Final answer:
After a baby enters the family, gender roles of husband and wife often become more traditional, with men assuming more instrumental roles and women taking on expressive roles. These roles are shaped by historical and cultural norms but can adapt over time to maintain family balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the early weeks after a baby enters the family, gender roles of husband and wife usually become more traditional. Initially, men might focus on instrumental roles, often dealing with tasks outside of the family like working and providing financial support. Conversely, women may engage more with expressive roles, such as providing emotional support and physical care for the new child. This is due to longstanding cultural norms that evolved over generations, where functionalists believe that such differentiation of roles based on sex establishes balance within the family.
However, it is important to note that these traditional roles are often challenged and can shift over time. For example, a father could take on more expressive roles, like caring for the children during the day, which would necessitate a recalibration of roles where the mother might take on more instrumental roles. This demonstrates how family dynamics can adapt to maintain balance and function effectively, notwithstanding the social expectations and pressure to conform to traditional gender norms.