Family - sociology Flashcards
Who are the key fuctionalist sociologists ?
Parsons
Murdock
What are Murdocks 4 functions of the family ?
Sexual function
Reproductive function
Economic function
Educational
What are Parsons 2 key functions of the family ?
Primary socalisation
Stabilisation of adult personalties
What is the main functionalist view of the family ?
The functionalist approach to families focuses on the positive and important functions that the nuclear family perform on indviduals & socitey
What are the criticisms of the fuctionalist perspective ?
- Marxists are critical of the nuclear family, as they see it as functional for capitalist society.
Socialising children into accepting the values of capitalism serves capitalism - Feminists are also critical of the nuclear family as they see it as a major source of female oppression
Nuclear families imprison women in their own homes, tied to children and housework
The apparent increase in domestic violence in the home shows that families are not a safe haven and that family life doesn’t always contribute to members’ wellbeing
Who is the key marxist sociologist ?
Zaretsky
What are Zaretsky’s key ideas ?
- Families serve as a buffer against the negative effects of capitalisim, not as a source of emotional support
- The role of the family is to reproduce labour - proletariat families reproduces the future generation of exploited workers
- The family is a vital unit of consumption - child centered socitey
What are the criticisms of the marxist perspective ?
- Feminists argue that Marxists, like functionalists, ignore family diversity as they tend to work with the traditional model of the nuclear family, with a male breadwinner and female housewife
- Functionalists view the nuclear family in positive terms as meeting the needs of individuals and industrial society
Who are the key feminist sociologists ?
Delphy & leonard
What are Delphy & Leonard’s key ideas ?
- They view the family as a patriarchal institution that men benefit from, as women are expected to do unpaid work inside the home
- The family is based on a hierarchy - The husband is at the top
What is meant by the dual burden ?
When women go out to work to earn money & then come home and have to do domestic work and childcare
What are the criticicsms of the feminist perspective
Delphy and Leonard do not consider egalitarian families that share power between their members
Marxist approaches argue that inequalities within families is linked to capitalism rather than patriarchy
Functionalists see the structure of the family as meeting the needs of individuals (including females) and society
What is a nuclear family ?
A mother & father and their children
What is an extended family ?
Multiple generations in one household
What is a beanpole family ?
When there are many generations with few children in each one
What is a reconstituted family ?
When 2 families come together - step parents
What is a same sex family ?
A gay or lesbian couple
What is a lone parent family ?
When their is one parent and their children
What are Rapport and Rapports key ideas ?
- Families in the UK are changing
- They is no longer a norm for a family type
- Diverse family types are just as functional of nuclear families
What is cohabiting
When 2 people live together but are not married
What is polygamy
One person is legally allowed to marry more than one person at a time.
What is polyandry
Where a women has multiple husbands
What is polygny
Where a man has multiple wives
What is an arranged marriage
A marriage in which bride and groom are chosen for each other by their families
What are the reaosons for increasing lone parent families ?
Secularisation- The decline in religion
A change in norms - It’s more normal now
Changing role of women - Women now work so can make money to provide for themselves
What is canalisation ?
The way in which parents channel their child’s interests in activities or toys to reflect stereotypical views of gender
What is conjugal relationships ?
The relationship between married partners
What is divorce ?
The legal ending of a marriage
What is division of labour ?
Household tasks divided between family members.
What is an empty nest family ?
A family where the children have moved out
What is an instrumental role ?
The family provider (usually associated with the traditional role of the male as ‘breadwinner’).
What is an expressive role
A woman’s role within the family to provide care and emotional support to other family members.
What is meant by joint conjugal roles ?
Husband & wife share household tasks
What is primary socalisation ?
The family is the agent of primary socialisation where the norms, values & culture of a society are first taught.
What are segregated conjugal roles ?
Husband & wife perform different & clearly defined activities.
What is a symetrical family ?
A family where responsibilities are equally shared between husband & wife.
What is the ‘warm bath theory’
Functionalist Parson’s argues that the family is like a ‘warm bath’ that helps to stabilise adult personalities by helping to relieve the stress of modern day living.
