Assignment 2A

1. According to the Fundamentalist theory, an “instrumental leader” was a one individual amongst a group that was chosen to be a representative. This person was to lead the group discussion about how to go about the task that was assigned. The “expressive leader,” also commonly known as the “socioemotional leader,” was a person who was required to keep the groups’ spirits up with warm and supportive remarks as well as jokes. Robert Bales, a psychologist who conducted many experiments, coined both of these terms. There was a direct connection between these two “leaders” and how it pertained to family life. In the 1950s, the husband was the primary bread-winner and was concerned mostly with supporting his family. Because of his financial support to the family and the amount of labor worked, the husband would be given the role of the “instrumental leader.” The wife, on the other hand, who was typically a stay-at-home mother, would be the “expressive leader” due to her caring and nurturing of her children. She also provided support to her husband.

2. During the 1960s and 1970s, theorists became critical of the fundamentalist perspective, mainly because of a major demographic change. This change was the addition of women in the workforce. Men were no longer the primary breadwinners because women were now beginning to work.

3. Conflict perspective is basically a gender bias. It is viewed as the men having all the power and the women are at the bottom. There are no equal rights but only inequality, power and social change. It is common during the conflict perspective to view individuals or groups of individuals and see how well one dominates over another. Once again, this is strictly about power.

4. Social exchange theory is based on the discipline that people are viewed as normal individuals who decide whether to exchange goods or services by thinking about the benefits they will receive. Exchange theorists say that husbands bargain for power whereas the wives bargain for household work or taking care of the children. This is also in exchange for the husband’s earnings.

5. The feminist theory is based primarily on gender. It is based on the domination of women by men. It was also developed to help better understand the inequalities between the genders.

6. Do you find it difficult to maintain a steady occupation while also staying committed to your family?
A. I would study the family at a micro level because it is more personal.
B. I would use the gender method.
C. There will be approximately 20 married couples in the study.
D. Do you find it hard to balance your work and your family? Are your children’s grades affected by your work habits? Is your household dominated by the female role?