Family

Question 1

What does Ann Oakley say about the conventional nuclear family?

Answer 1

Oakley refers to the nuclear family as the conventional nuclear family because it is presented as the only acceptable family.

Question 2

What does Murdock say about the family?

Answer 2

Positive view of the nuclear family is reinforced by functionalists.
Murdock said that the family is vital for society.

Question 3

What functions does Murdock say that the family provide?

Answer 3

-Stable satisfaction of the sex drive (monogamous relationships)
-Biological reproduction
-Teaching norms and values
-Meeting economic needs

Question 4

What does talcott parsons say about the nuclear family?

Answer 4

If society is to operate as it should, children should be brought up in a nuclear family.

Question 5

Different types of family

Answer 5

lone parent
reconstituted/blended
cohabitation
extended family
beanpole family
modified extended family

Question 6

Reasons for changes in marriage patterns

Answer 6

Norms have changed over time; now socially acceptable to remain single, the stigma for unmarried women has gone.
It is socially acceptable to cohabit and have children outside of marriage.
Influence of religion has declined- society has become secularised.
The process of divorce is much easier to obtain.
Women have more economic independence; they dont have to marry for financial security.
Weddings are high costing

Question 7

What do the Rapoports say about family diversity?

Answer 7

The nuclear family was becoming one of many family types
There are different roles between men and women and in kinship patterns.

Question 8

What do the rapoports say about ethnic minority families?

Answer 8

Family diversity is also to be found among different ethnic groups.
African - Caribbean families have a lower rate of marriage and a higher rate of separation alongside a higher rate of single-hood.

Question 9

What are the reasons for family diversity?

Answer 9

Changes in norms/secularisation.
Changing position of women (girls have more opportunities)
Social and economic changes in society have led to an increase in numbers of lone parent families. (Can obtain welfare from the government)

Question 10

What is the New Right view on families?

Answer 10

The New Right view the nuclear family as the only adequate and acceptable family.
Murray says that boys brought up without a male role model will not have any fatherly behaviour to mimic and will lack the understanding of the role of men.

Question 11

What do feminists say about lone parent families?

Answer 11

Higher crime rates for lone parent families are a result of poverty - women may not be able to work because they are the sole childcare provider and the state benefits may not be enough to provide for the family.

Question 12

Why is there a growth in singlehood?

Answer 12

Change in norms
Contraceptives are more accessible
Position of women (economic independence)

Question 13

Why is the family in decline?

Answer 13

More children are born outside of marriage and fewer people are getting married - more family types are threatening the conventional nuclear family

Question 14

What are conjugal roles?

Answer 14

Parts played by men and women in a partnership and the jobs done in the family.

Question 15

What are segregated and integrated roles?

Answer 15

Segregated- roles between adult partners are different, division in duties.
Integrated- duties are similar between partners.

Question 16

What is the symmetrical family?

Answer 16

Wilmott and Young claimed that a new type of conjugal arrangement had emerged where relationships were equal although not identical.
Wage-earning, domestic roles and decision making were all shared between men and women.
Male and female roles were similar and balanced.

Question 17

What is stratified diffusion?

Answer 17

The way of life at the top will eventually will eventually filter down to those below.

Question 18

What is the crisis of masculinity?

Answer 18

Men are loosing their traditional roles and are left confused and unsure of their identity.

Question 19

What functions does Parsons say that the family should have?

Answer 19

Primary socialisation of children; norms and values are taught.
Stabilisation of the adult personality; married couples provide comfort for one another, known as the “warm bath theory” - women provide for males after a long day.

Question 20

Why do feminists criticise the functionalist view of family?

Answer 20

Feminists argue that the family works well for men and that the family benefit men more than women: they have drawn attention to domestic abuse and inequality in the home.

Question 21

What does parsons say about the privatised nuclear family?

Answer 21

It’s emerged because it is mobile and can move to areas where there are jobs, therefore it is more functional for the needs of modern society.

Question 22

How does the family serve the interests of capitalism?

Answer 22

Marxists see the family as serving the interests of the bourgeoisie and capitalism - families are organised to benefit.

Question 23

What does Eli Zaretsky say about the family?

Answer 23

Family benefits consumerism
Zaretsky argues that the family bring up children to be good workers.

Question 24

Why is the family a patriarchal institution?

Answer 24

Delphy and Leonard (radical feminists), see the family as only benefitting men; maintains the power of men over women. Women contribute to family life the most.

Question 25

Social control of females

Answer 25

Reinforced by what is known as ‘double standard of morality’, where girls’ sexuality is controlled.

Question 26

What does Sylvia Walby say about family?

Answer 26

Argues that domestic violence is rooted in a culture where women are regarded as inferior - domestic violence has become gender neutral and there needs to be more emphasis on male victims.

Question 27

What is a beanpole family?

Answer 27

Vertically extended family - few members in each generation.

Question 28

What is the ‘Cult of Private Life’?

Answer 28

Where people bury themselves into family life to ignore the injustices of capitalism.
(MARXIST VIEW)