Cohabitation and Division of Gender Roles in a Couple

Cohabitation is perceived in the society as the form of relationships which is an effective alternative to the traditional marriage because of focusing on the principles of flexibility, freedom, and equality, but few couples can follow the principles of egalitarian relationships and focus on equality related to gender roles during a long period of time. The division of gender roles in cohabitating couples is often realized according to the traditional visions shared within the society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cohabitation and Division of Gender Roles in a Couple specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although cohabitation is closely associated with egalitarian relationships and gender-neutral division of roles in a couple, cohabitation cannot guarantee that partners will reject traditional gender roles typical for married couples because many cohabitating couples follow traditional gender attitudes and roles ac cepted in the society, discuss paid and unpaid work and duties in relation to gender, and share stereotypes on breadwinner and homemaker roles. The Principles of Cohabitation and Traditional Gender Roles In spite of the fact that cohabitation is based on the principles of flexibility and equality, many cohabitating couples build their relationships according to the visions and ideals typical for discussing married couples and their gender roles. Thus, partners in cohabitating couples are also influenced by the social stereotypes, and they follow traditional gender attitudes and roles without references to the fact that cohabitation was chosen in order to state the individual freedom in relationships (Miller Sassler, 2010). According to Batalova and Cohen, socialization is the important factor to form people’s gender role attitudes, thus, partners in cohabitating couples as well as husbands and wives in married couples can â€Å"perform household labor according to what they have learned about appropriate behavior for men and women† (Batalova Cohen, 2002, p. 745). Gender role is a complex notion, and it can be discussed in relation to many factors which are important for the development of couples’ relationships. As a result, such principles of cohabitation as egalitarianism and flexibility do not work in many couples because of strong traditional gender role attitudes. The Division of Duties in Relation to Gender Cohabitation is discussed as a less formal variant of close relationships which has all the advantages of marriage, but cohabitation provides even more benefits for the couples because of depending on the idea of equality which is attractive for young people. In reality, cohabitation can differ little from marriage regarding the division of gender roles and domestic duties. Although women in cohabitating couples can occupy high social positions and develop successful careers as well as men, the division of domestic unpaid activi ties is often unequal because of gender.Advertising Looking for essay on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Batalova and Cohen state that â€Å"despite men’s greater contribution, women still do at least twice as much routine housework as men do† (Batalova Cohen, 2002, p. 746). Men in cohabitating couples are not ready to share housework duties equally to women because of the social stereotypes associated with gender roles. As a result, women are actively involved in routine housework along with performing their social responsibilities and paid work. Women in cohabitating couples are still expected to concentrate on housework as their primary duties. This vision is in a conflict with the idea that women are equal to men in relation to the career opportunities. Thus, women are expected to be successful in career as well as in housework and care for children (Helgeson, 2005). This tendency becomes mor e obvious in relation to cohabitating couples in spite of their focus on the ideas of equality, flexibility, and freedom in relationships. Breadwinner and Homemaker Roles in Cohabitating Couples The relationships of a cohabitating couple often develop according to the traditional model where a man is a breadwinner and a woman is a homemaker. Even though a woman has the paid work, she is expected to take responsibility for more housework in comparison with a man. Although this approach is characteristic for married couples, it is important to note that cohabiting men are inclined to do housework according to the patterns used by married men (Batalova Cohen, 2002, p. 746). There is a range of household activities which are performed by men unwillingly, and the main reason to avoid performing the housework is the status of a breadwinner (Miller Sassler, 2010). The problem is in the fact that women rarely can rely on this status because their partners are not ready to accept this kind of equal relations, and a role of a homemaker is discussed as most appropriate for a woman. Thus, the division of gender roles in cohabitating couples is often similar to those ones in married couples, especially in relation to the division of duties and housework activities. Women in cohabitating couples are expected to perform more domestic activities than men without references to their social status, the fact of having paid jobs or the necessity to care for children. From this point, cohabitation cannot guarantee that the relationships will develop according to the ideals of egalitarianism, modern visions of gender roles distribution, and division of duties and housework activities. References Batalova, J., Cohen, P. (2002). Premarital cohabitation and housework: Couples in cross-national perspective. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64(3), 743-758.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cohabitation and Division of Gender Roles in a Couple specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Helgeson, V. (2005). The psychology of gender. USA: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Miller, A., Sassler, S. (2010). Stability and change in the division of labor among cohabiting couples. Sociological Forum, 25(4), 677-702. This essay on Cohabitation and Division of Gender Roles in a Couple was written and submitted by user Natalya Jackson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Eliot And Sylvia Essays - Chapbooks, Free Essays, Term Papers

Eliot And Sylvia Essays - Chapbooks, Free Essays, Term Papers Eliot And Sylvia , talking of Michelangelo, a subject so deep that it begs a discussion more serious than that of the chatter at ladies' tea parties. But the women just come and go, discussing the great artist only superficially, and Prufrock addresses the ladies with an air almost of biting sarcasm. Prufrock then decides to switch back to this other, more beautiful world, and he describes the fog rubbing up against the windowpanes. He describes the fog almost as if it were an animal; personifying it and giving even it some sense of feline beauty With Sylvia, the only feeling that is particularly obvious is one of contented pride, as the mother celebrates her baby's birth (Our voices echo, magnifying your arrival) and congratulates it on its newly-found independence. There does seem to be an upset, almost resentful undertone, as the mother says I'm no more your mother/ Than the cloud which distills a mirror to reflect its own slow/ Effacement at the wind's hand. Although she is only pointing out that this is the case, she seems to be nostalgic for the time when her baby was wholly dependant on her. The focus of the poem, however, seems to be on discovery, as is shown by the end: And now you try Your handful of notes;/ The clear vowels rise like balloons. This appears to be a description of the baby crying, but instead of reprimanding her child, the mother acclaims it. This has the effect of showing her contentment due to the baby being able to cry, and her satisfaction with regard to its experimental use of sounds. The new co ming baby is very excited as a child cry, the sound of live and hope, but after a few days later, her child is gone because a miscarry problem, she lost her child. I am no more your mother. In T.S Eliot's the love song of J. Alfred Prufrock self esteem affects his love life greatly. The woman he is in love with is younger than he is and this distresses him. He does not believe that some younger woman could possibly accept him or find him attractive. Expressing any kind of affection to her is awkward and difficult. Prufrock knows what he must say but cannot bring himself to say it should I, after tea and cakes and ices, have the strength to force the moment to it's crisis? (79-80) his apprehensiveness in his love life is very troublesome for him indeed. The debate in Prufrock's mind finally comes to a close when he compares himself to prince Hamlet from William Shakespear's masterpiece Hamlet. Prurock decides he is diplomatic, conscientious, and strives for perfection. However at the same time he tends to lack some sort of mental power fears he is looking like a fool. This is the conclusion he comes to in order to accept his place in society and live life the way he should. Fantasizing of a world where these problems do not exist is a pleasant daydream for Prufrock. He imagines the peaceful world under the sea where social classes do not exist. This shows the internal conflict still occurring within him. Even though he has overcome his problem with his love life, he still has many other worries to contend with. The mermaids a re singing beautifully, but in his opinion, they can not possibly singing for him. His insecurity is still present and seems incurable, his fantasy world is brought to a crashing halt easily. Till human voices wake us, and we drown.(131) His only happiness can be found in daydreams and can be destroyed easily as such. Although giving him temporary relief from the pressures of his life, this dreamlike state is destroyed his heart and only r eturning to the real world will save him. The trauma can happen to anyone similar with Prufrock. Sylvia Plath had been suffer a lonely since a child hood, her dad died when she was eight year old, so lonely is a big problem for her to afraid. Shadows our safety, we stand round blankly as walls. Her comment on motherhood in Morning song tells of her disassociation with it. I'm no more your mother/Than the