Definitions:

Dual Career Family: A family where both partners pursue careers and are committed to their professional roles while maintaining family responsibilities.
Conjugal Role Relationships: The roles, responsibilities and interactions between partners in a relationship.
Symmetrical Family: A family where roles and responsibilities are more equally shared between partners.
Division of Labour: How household tasks and responsibilities are allocated between family members.

👪 Traditional vs Dual Career Families

Traditional Family: Clear gender roles with the husband as breadwinner and wife as homemaker. Segregated conjugal roles with little overlap in responsibilities.

Dual Career Family: Both partners pursue careers and share household responsibilities. More joint decision-making and integrated conjugal roles.

🚀 Rise of Dual Career Families

Dual career families have increased dramatically since the 1970s due to:

Women's increased educational opportunities
Equal opportunities legislation
Changing attitudes towards gender roles
Economic necessity (needing two incomes)
Rise of service sector jobs

Characteristics of Dual Career Families

Dual career families represent a shift towards more symmetrical relationships, though research shows the reality is often more complex than simple equality.

Division of Labour in Dual Career Families

Despite both partners working, studies show that women still tend to take on more household responsibilities - a phenomenon sociologists call the "dual burden" or "second shift".

💼 Instrumental Tasks

Tasks traditionally associated with the male role:

Home repairs
Car maintenance
Financial management
Garden work

🏠 Expressive Tasks

Tasks traditionally associated with the female role:

Childcare
Cooking
Cleaning
Emotional support

👪 Modern Sharing

In dual career families, there's typically more sharing of:

Childcare responsibilities
Household chores
Financial decisions
Planning family activities

Case Study Focus: The Young & Willmott Study

In their influential study "The Symmetrical Family" (1973), Young and Willmott identified a trend towards more symmetrical family relationships in the UK. They suggested families were evolving from:

Stage 1: Pre-industrial family (extended family networks)
Stage 2: Early industrial family (segregated conjugal roles)
Stage 3: Symmetrical family (more shared roles)

They argued that technological advances (like washing machines and ready meals) helped reduce housework, making it easier for women to work outside the home and for men to participate more in household tasks.

Advantages and Challenges of Dual Career Families

Dual career families offer both benefits and challenges for couples and their children.

👍 Advantages

Financial: Higher household income and greater financial security
Relationship: More equal partnership and shared experiences
Personal: Both partners can pursue career satisfaction and development
Role Models: Children see both parents as capable in multiple spheres
Skills: Children may develop more independence and domestic skills

👎 Challenges

Time Pressure: Less time for family activities and relationships
Role Conflict: Balancing work demands with family responsibilities
Stress: Managing multiple roles can lead to burnout
Childcare: Finding suitable and affordable childcare arrangements
Dual Burden: Women often still do more housework despite working

Sociological Perspectives on Dual Career Families

Different sociological perspectives offer varying interpretations of dual career families:

Functionalist Perspective

Functionalists traditionally viewed specialised gender roles (men as breadwinners, women as homemakers) as beneficial for family stability. Some functionalists argue that dual career families may disrupt this 'natural' order, potentially leading to family instability. However, modern functionalists recognise that families adapt to changing social conditions and dual career families represent an adaptation to modern economic realities.

Feminist Perspective

Feminists generally view women's increased participation in the workforce positively, seeing it as a step towards gender equality. However, they highlight that women in dual career families often face a "dual burden" or "second shift" - working full-time while still handling most household and childcare responsibilities. Liberal feminists advocate for more equal sharing of domestic tasks, while radical feminists might argue that true equality requires more fundamental changes to family structures and gender expectations.

Marxist Perspective

Marxists might view dual career families as beneficial to capitalism, as they create more workers and consumers. They might argue that economic pressures force both partners to work to maintain a decent standard of living, benefiting employers who can keep wages lower when households have dual incomes.

Case Study Focus: Ann Oakley's Research

Feminist sociologist Ann Oakley conducted influential research on housework and gender roles in the 1970s. Her studies found that:

Women spent an average of 77 hours per week on housework and childcare
Men spent only 11 hours per week on domestic tasks
Even when women worked full-time, they still did most of the housework
Women viewed housework as monotonous and isolating

While this research is now dated, more recent studies still show an imbalance, though the gap has narrowed somewhat.

Recent Trends in Dual Career Families

Contemporary research shows evolving patterns in dual career families:

Increasing Prevalence: In the UK, dual-earner households now make up about 72% of all working households with children.
Changing Attitudes: Young people today generally expect more equal relationships and shared responsibilities.
Narrowing Gap: Men are gradually taking on more household responsibilities, though women still do more on average.
Work-Life Balance: More employers offer flexible working arrangements to help parents balance work and family life.
Pandemic Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted ongoing inequalities, with women often taking on more childcare during school closures.

Managing the Balance

Successful dual career families often employ various strategies to manage their complex roles:

Role Negotiation: Explicitly discussing and agreeing on who does what
Time Management: Careful scheduling of work and family commitments
Support Networks: Relying on extended family, friends, or paid help
Flexible Working: Using options like part-time work, job sharing, or working from home
Prioritising: Making conscious decisions about what matters most

Conclusion

Dual career families represent a significant shift in family structure and conjugal role relationships. While they offer many benefits like increased income and more equal partnerships, they also face unique challenges in balancing work and family life. The trend towards dual career families reflects broader social changes including women's increased educational and employment opportunities and evolving attitudes towards gender roles.

Despite progress towards more symmetrical relationships, research suggests that true equality in domestic labour has not yet been achieved in most families. Understanding dual career families is essential for appreciating how family structures adapt to changing social and economic conditions.

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