Families Flashcards

Question

What is a "Family" in Sociology?

Answer 1

A family is a social unit typically consisting of parents and children, where social and emotional roles are carried out. Family structures, roles, and functions are a focus of sociological study.

Answer 2

Household: A group of people living together and sharing living space (not necessarily related). Family: A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption, often living together but not always.

Answer 3

The Private Family concept suggests that the family is a private space, removed from public influence and focused on personal relationships. Often criticized by socialists for not addressing wider social inequalities.

Answer 4

A family type where roles are more equal between partners, with men and women sharing housework and childcare. This is a shift from traditional gender roles, though not fully equal in many cases.

Answer 5

The Life Course Perspective looks at how family life and roles change over time through an individual’s life, including changes in family structures, responsibilities, and life events (marriage, divorce, children leaving home, etc.).

Answer 6

A family structure where women, particularly mothers, hold the power in the household. The opposite of patriarchy, though rare in most societies.

Answer 7

A family structure with fewer children per generation but longer life expectancy, leading to more generations living at once. Often refers to the increase in multigenerational families where grandparents and great-grandparents live alongside parents and children.

Answer 8

A term used to describe the idealized, traditional nuclear family often portrayed in advertising and media. Criticized for promoting an unrealistic, homogeneous family model.

Answer 9

A family that exists across national borders, where members live in different countries but maintain strong ties and communication. Common in migrant families.

Answer 10

A theory proposed by Charles Murray, suggesting that welfare policies and government benefits create a culture of dependency among families. Critics argue this view oversimplifies complex social issues.

Answer 11

The process by which families transmit values, norms, and social roles to the next generation. Helps perpetuate existing social structures and inequalities.

Answer 12

Pre-Industrial Families: Families were largely self-sufficient (agriculture, craftwork) and often extended in structure. Post-Industrial Families: With urbanization and industrialization, families became more nuclear, as members moved to cities for work.

Answer 13

Refers to the traditional division of roles within a family based on gender, where women are expected to do domestic labor and men are expected to provide financially. Feminist sociologists critique this as reinforcing gender inequality.

Answer 14

The instrumental role is the role of the male breadwinner in a family, who works to provide the family’s material needs (e.g., financially supporting the family). This contrasts with the expressive role (female caregiver) in Parsons' theory.

Answer 15

The expressive role is the role of the female caregiver, focusing on nurturing, socializing children, and providing emotional support. Parsons argues that this role is essential for maintaining family cohesion.

Answer 16

A theory suggesting that families are becoming more equal, with gender roles becoming less rigid and more shared between men and women. Associated with the work of sociologists like Willmott and Young, who suggested the family structure was evolving positively.

Answer 17

Refers to the hidden negative aspects of family life, such as domestic violence, child abuse, and emotional distress. Critical of the idealized view of the family presented in functionalist theory.

Answer 18

Refers to how household tasks (e.g., cleaning, cooking) are divided between family members. Historically, domestic labor has been divided by gender, with women doing the majority of unpaid labor. Modern studies suggest some families are more equal, but inequality persists.

Answer 19

The crisis of masculinity refers to the confusion and loss of identity that some men experience due to changing gender roles in the family and workplace. Linked to changes such as women entering the workforce and the decline of traditional male-dominated roles.

Answer 20

Cultural Factors: Societal attitudes toward marriage, gender roles, and sexuality. Economic Factors: Financial pressures, employment patterns, and class inequalities. Political Factors: Laws regarding divorce, marriage, and child custody. Technological Factors: Advances in reproductive technology, which affect family formation.

Answer 21

Globalization leads to more diverse family structures, as people migrate, adopt new cultures, and form families across borders. The rise of transnational families is a direct result of globalization.

Answer 22

Feminist theory has challenged traditional gender roles within the family, advocating for more equal partnerships in domestic labor and child-rearing. Modern feminist approaches support the notion of shared responsibilities and egalitarian relationships.

Answer 23

The New Right view sees the traditional nuclear family as the ideal, which provides stability, moral values, and a social structure. They argue that alternative family types (e.g., single-parent families, cohabitation) contribute to social problems.

Answer 24

The triple shift refers to women performing three roles: paid work, housework, and emotional labor. This highlights how women’s domestic labor often extends beyond physical tasks to include emotional caregiving.