Family sociologists Flashcards

Question

Fletcher- family diversity

Answer 1

Rising expectations of marriage Higher expectations people place on marriage today are a major cause of rising divorce rates. Now days people divorce as soon as they feel unhappy in the relationship, they are less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage. These expectations come from perfect relationships seen in the media and films However, not all people have high expectations of marriage. Some people tolerate a marriage that they are very unhappy in e.g those facing domestic violence find it difficult to leave the relationship.

Answer 2

Changes in the position of women Womens increased willingness to seek divorce is that improvements in their economic position have made them less financially dependent on their husbands and therefore freer to end an unsatisfactory marriage. Laws such as sex discrimination act and equal pay act mean that women have economic independence. Although laws now exist which mean that women should be economically independent they still find themselves hitting a glass ceiling when it comes to getting a job that will earn them a decent amount of money.

Answer 3

Family diversity = bad Nuclear family is suited to meeting the needs of society, it is able to perform all functions of the family. All other types of families are seen as abnormal, inadequate or deviant because they are less able to perform the functions of the family However, other family types can still provide positive functions e.g lots of single parents still successfully socialise their children and provide for them economically

Answer 4

Family diversity = good Lesbian couples had more symmetrical relationships because of the absence of traditional gender scripts. This means that dunne sees the increase of same sex relationships as positive However, liberal feminists argue that the nuclear family is no longer as patriarchal as what radical feminists suggest. Liberal feminists argue that the nuclear family is now more symmetrical

Answer 5

Family diversity = bad The growth of family diversity are the cause of many social problems such as higher crime rates and educational failure. Lone parent families are seen as unnatural and harmful to children because the parent is unable to properly discipline the child. It also makes some mothers dependent on the welfare state which is seen as a perverse incentive. However, not all single mothers are benefit scroungers. Futhermore, the idea of all single parent families leading to criminal children is too deterministic, not all children raised in single parent families end up as criminals

Answer 6

Family diversity = good People now have a choice, they are no longer constrained by law, stigma or religion and can chose relationships that suit their needs, these relationships are more pure However, not all people have choice and freedom. Many asian females are forced into arranged marriages that they don’t want.

Answer 7

Family diversity = exaggerated Nuclear family is still the norm. Chester says a nuclear family means two generations living under one roof, so same sex couples that adopt or reconstituted families all still count as nuclear families technically. Also nuclear families are now neo conventional where the roles of the mother and father are flexible like symmetrical relationships

Answer 8

First childhood sociologist Childhood is socially constructed It is what particular societies at particular times and places say it is

Answer 9

Study of the middle ages The idea of childhood didn’t exist Children have the same rights as adults They are known as mini adults

Answer 10

Study of the tikcpia Less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority Doing as you are told is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child.

Answer 11

Study of the trobriand island. Childrens sexual behaviour. Adults took an attitude of tolerance and amused interest towards childrens sexual explorations and activities

Answer 12

Children are involved in active conflict in 21 countries around the world. Children are used to kill as well as being brutalized and killed themselves

Answer 13

March of progress view Children have become an economic liability as adults are now spending up to £227,000 by the time the child turns 21. This is because parents want to ensure they have the best childhood. Parents are also spending a lot more of their time caring for the children and protecting them. Evaluated by cline

Answer 14

Conflict view Argues that parents are becoming helicopter parents. Parents are paying extremely close attention to a childs life/ experiences. This can cause the child to feel suffocated and can prove to be very damaging for children who are not allowed any freedom Evaluation is shorter

Answer 15

March of progress view Talks about the increase in childhood consumer market. So children have as much choice as adults when it comes to buying things. Evaluated by Palmer

Answer 16

Conflict view Argues that the growth in the childhood consumer market is actually negative as it has created a toxic childhood this is due to products such as video games social media and fast food has damaged children’s physical emotional and intellectual development which leads to children facing addiction, obesity and anxiety Evaluated by Margo

Answer 17

March of progress view Argues that children are no longer seen and not herd and that families now involve children on important decisions for the family Evaluated by Brannen

Answer 18

Conflict view Study showing 15 and 16-year-old girls in Asian families were not likely to be able to give any input in decisions and were expected to remain quiet. Evaluated by aries

Answer 19

Childhood is disappearing at dazzling speed Growth of television main for children have access to the adult world meaning that they are exposed to the real world of sex, disaster, death and suffering. Television has gone against the information hierarchy which was in place when it was books. Evaluation: it is quite easy to recreate the information hierarchy for example parents can restrict what the children can view by putting blocks on the TV.

Answer 20

Talks about the pornification of youth culture. Stating that young people are growing up in an environment of sexual bullying and explicit images. Evaluation: The pornification of youth culture is seen by many as a moral panic. The majority of children remain innocent until their adult years.

Answer 21

Children are directly influenced by what they see in the media. Bandura claims that the media acts as a hypodermic syringed. And example of this is the murder of James Bolger. Where the two kids who committed the crime watched a violent film in which they copied when carrying out the crime. Evaluation: the idea is seen as too deterministic. Not all children directly copy what they see in the media

Answer 22

Due to the nuclear family dying out he argues that children become adults last refuge from the constant uncertainty and change in life. As a result adults become even more fearful for their children security and are even more preoccupied with protecting them from danger. Evaluation: Marie disagrees. He argues that when parents divorce, children are often neglected and don’t receive proper socialisation.

Answer 23

He argues that childhood is not disappearing as there is still a separate children’s culture dominant in society and the growth of specific media for children suggest they are more separate than ever. Evaluation: the rise of social media has my children more interested in adult music for example children dancing to adult music on tick-tock.

Answer 24

Increase in divorce Refers to the decline in stigma and changing attitudes of people. There is now less stigma attached to divorce as it has become more socially acceptable. Couples are more willing to resort to divorce as a means of solving their marital problems. Evaluation: some people do still hold views that divorce is shameful. There is now a large Muslim population living in the UK that see divorce as shameful.

Answer 25

Increase in divorce Due to secularisation. Which refers to the declining influence of religion in society. The traditional opposition of the churches to divorce carries less weight in society and people are less likely to be influenced by this when making decisions. Evaluation: however sociologists such as Davie argue that secularisation is not occurring and people are still very religious.

Answer 26

Increase in divorce Due to rising expectations of marriages. People place a higher expectation on marriage which causes major rising divorce rates as people are quicker to end the relationship if they are unhappy. Evaluation: not all people have high expectations of marriages. Some people tolerate a marriage that they are very unhappy in for example those facing domestic violence find it difficult to leave a relationship.

Answer 27

Increase in divorce Due to changing in the position of women. One reason for women to seek or divorce is the improvements in their economic position. This has meant they are less financially dependent on their husband and therefore our Freer to end an unsatisfactory marriage. Evaluation: although laws now exist which means that women should be economically independent they still find themselves hitting a grass seed in when it comes to getting a job they will earn them a decent amount of money.

Answer 28

Parsons says that Family diversity is a bad thing due to it defeating the point of the nuclear family. Without having a husband and wife the functions and the family cannot be perform properly. All other types of family are seen as abnormal inadequate or deviant because they are less able to perform the functions required by the family. Evaluation: other family types can still provide positive functions for example lots of single-parent families still successfully socialise their children and provide for them economically.

Answer 29

Sees family diversity as a good thing as it shows that women are breaking free from the oppression of the patriarchal nuclear family. Family diversity allows for more symmetrical relationships because of the absence of the traditional gender scripts. Evaluation: liberal feminists argue that the nuclear family is no longer as patriarchal as what radical feminists suggests liberal feminists argue a nuclear family is now more symmetrical.

Answer 30

The growth of family diversity has resulted in an increase of crime rates and educational Failure. Lone parent families are seen as harmful to children because they cannot discipline their children properly. Evaluation: the idea of all single-parent families leading to criminal children is to deterministic, not all children raised in a single parent family end up as criminals.

Answer 31

Says that family diversity is a good thing as it shows that people now have choice. People are no longer strained by law, stigma Or religion. Relationships become more Pure Meaning that people are together because of love, happiness and attraction rather than being together because of tradition. Evaluation: not all people have choice and freedom. Many Asian female is in Britain are forced into arranged marriages that they don’t want.

Answer 32

Argues that Family diversity is exaggerated. And that the nuclear family is still the norm. He states that the nuclear family is now two generations under one roof rather than the traditional wife, husband and kids. He states that the nuclear family is now more conventional.

Answer 33

Aging population is bad. Talk about the dependency ratio. The increase in dependency ratio means that people need to pay greater amounts of tax to fund the extra public services that are needed to support old people. Evaluated by featherstone and hepworth

Answer 34

Ageing population is good Many old people are now working as they feel they are physically capable and enjoy doing so. They argue that the portrayal of old people being a drain on society is a moral panic and peoples personal age is often very different from their chronological age. Evaluation is the health and social care information Centre

Answer 35

Ageing population is good Old people boost the economy by spending money on body maintenance or would you vernation services such as cosmetic surgery gym memberships and anti ageing products

Answer 36

Ageing population is bad Ageism as the systematic stereotype and discrimination against individuals on the basis of their age. Old people are saying is incapable and a burden on society, young people become frustrated with old people. Routine ageism = terms like old dear and talking in a patronising manner. Institutional ageism = The systematic neglect and abuse of the elderly Evaluate with the department for culture

Answer 37

Ageing population is good Old people are likely to be well respected because of the activities they take part in. These activities include voluntary work attending neighbourhood for rooms and being involved in political campaigns. These activities build a sense of social cohesion in local communities. Evaluate with green

Answer 38

Ageing population is bad Roots refers to a sandwich generation of middle-aged or older women who actors carers for not only children but also their parents. This is overly demanding and seriously affects the quality of life for middle-aged females. Evaluate with bell.

Answer 39

Ageing population is good Found that an ageing population is having a positive room for it by increasing the amount of extended families. This plays an important role in aiding the socialisation process for children as well as providing unpaid childcare which is especially important as more women are going out to work now. Evaluate with roots

Answer 40

Marxist view Old people are seen as useless to capitalism. As a result they are not adequately supported and left to struggle in society. The bourgeoisie see no reason in supporting old people.

Answer 41

Functionalist view Argue that when old people become marginalised from society it is actually a good thing. As people age they lose vitality and are less well equipped to carry out jobs. If people continued with jobs into old age then the jobs would not be carried out particularly well. It is therefore a good thing that people stop working when they become too old.

Answer 42

Highlights that the increase in migration has had negative affects. A large population of Afro-Caribbean families are single-parent families and as a result boys fails receive adequate socialisation Evaluate with Lupton

Answer 43

Loughton argues that those that migrate from Asia are likely to live in extended families and this can strengthen the socialisation process for children and also play important roles family family such as unpaid social care. Evaluate with Murray

Answer 44

Immigrants are damaging for the economy as they are supposedly not working and only claiming benefits this has a negative impact on the economy called into such political groups. Evaluation: many migrant workers make a contributions to the economy and often take unwonted jobs by British workers.

Answer 45

Feminist view on migration Feminists argue that migration into the country can lead to an increase in patriarchy. She claims female migrants are limited in their job opportunities and that the only careers they can take on nurses, nannies, illegal sex workers. All these roles are stereotypical and reinforce inferior role of women. Evaluation: more women now smashing through the glass ceiling, even migrant women reaching top jobs more regularly

Answer 46

Providing economic support for people in society Promotes family diversity, more people willing to leave relationships now and that they get some support from the government. New right – bad because welfare state is a perverse incentive and creates dependency Culture for the underclass rad fem - View it as positive as it gives women some economic support so they feel easier to get out of a violent relationship.

Answer 47

Divorce became available to people that are not in there no fault marriage Promotes family diversity as people are now able to get out of a marriage. New right- see it as negative as divorce promotes single-parent families which can lead to many social problems. Rad fem- see it as positive as women can get out of marriage is easier

Answer 48

Prohibited any less favourable treatment between men and women Promotes family diversity, the act made it that women can work equally so they are now performing in the instrumental world which is not the idea of the traditional nuclear family. Functionalists – see it as a negative because women are not able to perform a expressive role and are now being instrumental role which opposes the nuclear family idea. Lib fem- see it as positive as women can now Scape the traditional expressive role and go out to work, society less patriarchal

Answer 49

Gives parents time off after childbirth woman have up to 1 year off and men two weeks. Promotes traditional nuclear family – women are able to complete the expressive role. lib fem- see as negative as women are unable to work if they have to look after their child when their husband is at work. The time the mother and the father get off work is not equal. Functionalists – see it as positive as women are fully able to perform the traditional expressive role

Answer 50

Government giving support to troubled families. Aims to get children back into school and reduce crime and antisocial behaviours. Promotes the nuclear family as it promotes the traditional family values. New right – see as positive as it encourages family to follow traditional roles and parents to stay together in support of children.

Answer 51

Made paternity and maternity leave more flexible. The couple could have a year off work between them. Promotes family diversity as parents can both stay at home and be the expressive role Functionalists- see it as negative as it is the only the woman that should be carrying out the expressive role the father should be out working. Lib fem- see it as positive as it gives women the chance to get back to work quicker knowing that the child is at home with the father

Answer 52

Same-sex marriage made legal in all parts of the UK Promotes family diversity Rad fem- see it as positive as women can now have more symmetrical relationships Post-modernist – see as as positive as well as people have more freedom and choice to be in a relationship

Answer 53

Reduce the amount of benefits household receive Promotes nuclear family New right – see it as positive as now families have less of a perverse incentive. Forces the end across to go to Work and get the money themselves. lib fem- See it as negative because women now don’t have a dependency culture so are less able to leave bad relationships due to not been able to provide for the family.

Answer 54

Tax perk for married couples, they can combine their earnings to reduce tax Promotes nuclear family New right – see it as positive as people will want to stay in a marriage to get a tax pack so reduce the amount of single-parent families Rad fem- see it as negative because men could benefit from the woman as they need a marriage to get the tax perk

Answer 55

The first sociologist to give us sociological explanation of couples He argued that men were best suited for perform in the instrumental role and women were best suited to performing the expressive role. Evaluation: this idea came under screwed to me as these roles were socially constructed by men in order to benefit men

Answer 56

Introduction of joint conjugal roles. These families were seen as more symmetrical and neo-conventional family. This was due to both the husband and wife doing equal roles in the family. Evaluate with Oakley

Answer 57

Found that there was no evidence of the symmetrical family. Although men claimed they help around the house this could be as little as Ironing one shirt a week. She argued that relationships are still patriarchal Evaluate with Willmott and young

Answer 58

Due to changes in law such as equal pay act and sex discrimination act far more women today or unpaid work and this means that men are becoming more used to doing housework. This has led to an introduction of the new man who is allegedly more caring, sharing, gentle, emotional, sensitive in his attitudes to his partner and is far more willing to share housework and childcare. Evaluate with ferri and smith and duncombe and marsden

Answer 59

Argue that women in paid work has not led to equality but simply the jewel burden. This is where women have to carry out paid work and come home to domestic work.

Answer 60

Women in paid work has led to a triple shift: paid work, domestic labour and looking after the emotional needs of family members.

Answer 61

Argued that the burden of house work on women has decreased due to the commercialisation of housework goods and services. Meaning that couples can now buy goods and services instead of women having to produce them at home for example dishwasher and ready meals. Evaluate with knusden

Answer 62

Criticise silver and schor As only the better off can afford labour saving Devices making tasks easier, and just because these devices exist doesn’t mean that men are doing any more to contribute, just means that the tasks women are forced to complete are made slightly easier

Answer 63

Found that men controlled finances in the home through the allowance system where husband would give his wife a small proportion of his income on a regular basis. Also found a system of pooling. This is where husband and wife have a joint bank account with equal access

Answer 64

Research on decision-making within the household. He found that very important decisions were usually decided by the husband as he brought more income into the home and Less important decisions were made by the wife like what food the family would eat. Evaluate with beck

Answer 65

Argues that greater gender equality and greater individualism has led to a new type of family be in the negotiated family. This is more equal. Women now have more power and negotiate with their husband when it comes to making decisions. Evaluate with edgel

Answer 66

Done a study on domestic violence. They found that men dominate women through domestic violence. This fear of abuse means that women will carry out whatever is demanded by the husband. Evaluation: not all men are aggressive, in some cases women can be domestic abusers.

Answer 67

Focuses on the economic factors caused by the bourgeoisie, domestic violence results from stress caused by exploitation in the workplace. Wives are the takers of shit Evaluation: not all male workers commit violent acts against their partners, if capitalism is because of domestic violence then why do men in noncapital this country is still commit domestic violence for example places like Russia.