family diversity (done) Flashcards
what is a norm?
a standard of behaviour that is shared by a group and accepted within it
what is a value?
a belief that something is good or desirable. These represent general guidelines to behaviour in a society
what is a role?
the part that an individual acts or plays in society
what is status?
an individual’s social position in society. This can relate to the job an individual has. Two types of status; ascribed - status fixed at birth and achieved status - gained through own efforts
what is socialization?
the learning of the norms and values of society. This process occurs within the family
what is culture?
a way of life in a social group. This leads to accepted ways of behaviour from members of that social group
what is social control?
the maintenance of order in society. This is vital if society is to function properly. It’s underpinned by shared norms and values. Two types of controls; informal controls like parents and formal controls such as police and legal systems
what is the definition of a family?
A social institution consisting of a group of people who are related by kinship ties; relations of blood, marriage and adoption
what is a consensus?
agreement, cooperation, social unity, shared norms and values and harmony
what is conflict?
conflict of interest, some benefits more than others, norms and values not freely agreed by everyone, exploitation
what is Structure (macro)?
constrained, structured, social force, external forces, moulding, directing and controlling
what is Social action (micro)?
individual and conscious thoughts, awareness and negotiation
what is functionalism?
Emphasize integration and harmony
Sees family as a vital organ
Interested in the contribution the family makes to satisfying the functional prerequisites or basic needs
murdock?
Offers a traditional view of the family and is seen as nuclear
Perform 4 basic and essential functions; sexual reproduction socialising and economic.
Believe marriage and nuclear family provide best opportunity for social control
Unit of production and unit of consumption
Emphasis practicality of nuclear family
parsons?
2 basic functions of the family found in every society; primary socialisation of children, stabilization of adult personalities (place where the adults can relax
“ warm bath theory”- woman perform the expressive role (caring and loving) men perform the instrumental role (breadwinner)
The family are like a ‘warm bath’ husband arrives home from a stressful day at work and sinks into the ‘warm bath’ which family provides
what is the functional fit thesis?
Parosn argues family will ‘fit’ needs of society
Bell and vogel?
Children act as scapegoats but this is functional as families cam vent frustration at home rather than wider society
Is a micro- sociological theory
Highlights some of the dysfunctional aspects of the family
give a summary of functionalists?
Family meet the needs of society by socialising children into shared norms and values, leading to harmony and stability
Family social institution providing security for the conception
Sexual division of labour in the family; woman performing expressive role and helps maintain stable society
Family is a supportive and generally harmonious and happy social institution.
give some criticisms of functionalists?
Murdock and parsons downplay conflict
Children may become scapegoats causing harm
Parsons view of ‘instrumental’ and ‘expressive’ is very old fashioned
Ignores family diversity
Leach - privatisation as a destructive
Laing- family as a destructive and exploitative institution
Feminist would criticise expressive and instrumental roles
what is the personal life perspective?
Influenced by interactionism and postmodernist approaches Bottoms up approach Meaning Individuals Negotiation Thought and feeling
Stacey?
Accepting of family diversity and the divorce-extended family
Focus on meaning to the individual ‘fictive’ kin
clarke?
Focus on how people feel about their relationships
How does it feel to be married
Focus on the interactions, roles and meanings
Nordquist and smart ?
(donor-conceived family)
Found that issue of blood and genes raised a range of feeling for members of those families
leach?
Wrote the book ‘a runaway world’
Pessimistic view of the family
Nuclear family is isolated from kin and wider community
Stress is too much and this results in conflict
Describes the family as a ‘Overloaded electrical circuit’’