Introduction to The Symmetrical Family Theory
The symmetrical family theory is one of the most influential ideas in family sociology, developed by sociologists Michael Young and Peter Willmott in the 1970s. Their research explored how family structures and relationships have changed over time, particularly focusing on how gender roles within families have become more equal or 'symmetrical'.
Key Definitions:
- Symmetrical Family: A family structure where roles and responsibilities are more equally shared between partners, with less rigid division based on gender.
- Joint Conjugal Roles: When couples share household tasks, childcare and decision-making rather than having separate responsibilities.
- Privatised Nuclear Family: A family unit that is home-centred and relatively isolated from wider kin networks.
📖 Historical Context
Young and Willmott conducted their research in East London during the 1950s-1970s. They observed significant changes in family life as people moved from traditional working-class communities to new housing estates. This geographical shift coincided with changes in how families functioned internally.
👥 Why It Matters
Understanding the symmetrical family helps us see how family structures adapt to social changes like industrialisation, improved women's rights and changing work patterns. It challenges the idea that there is one "natural" way for families to organise themselves.
Young and Willmott's Four Stages of Family Development
Young and Willmott identified four historical stages in the development of family structures in Britain. These stages show how families evolved from pre-industrial times to the modern era.
📅 Stage 1: Pre-Industrial Family (Before 1750s)
In this period, the family was a unit of production where all members worked together in agriculture or home-based crafts. Key features included:
- Extended family networks living and working together
- Family as an economic unit rather than an emotional one
- High birth rates but also high infant mortality
- Patriarchal structure with clear male authority
🏭 Stage 2: Early Industrial Family (1750s-1900)
The Industrial Revolution dramatically changed family life:
- Men worked in factories while women often remained at home
- Clear separation of work and home life
- Segregated conjugal roles (men and women had distinct responsibilities)
- Nuclear family structure became more common
- Loss of extended family connections as people moved for work
🏠 Stage 3: Extended Family (1900-1950s)
This stage saw a return to some extended family connections:
- Working-class communities with strong mother-daughter bonds
- Extended family living nearby and providing support
- Still largely segregated conjugal roles
- Women managed the home while men were breadwinners
- Strong community ties and mutual aid networks
👪 Stage 4: Symmetrical Family (1950s onwards)
The modern family form that Young and Willmott identified:
- More equal sharing of household tasks and childcare
- Home-centred lifestyle focused on nuclear family
- Weaker extended family ties
- Joint decision-making between partners
- Increased focus on consumption and leisure time together
Key Characteristics of the Symmetrical Family
According to Young and Willmott, the symmetrical family has several distinctive features that set it apart from earlier family forms:
👩👨👧 Joint Roles
Partners share domestic tasks, childcare responsibilities and decision-making. The rigid gender division of labour becomes less pronounced.
🏡 Home-Centred
Family life revolves around the home, with shared leisure activities and less time spent in gender-segregated activities outside the home.
📺 Privatised
The family becomes more isolated from extended kin and the wider community, focusing inward on the nuclear unit.
Factors Contributing to the Rise of the Symmetrical Family
Several social changes helped create conditions for symmetrical families to develop:
- Women's Employment: More women entering the workforce led to more equal economic contributions to the household.
- Geographical Mobility: Families moving away from traditional communities weakened extended family ties.
- Technology: Labour-saving devices reduced the time needed for housework.
- Smaller Families: Fewer children meant less time spent on childcare.
- Changing Attitudes: The women's movement and changing ideas about gender equality influenced family life.
- Rising Living Standards: Increased prosperity allowed families to focus more on consumption and leisure.
Case Study Focus: Young and Willmott's Research
Young and Willmott's theory was based on extensive research in East London. They first studied families in Bethnal Green, a traditional working-class area with strong extended family networks. They then followed families who moved to Greenleigh, a suburban housing estate. They observed that in Bethnal Green, women maintained strong bonds with their mothers and extended family, while in Greenleigh, families became more isolated and home-centred. This geographical move coincided with a shift towards more symmetrical relationships between husbands and wives, as they had to rely more on each other without extended family nearby.
Evidence for the Symmetrical Family
Several studies have provided evidence supporting aspects of the symmetrical family theory:
- Time-use surveys show men doing more housework and childcare than in previous generations.
- Attitudes surveys reveal most people now believe household tasks should be shared equally.
- The rise in dual-earner households has necessitated more sharing of domestic responsibilities.
- Family leisure time has become more important, with families spending more time together at home.
Criticisms of the Symmetrical Family Theory
Despite its influence, the symmetrical family theory has faced several important criticisms:
⛔ Feminist Critiques
Feminist sociologists argue that Young and Willmott exaggerated the extent of equality in modern families:
- Ann Oakley found women still did the majority of housework
- The concept of the "dual burden" or "second shift" for working women
- Men often "help" with housework rather than taking equal responsibility
- Women typically manage and organise household tasks even when men participate
💭 Methodological Criticisms
The research methods used by Young and Willmott have been questioned:
- Reliance on interviews that may reflect ideals rather than reality
- Sample bias towards certain types of families
- Failure to observe actual behaviour in households
- Limited focus on white, heterosexual, working-class families
Is the Family Really Symmetrical?
Research since Young and Willmott's work has shown a more complex picture:
- Jonathan Gershuny's research found that while men are doing more housework than before, women still do significantly more.
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows women in the UK spend an average of 26 hours per week on unpaid work (cooking, childcare, housework), compared to 16 hours for men.
- Arlie Hochschild identified the concept of "emotional labour" – the work of managing feelings and relationships – which remains largely women's responsibility.
- Decision-making may appear equal, but men often have more influence over major financial decisions.
Modern Example: COVID-19 and Family Roles
The COVID-19 pandemic provided an interesting test case for the symmetrical family theory. When schools closed and many people worked from home, families had to reorganise domestic responsibilities. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that women were more likely to have reduced their work hours to care for children and manage homeschooling. This suggests that despite progress towards symmetry, when families face pressure, they often revert to more traditional gender roles.
Conclusion: The Partially Symmetrical Family?
Most sociologists today recognise that while families have become more symmetrical than they were in the past, complete equality remains rare. The term "partially symmetrical family" might better describe the reality of most modern families, where:
- Men participate more in family life than previous generations
- Women have more economic power and independence
- Gender roles are more flexible but not entirely equal
- Family structures are diverse, with many variations beyond the traditional nuclear model
- Class, ethnicity and other factors create significant variations in how families organise themselves
Young and Willmott's theory remains valuable for understanding the direction of change in family life, even if the ideal of complete symmetry has not been fully realised. The theory helps us see how families adapt to changing social conditions and how gender roles within families reflect wider social norms and economic realities.