Families and Households

Question 1

bourgeoisie

Answer 1

marxist term to describe the ruling class

Question 2

canalisation

Answer 2

parents try and push children in certain directions, for instance by giving them gendered clothing. term that can be used with feminism

Question 3

capitalism

Answer 3

a system of private ownership and profit

Question 4

cereal packet family

Answer 4

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

Question 5

culture of dependency

Answer 5

new right term. a culture that is growing in society where people are dependant on the welfare state

Question 6

difference feminists

Answer 6

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

Question 7

dual burden

Answer 7

woman has to do paid work and unpaid work (housework)

Question 8

ethic of care

Answer 8

a belief that the family retains a key role in ensuring welfare for its members

Question 9

ethnocentric

Answer 9

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

Question 10

exploitation

Answer 10

being taken advantage of by something/someone. term used by feminists and marxists. feminists argue we are exploited by patriarchy, marxists by capitalism

Question 11

expressive role

Answer 11

housewife who typically has to provide the emotional nurturing support in the family

Question 12

false class consciousness

Answer 12

the working class do not realise that they are being exploited and think inequality is normal

Question 13

function

Answer 13

the contribution made by a part to the maintenance of the system as a whole

Question 14

functionalism

Answer 14

a perspective which argues that society funtions well and that the family is a crucial part of this functioning society

Question 15

gendered division of labour

Answer 15

husbands and wives have different roles/tasks

Question 16

hierarchy

Answer 16

unequal society - ruling class dominates

Question 17

liberal feminism

Answer 17

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

Question 18

organic analogy

Answer 18

analogy means a comparison. this describes how society is like the organs of a body - they all work together

Question 19

set sex role

Answer 19

a role that is assumed. even expected of your assigned gender

Question 20

social conflict

Answer 20

the idea that groups of people have differen interests and values

Question 21

social construct

Answer 21

this explains how certain themes/concepts are defined by society

Question 22

triple shift

Answer 22

paid work, housework and emotional work that typically women are culturally expected to perform

Question 23

value consensus

Answer 23

agreement about values (general principles or goals)

Question 24

warm bath theory

Answer 24

functionalist theory that the family is like an warm bath; it is an inviting and warm institution

Question 25

lagged adaptation

Answer 25

takes time for men to realise that they need to do housework too and playing their part in the family

Question 26

symmetrical family

Answer 26

both partners do the same amount of housework etc

Question 27

emotional work

Answer 27

supporting people eomotionally in the family

Question 28

gender blind

Answer 28

ignoring gender inequality

Question 29

instrumental role

Answer 29

husband’s role - provider/breadwinner and geared towards achieving success at work

Question 30

march of progress view of inequality

Answer 30

men are becoming more involved in housework and childcare just as women are becoming more involved in paid work

Question 31

cultural explanation of inequality

Answer 31

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

Question 32

material explanation of inequality

Answer 32

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

Question 33

age patriarchy

Answer 33

men oppress children for power and dominance

Question 34

socially constructed

Answer 34

created by society; constructed by cultural or social practise