Families and Kinship

Question 1

What is Murdoch’s theory of the nuclear family?

Answer 1

3 types of family -

Extended families
Polyamorous families
Nuclear families - Adults of both sexes, common residence, children (adoption or own), economic co-operation, approved sexual relationship

Question 2

Critique Murdoch’s theory of the nuclear family

Answer 2

Ignores same sex couples, cohabiting families and single parent families
Cheal 2002 - any group of which consists of people in intimate relationships which are believed to endure over time and across generations

Question 3

Explain how Finch’s theory of ‘display’ in families is useful in explaining contemporary families

Answer 3

Family is more about ‘displaying’ and ‘doing’ rather than just blood
In contemporary society some young people especially LGBT youth, are vulnerable to hate from their biological families and therefore they choose their peers as their family

Question 4

What is endogamy?

Answer 4

Marrying inside of your own class/race/religion

Question 5

What is exogamy?

Answer 5

Marrying outside your own class/race/religion

Question 6

What is serial monogamy?

Answer 6

Marrying many people over time, not at the same time

Question 7

Explain family of orientation

Answer 7

The family you are born into

Question 8

Explain family of procreation

Answer 8

The family you create through marriage and children

Question 9

What is direct affinity?

Answer 9

Relations through marriage by blood e.g. how a husband is related to his wife’s mother

Question 10

What is secondary affinity?

Answer 10

Relations through marriage by marriage e.g. how a husband is related to his wife’s brother-in-law

Question 11

What is collateral affinity?

Answer 11

Relatives of spouses relations e.g. the relation between a wife’s brother and the husbands sister

Question 12

How does Janet Finch define ‘displaying’ families?

Answer 12

Families show to each other and relevant audiences that their actions constitute ‘doing family things’ and these relationships are family

Question 13

What are the 3 profound shifts as a result of reproductive technology?

Answer 13

1. separation of intercourses from reproduction due to the contraceptive pill
2. fragmentation of the unity of reproduction - pregnancy is now possible without intercourse
3. organic unity of foetus and mother can no longer be assumed

Question 14

What is hypergamy?

Answer 14

Marrying above your social status - ‘marrying up’

Question 15

What is hypogamy?

Answer 15

Marrying below your social status - ‘marrying down’

Question 16

What percentage of marriages were civil ceremonies in 2013?

Answer 16

72%

Question 17

What are the 3 eras of marriage?

Answer 17

Cherlin (2004)
Early 20th century - institutional, relevant for the eyes of the law
Mid 20th century - companionate, equal for both partners
Since 1960s - individualised, for personal reasons

Question 18

What are the main characteristics of marriage naturalists and marriage planners?

Answer 18

Kefalas et al (2011) -
Marriage naturalists - live in rural areas, see marriage as a natural pathway to adulthood and tend to marry early
Marriage planners - live in metropolitan cities, put other goals e.g. career/owning house before marriage and tend to marry later

Question 19

What is spuriousness hypothesis?

Answer 19

The idea that there is no link between family structures and child outcomes - instead the link is between the fact they are linked with other variables e.g. marital issues and issues with children are negatively related to class

Question 20

What is selection hypothesis?

Answer 20

The idea that some adults have personality traits that mean they are at a higher risk of relationship issues and problematic parenting, therefore it has negative effects on children

Question 21

What number of marriages in the UK end in divorce in 2012?

Answer 21

100,000

Question 22

Which year did the first divorce between a same sex couple occur?

Answer 22

2015

Question 23

What are the main characteristics of the children act 1989?

Answer 23

Joint parental responsibility
Parents should negotiate between themselves
Children’s welfare comes first

Question 24

What is intensive motherhood?

Answer 24

Hays (1996)
A mother must recognise and respond to the child’s every desire, must have knowledge of what the experts consider proper child development and spend a good amount of time and money on it

Question 25

What are the cultural contradictions linked to intensive motherhood?

Answer 25

The differences between being a selfless, dedicated and warm mother, and the cool headed, competitive labour market

Question 26

What are ethnic penalties?

Answer 26

The economic and non-economic disadvantages that ethnic minorities face in the labour market compared to other ethnic groups

Question 27

What is intersectionality?

Answer 27

Refers to the interlocking relations between different social categories e.g. class/gender/ethnicity

Question 28

What are the 7 categories of abuse?

Answer 28

1. Physical abuse
2. Sexual abuse
3. Physiological abuse
4. Financial/material abuse
5. Neglect
6. Discriminatory abuse
7. Institutional abuse

Question 29

What is the main characteristic of the domestic violence, crime and victims act (2004, section 12)?

Answer 29

Powers to the courts to impose restraining orders more widely

Question 30

What are the differences between men and women’s violence?

Answer 30

Women’s motives for violence are self defence, whereas men’s are for intimidation, coercion or to punish unwanted behaviour
Men cause more hard injuries, women are hospitalised and suffer more stress

Question 31

What are Esping-Andersan’s 3 welfare states?

Answer 31

1. Social democracies - Scandinavian countries, aim to reduce social inequality, large welfare/high state involvement in family life, prepare in advance for the cost of caring for children/the aged/helpless instead of waiting until the family’s aid has run out
2. Conservative states - Germany, shaped by traditional family values, encourages family based assistance, breadwinner values - family benefits encourage stay at home mothers, minimum wages are set and minimum economic levels are secured, people have access to health/social services, state assistance only available when the families aid is exhausted
3. Liberal states - USA/UK, means tested assistance aimed at low income people, encourage self reliance through the labour market, has market economic focus, encourage market solutions to social problems, minimal intervention from state

Question 32

What are the main differences in teenage motherhood in the past and today?

Answer 32

1950/60s - majority of teen mothers were married, around 20% of children were adopted shortly after birth

2001 census - 9% married, 30% cohabited, there are few adoptions now, 25% jointly registered birth with fathers at different addresses

Question 33

Why is genealogical knowledge important in some societies?

Answer 33

Identity, emotional attachment, structures of affection
Basis of social and cultural organisation e.g. who is marriageable/who isn’t
Inheritance, property transmission, territorial claims, residence rules
Social status and power e.g. regarding age/relation/gender
Social duties and obligations - role and task allocations e.g. education, housework, jobs, care duties

Question 34

What is a virilocal residence?

Answer 34

Married couple lives with/near the husbands parents

Question 35

What is a uxorilocal residence?

Answer 35

Married couple lives with/near the wifes parents

Question 36

What is a avunculocal residence?

Answer 36

Married couple lives with/near the husbands mothers eldest brother

Question 37

What is a neolocal residence?

Answer 37

Married couple lives separately from both families