Discuss how far sociologists would agree that gender roles are equal in families in Britain today.

The extent to which gender roles have become equal in families in Britain today is a major topic of debate among sociologists. While there has been significant progress towards equality, many would argue that traditional inequalities persist. Some sociologists, such as Young and Willmott, would argue that gender roles have become much more equal. In their concept of the 'symmetrical family', they suggested that the roles of husbands and wives are becoming more similar and shared. This includes shared responsibility for housework, childcare, and decision-making, as well as both partners being in paid work. This 'march of progress' view is supported by evidence of changing attitudes, increased female employment, and men taking a more active role in fatherhood. The rise of the 'new man' who is more in touch with his feminine side and willing to do domestic chores supports this view. However, feminist sociologists would strongly disagree with this optimistic view. Ann Oakley, for example, was highly critical of Young and Willmott's research, arguing that their claims of symmetry were exaggerated. Her own research found that women still did the vast majority of housework and childcare, even when they also had full-time jobs, leading to the 'double shift'. More recent studies have supported this, finding that while men do more than in the past, women still shoulder the main burden of domestic tasks and especially the 'emotional work' of the family. Furthermore, feminists point out that key decisions, especially financial ones, are often still made by men, reflecting underlying power inequalities. Another point to consider is the impact of social class and ethnicity. The experience of gender roles can vary significantly. For example, some studies suggest that middle-class couples may have more egalitarian relationships than working-class couples, partly due to the ability to afford childcare and cleaners. Therefore, it is difficult to generalise about all families in Britain. In conclusion, while sociologists would agree that gender roles are more equal than they were in the past, most would argue that true equality has not yet been achieved. The 'march of progress' view appears overly optimistic when confronted with feminist evidence of the persistent 'double shift' and unequal decision-making. Therefore, sociologists would largely disagree with the statement, suggesting that while roles have changed, a significant gender gap in domestic labour and power remains.