Family Flashcards
Extended Family
Refers to a group of relatives extending beyond the nuclear family. Typically three generations living together, or having regular contact if geographically apart.
Lone Parent Family
A family in which one parent lives with the child(ren).
Boomerang Family
When children move back in with their parents after having moved out to attend university etc. Reasons for this include:
- Caring for elderly parents
- Recession leading to youth unemployment
- Rising house prices
- Help raising children after divorce
Polygamous
Having more than one partner at a time.
Nuclear Family
A two-generation family consisting of a heterosexual couple living with their child(ren) - parents can be married or cohabiting.
Empty Nest
A family without children because they have left home.
Gay/Lesbian Family
A family in which a homosexual couple (married or cohabiting) live together with their child(ren) - through previous marriages, adoption, sperm banks etc.
Reconstituted/Blended Family
A family in which one or both partners have children from previous relationships living with them.
Beanpole Family
A multigenerational family in which each generation has fewer members (children) due to increased women’s rights and free contraception.
Family
A group of individuals related by blood or law.
Household
Consists of either one person who lives alone, or a group of people living together, e.g. a family or flat mates.
Functionalists View on Family
Family (POSITIVE) is the “heart” of society and has many functions:
- Primary Socialisation
- Provide emotional + economic support
- Develop Identity (teach culture/religion)
- Provide a means of controlling reproduction (encourage monogamy)
Marxists View on Family
Family (NEGATIVE) teaches children hierarchy and to obey authority.
Believe Functionalists view the family through “rose-tinted spectacles” and overlook all the domestic violence and sexual abuse taking place.
Over half of all child sexual abuse cases take place within the family.
New Rights View on Family
People who cannot financially support themselves or are drug addicts should not have children because they will be dysfunctional + depend on the welfare state.
Feminist View on Family
Family exploits women as they work double/triple shift and relationships are not fully democratic.
Marriage in the UK is on the decrease because…
- Role of women has changed (Sex Discrimination Act)
- Weddings are expensive (average £12,000)
- Secular society means increase in cohabiting couples and individuals do not value marriage as much anymore
Statistics to prove marriage has lost importance in modern society
- In the mid 1960s, 5% of women had lived with a man before marriage and this increased by 65% in the late 1990s.
- In 1975, 10% of children were born outside of marriage and this increased to 40% in 2000.
Divorce is on the increase because…
- Women are no longer financially dependant on men (Equal Pay Act)
- Increase in life expectancy
- Declining influence of religion
- Higher expectations of marriage (media)
- Divorce law changed in 1969 to include conditions like unreasonable behaviour a prolonged separation
Homosexual Rights
- Given the right to adopt a child (2002)
- Civil Partnership (2004) grants same legal rights to marriage
- Right to marriage in a religious place of worship (2013)
Beanpole families are on the increase because…
- Women have careers so cannot cope with lots of children/delay it
- Families have become more child-centred so opt for fewer children
- Increased availability of contraception means couple wait longer
Child-centred Family
- A family planned around the needs and want of the child(ren).
- Child(ren) get their own and find it difficult to obey authority.
- Parents work around the goals of their child, whether this involves practising flashcards or driving them to swimming lessons etc.
Reasons child-centred families exist
- Parents working long hours feel guilty for not spending enough time with their children
- Parents who have had a rough upbringing themselves will want to give their child the best possible experiences
- Single parents can feel guilty for not providing their child with a proper family unit so may be more lenient with them
- Results in parents spending excessive amounts on their children with extravagant toys, clothes and extracurricular activities.
Evaluate child-centred families
Advantage(s)
- Parents feel content/have peace of mind
- Parents are involved in their child’s upbringing
- Children instilled with confidence and self belief
Disadvantage(s)
- Stressful for parents (physically/mentally draining)
- Children become spoilt and cannot deal with rejection
- Perceive privilege as the norm so do not value hard work
- In frequent trouble at school as they do not obey authority
Arguments to support a decline in child-centred families
- More families are dual-worker so children receive less attention
- Electronics are frequently used to entertain children which have replaced traditional family time