Families And Households: All Key Terms

Question 1

Achieved Status

Answer 1

A position in society which individuals gain through their own efforts rather than being born into it.

Question 2

Age Patriarchy

Answer 2

Children are controlled by adults because of their forced dependency on adults.

Question 3

Ageing Population

Answer 3

A process which increases the proportion of old people within the total population and increases the average age of the population.

Question 4

Agenda Setting

Answer 4

Deciding which issues will be discussed and decided upon.

Question 5

Ascribed Status

Answer 5

A position in society which is the result of a fixed characteristic given at birth.

Question 6

Asymmetrical Family

Answer 6

Term used by Willmott and Young: the 4th stage of the family where the man becomes more work orientated, spending less leisure time at home while the woman takes the main responsibility for the home and children.

Question 7

Beanpole Families

Answer 7

Families where three or four generations survive with only one or two children.

Question 8

Birth Rate

Answer 8

The number of live births per 1000 of the population per year.

Question 9

Blended Family

Answer 9

A step-family where two single parent families become joined.

Question 10

Cereal Packet Family

Answer 10

An idealised nuclear family where there is a breadwinner father, stay-at-home mother, a son and a daughter.

Question 11

Child-Centred Society

Answer 11

A society where the needs of children are seen as a priority.

Question 12

Childhood

Answer 12

A socially constructed and biological age status before adult status.

Question 13

Civil Partnership

Answer 13

The 2004 Civil Partnership act gave same sex couples similar legal rights to married couples.

Question 14

Cohabitation

Answer 14

A couple living together but not legally married.

Question 15

Commune

Answer 15

A form of family living in groups of individuals live together and share property.

Question 16

Confluent Love

Answer 16

Term used by Giddens: a form of intimate relationship where both partners find fulfilment and satisfaction out of the relationship.

Question 17

Conjugal Roles

Answer 17

The part played by a husband and wife, particularly referring to the domestic division of labour.

Question 18

Co-Parenting

Answer 18

Parents who no longer live together share parenting responsibilities.

Question 19

Culture

Answer 19

The shared norms and values of a society, its whole way of life.

Question 20

Dark Side of the Family

Answer 20

In opposition to the view that the family is a good thing, suggests that the family may be harmful for some.

Question 21

Death Rate

Answer 21

Deaths per 1000 of the live population.

Question 22

Demography

Answer 22

The study of the population including births, deaths, fertility, infant mortality, immigration and emigration.

Question 23

Demographic Trends

Answer 23

Changes in the population size and compostion.

Question 24

Dependency Culture

Answer 24

A belief that the benefit system encourages recipients to live off welfare rather than work.

Question 25

Dependency Ratio

Answer 25

The relationship between the size of the working population and the dependent population.

Question 26

Dependent Children

Answer 26

Children under 16/16-19 undertaking full-time education.

Question 27

DINKY

Answer 27

Dual Income, No Kids Yet - Refers to a young couple in well-paid employment who have a high disposable income to spend on themselves and their home.

Question 28

Divorce

Answer 28

The legal termination of a marriage which allows the couple to remarry.

Question 29

Divorce Rate

Answer 29

Number of divorces per 1000 married couples in the population per year.

Question 30

Domestic Division of Labour

Answer 30

Refers to the way in which household and childcare tasks are divided between members of the family.

Question 31

Domestic Labour

Answer 31

Unpaid work such as housework within the home.

Question 32

Domestic Violence

Answer 32

Refers to the physical/emotional abuse of a spouse/child by an adult family member.

Question 33

Dual Burden

Answer 33

Having two things to do at once (e.g.: paid employment and domestic labour).

Question 34

Economic Asset

Answer 34

The idea that, in the past, children were seen to contribute to the household.

Question 35

Economic Burden

Answer 35

Children are financially dependent on their parents.

Question 36

Emotional Work

Answer 36

The caring, nurturing, supporting input a parent/spouse puts into their family.

Question 37

Empty Nest Family

Answer 37

Families where children have grown up and moved out of their parental home.

Question 38

Empty-Shell Marriages

Answer 38

The married couple live together and remain legally married, but only in name. It is often for the sake of the children.

Question 39

Expressive Role

Answer 39

The caring, nurturing, supportive role. Many functionalists believe women naturally carry this role out.

Question 40

Extended Family

Answer 40

A family that keeps in close contact with a wider range of kin.

Question 41

Ethnic Group

Answer 41

People who share heritage, culture and identity and see themselves as a distinct group.

Question 42

Family

Answer 42

A group of people related by blood, marriage, civil partnership or adoption.

Question 43

Family Policy

Answer 43

Social policies introduced by the government which affect the family.

Question 44

Exchange Theory

Answer 44

The idea that people create, maintain or break relationships depending on the costs and benefits of doing so.

Question 45

Family Diversity

Answer 45

The idea that there is a range of different family types rather than a single dominant one.

Question 46

Family Practices

Answer 46

The routine actions through which we create our sense of 'being a family member'.