Families: Perspectives Flashcards
define nuclear family
married couple and their biological children
both mum and dad can work
define cereal packet family
mum, dad, 2 children
only dad works
define extended family
wider family - beyond nuclear
aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc
define co-habitation
living together but not married
define reconstitured family
blended family (step)
two families join together after both having previously divorced
define bean pole family
long and thin multi-generational family
define functionalism
individuals and institutions in society whom all agree about what is right in society.
it sees society through rose-tinted glasses.
Talcott Parsons
he believes the family has fewer functions and is no longer responsible for the education and financial support of its members. he doesn’t think its a bad thing having more support from outside agencies as it allows the modern family to be more specialised than it was - structural differentiation.
satisfaction of the sex drive - why is it important? does the family perform effectively?
- maintaining a socially approved sexual relationship with 1 partner to avoid a sexual ‘free for all’. it keeps sexually motivated crimes low.
- adultery is a sign that it isn’t always happening.
- rape cases are high.
reproduction - why is it important? does the family still perform it effectively?
- without it, society would not survive.
- IVF/ adoption
- choose to remain childless.
Emile Durkheim
Durkheim believed family was the most important institution in society. without stable family life, he believed society would fall apart. it is both functional for:
- individual
- society
Durkheim argued that family has adapted to meet societal change e.g. from extended family to nuclear.
Parsons 2 functions of the family
- Primary socialisation of children: through family, children are socialised into appropraite behaviour, learn societal norms and values. families are ‘personality factories’
- stabilisation of adult personalities: family eases the stress of modern life by providing a relaxing environment. wife - expressive husband - instrumental
this is referred to as ‘the warm bath theory’
organic analogy
brain: education
heart: family
lungs: religion
liver: law
economy: is it important? do the family still perform it effectively?
- being able to provide the basic necessities. it ensures a basic standard of living and gives everyone equal opportunities.
- welfare state: benefits.
socialisation: why is it necessary? Does the family still perform it effectively?
- it teaches the young societal values and norms.
- it is needed because it prevents chaos and anomie in society.
- social services
- nursery
- compulsory schooling
the universal family
1950
Murdock claimed family was universal. he defined it as:
“a social group characterised by a common residence, economic co-operation, and reproduction. it includes adults of both sexes a least two of whom maintain a socially approved relationship and who have one or more children, either their own or adopted”
Parsons 2 needs of industrial society
- A geographically mobile workplace: people need to move where the jobs are. it is easier for a compact, 2 generational family to move rather than a large extended family.
- A socially mobile workforce: modern industrial society is based upon a constantly evolving knowledge of science and technology, so it requires a skilled and technically competent workforce. it’s important that talented people can win promotions and have the best jobs. status is achieved therefore this allows social mobility to soar.
define marxism
Karl Marx
the idea that society is split into 2: the bourgeoisie and proletariat - ruling and working class.
the proletariat exploit the bourgeoisie and benefit in every way.
ideological state apparatus
institution that transmits the norms and values of the state to the individuals within to maintain social order.
marxist beliefs
society is based on capitalism.
all systems (church, educstion, media) help maintain inequality.
working class have developed a false class conscious.a
marxism - family
passing on wealth through family (inheritance)
ideological function justifies the ruling class’s position of power and working class acceptance.
unit of consumption: family pay for goods more than cost to make, and therefore ruling class profits.
marxism evaluation
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explains inequality in society and how the working class accepts this inequality.
explores how capitalism has evolved through the building up of wealth and the need to pass wealth through family.
- assumes nuclear family is dominant - ignores growing family diversity
- functionalists say Marxists ignore the benefits family brings: mutual support and intimacy.
how does the family help capitalism
- family produces next generation of wage slaves
- families socialize children to accept the values of effort, hard work, and respect
- having a family discourages men from taking industrial action (strikes) as they have a family to support
- unit of consumption: family buys things for more than they cost
New Right beliefs on family
society should be traiditonal: get married, have children.
cereal pakcet family is the strongest famiy type
New Right beliefs on family types
Single-parent families: single parents lead to violence and crime. also, leads to maternal deprivation.
same-sex families: seen as deviant. cannot carry out traditional gender roles - expressive and instrumental.
nuclear: agree mostly, but mothers shouldn’t work.
New Right vs Functionalism
Functionalists would argue that children aren’t suffering because of the decline in the nuclear family, as the welfare state ensures that people have all the necessities.
New Right vs Marxism
both believe in a traditional family ideology - a definitive set of ideas about what constitutes as an ‘ideal family’.
both believe cereal packet family is best.
New Right evaluation
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statistics show there has been a decrease in the number of marriages, and an increase in the number of divorces means the nuclear family is in decline.
statistics also show children from single-parent families suffer more maternal deprivation, so they may achieve less academically.
-
feminists would argue that working mothers do not pose a threat to the traditional nuclear family as women now undertake a ‘dual burden’ - fran ansley
feminist view on family
all have a common belief that we live in a patriarchal society - all seek equality for women.
what do liberal feminists believe?
gaining equality through campaigning
how does liberal feminism theory apply to the family?
- has brought greater equality in the family
- e.g. womens’ vote, sex discrimination act, equal pay act.
- similar view to ‘march of progress’ - things are getting better
liberal feminism evaluation
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- campaigning has brought families closer to equality
- shared roles in the family, men doing more
- attitudes on how boys and girls are socialized are changing
-
- changes in law does not mean change in attitude
- Marxist and radical feminists criticize the view for ignoring the underlying cause of inequality and oppression
what do Marxist feminists believe?
- capitalism is the source of women’s oppression
- women perform vital functions for capitalism.
how does marxist feminism theory apply to family?
- reproducing next labour force
- absorbing mens’ anger
- reserve army of cheap labour
marxist feminism evaluation
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highlights womens’ exploitation by capitalism
dual burden/ triple shift/ reserve army of labour
-
ignored modern day life where women can be breadwinners
women were opressed before capitalism, so no guarantee that abolition of capitalism will mean end of oppression.
Fran Ansley
“women are takers of shit”
women deal with husbands’ anger and frustrations from work
what do radical feminists believe?
- the key division in society between men and women
- patriarchy is the source of women’s oppression
- men benefit from society
how does radical feminism theory apply to the family?
- patriarchy leads to the subordination of women and children in the home, as well as in wider society
- rape and sexual assault - male power
- want to abolish the family, women can live without men
radical feminist evaluation
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- highlight how women are subjected to male dominance
- highlights power men have over women
- shows how power is exerted
-
- ignores some women who enjoy living with men and being mothers
- liberal feminists criticize for not seeing how women’s lives have improved e.g. jobs, marriage, fertility
what do difference feminists believe?
women are different and experience oppression differently depending on class or ethnicity.
how does the different feminism theory apply to the family?
many black families see the family as positive
acts as a support in the face of radical oppression
difference feminism evaluation
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acknowledge that women have different experiences, so we cannot generalize about women’s experiences.
-
despite differences, women do have many of the same experiences compared to men, they face a greater risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, low pay, living in poverty, and exploitation.
what do PLP believe?
traditional theories have 2 major criticisms:
1. thet assume that the traditional nuclear family is the dominant type
2. they are all structural theories
Smart: connectedness theory
We are fundamentally social beings whose choices are always made ‘within a web of connectedness’.
we have a choice but not as much as the individualisation perspective proposes.
Smart: same sex couples
individuals in the same sex relationships attach no importance to who controls the money and are often happy to leave this to their choice.
egalitarian relationship - equal, power, choice.
greater freedom amongst same sex couples - no gendered belief surrounding money/ domestic labour.
PLP evaluation
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- recognizes that people are more active in constructing family lives.
- highlights the complexity of contemporary family life
- highlights that there are more meaningful relationships.
-
- people are not entirely able to decide for themselves how to shape their families.
- too broad a definition of family.
