However Willmott & Young’s study was disputed by Ann Oakley who claimed that the symmetrical family was a myth. She said that Willmott & Young’s book showed male ideology and wasn’t a true picture of what was happening. She argues that Willmott & Young’s data was quantitative and so lacking in depth, one such question was ‘Do you/does your husband help at least once a week with any household jobs like washing up, making beds, helping with children, ironing, cooking or cleaning?’ from this question Willmott & Young concluded that 72% of men helped in the home however although this figure sounds impressive men who do a very small amount of household jobs, perhaps just iron one pair of trousers in a week would be classed as helping in the home by Willmott & Young. That clearly isn’t a suitable contribution in order for the claim that the family is symmetrical to be made, for Willmott & Young to make such a substantial claim much more detailed interviewing should have occurred and some qualitative data gained.

Oakley’s own research produced a completely different picture to that of Willmott & Young’s; she interviewed 40 housewives, using unstructured interviews to gain quantitative data and so to give a fuller picture. Oakley found that women complete nearly all of the housework, often working as many as 77 hours a week and where men did help, if at all, it was usually related to childcare. She argued that women were oppressed through their role and that their role was classed as non-work, had little status and was economically dependant on men.

Some topics in this essay:
Willmott Young’s, Warde Hetherington, Family’ Willmott, Bethnal Green, , Duncombe Marsden, conjugal roles, Outer Metropolitan, Ann Oakley, Ann Oakley’s, division labour, willmott young’s, household tasks, equality conjugal roles, East London’, husband wife, equality conjugal, household jobs, found women, husband wife found, wife found, family symmetrical,