Families & Households - couples, childhood, theories of the family, demography + changing family ect... Flashcards
COUPLES Sociologists :
Parsons
Bott
Willmott and Young
Feri & Smith
Dobash
Ansley
Wilkinson
Couples : Domestic Division Of Labour : Parsons
Parson believes that men and women have biologically suited roles that are functional for society: the men play the ‘instrumental role’ which is the ‘breadwinner’, earning the family income. Women are seen as ‘expressive’ and are the ‘homemaker’ the family member who cooks, cleans and looks after the children.
Couples : Domestic Division Of Labour : Bott
Bott believes in separated conjugal roles, the division of labour between men and women, couple spend time separately. Joint Conjugal Roles = couples share domestic tasks and leisure time.
Couples : Domestic Division Of Labour : Willmot & Young
Willmot &. Young say there are more symmetrical families as a result of increased conjugal roles.
Couples : Are Couples More Equal : March Of Progress
The ‘new man’ means couples have an equal share of housework and childcare.
Couples : Are Couples More Equal : Dual Burden
Women now do both paid work and domestic work (Feri & Smith)
Couples : Are Couples More Equal : Triple Shift
Women not only carry the dual burden of paid and domestic work, but also have to do emotional work (Duncombe & Marsden)
Couples : Decision Making : Material Explanation
Material Explanation, men have more power decision because they are earning more.
Couples : Decision Making : Cultural Explanation
Cultural explanation, gender role socialisation instils the view that men are the primary decision makers.
Couples : Domestic Abuse : Dobash
Dobash says that marriage and the nuclear family is the key institution of patriarchy, and the main source of women oppression. Domestic violence is inevitable because it serves to preserve the power men have over women.
Couples : Domestic Abuse : Ansley
Ansley, domestic violence is the product of capitalism, male workers are exploited at work and take their frustrations out on their wives.
Couples : Domestic Abuse : Wilkinson
Domestic violence is the result of the Stress on the family caused by social inequality.
Childhood : Summery
sociologist argue the position of children have improved due to the introduction of laws that protect children’s rights. However, some sociologists believe childhood has turned ‘toxic’ due to rapid technological and cultural change
Childhood : changes to childhood over time : Aries
Aries, in the middle ages, the idea of childhood didn’t exist (-social construct-). Children has the same responsibilities, rights and skills as adults - in turn, they were considered economic assets. However, as the modern notion of childhood began to emerge, there became a profound distinction between children in adults in terms of clothing, rights and responsibilities.
Childhood : changes to childhood over time : Postman
Postman, in modern society, childhood is ‘disappearing’. Children and adults have some of the same rights, children’s unsupervised traditional games are disappearing, children are committing ‘adult’ crimes. The printed word created a hierarchy between adults, who can read, and children, who cannot - this gave adults the power to keep ‘adult matters’ private. However, TV blurs the distinction and information hierarchy; Tv does not require special skills to access it.
Childhood : changes to childhood over time : Shorter
Shorter, in the middle ages, the high death rate of children encouraged indifference and neglect. E.g: parents referred to their child as “it” or gave the child a name of a recently dead sibling.
Childhood : has childhood improved : The March Of Progress view
Childhood has improved significantly, due to how children are now perceived as vulnerable people who need taking care of. In addition, there has been an introduction of laws which improve the experience of childhood (E.g. laws banning child labour)
Functionalists : The organic Analogy
The human body is made up of different parts that function together to meet its needs and maintain it. Functionalists believe society does the same, in which it is made up of interdependent parts (e.g. the education system, the government, religion.) that work together to maintain the social system as a whole