Families and Households Flashcards
bourgeoisie
marxist term to describe the ruling class
canalisation
parents try and push children in certain directions, for instance by giving them gendered clothing. term that can be used with feminism
capitalism
a system of private ownership and profit
cereal packet family
a white middle class family often depicted on the back of cereal packets; nuclear in representation and nearly always characterised by two children - one female and one male
culture of dependency
new right term. a culture that is growing in society where people are dependant on the welfare state
difference feminists
they argue that we cannot generalise women’s experiences. all family types are different from one another, other feminists assume that women live in the conventional nuclear family and share similar experiences
dual burden
woman has to do paid work and unpaid work (housework)
ethic of care
a belief that the family retains a key role in ensuring welfare for its members
ethnocentric
this describes looking at society through a white, middle class point of view. some theories can be accused of being ethnocentric, including functionalism and new right
exploitation
being taken advantage of by something/someone. term used by feminists and marxists. feminists argue we are exploited by patriarchy, marxists by capitalism
expressive role
housewife who typically has to provide the emotional nurturing support in the family
false class consciousness
the working class do not realise that they are being exploited and think inequality is normal
function
the contribution made by a part to the maintenance of the system as a whole
functionalism
a perspective which argues that society funtions well and that the family is a crucial part of this functioning society
gendered division of labour
husbands and wives have different roles/tasks
hierarchy
unequal society - ruling class dominates
liberal feminism
concerned with campaigning against sex discrimination and for equal rights. they argue that women’s oppresion is being graduualy overcome (march of progress) by changing laws
organic analogy
analogy means a comparison. this describes how society is like the organs of a body - they all work together
set sex role
a role that is assumed. even expected of your assigned gender
social conflict
the idea that groups of people have differen interests and values
social construct
this explains how certain themes/concepts are defined by society
triple shift
paid work, housework and emotional work that typically women are culturally expected to perform
value consensus
agreement about values (general principles or goals)
warm bath theory
functionalist theory that the family is like an warm bath; it is an inviting and warm institution
lagged adaptation
takes time for men to realise that they need to do housework too and playing their part in the family
symmetrical family
both partners do the same amount of housework etc
emotional work
supporting people eomotionally in the family
gender blind
ignoring gender inequality
instrumental role
husband’s role - provider/breadwinner and geared towards achieving success at work
march of progress view of inequality
men are becoming more involved in housework and childcare just as women are becoming more involved in paid work
cultural explanation of inequality
division of labour is determined by patriarchal norms and values that shape gender roles in culture. women perform more domestic labour simply because that is what society expects them to do
material explanation of inequality
since women earn less than men is it economically rational for women to do more of the housework and childcare whilst men spend more of their time earning money
age patriarchy
men oppress children for power and dominance
socially constructed
created by society; constructed by cultural or social practise
