segregated conjugal-role relationship

segregated conjugal-role relationship

a division of labour within a household that involves separate tasks for each partner. The term was first used by Elizabeth Bott (1957), who suggested that such relationships were most often found in communities with close networks of family and friends which supported separate areas of activity for women and men. It is often suggested that this kind of role relationship is being replaced by the JOINT CONJUGAL-ROLE RELATIONSHIP, but there is much evidence to suggest that household tasks are still highly gender-segregated, ironing and car maintenance being the most often quoted examples. see also SYMMETRICAL FAMILY.