Family - sociology

Question 1

Who are the key fuctionalist sociologists ?

Answer 1

Parsons
Murdock

Question 2

What are Murdocks 4 functions of the family ?

Answer 2

Sexual function
Reproductive function
Economic function
Educational

Question 3

What are Parsons 2 key functions of the family ?

Answer 3

Primary socalisation
Stabilisation of adult personalties

Question 4

What is the main functionalist view of the family ?

Answer 4

The functionalist approach to families focuses on the positive and important functions that the nuclear family perform on indviduals & socitey

Question 5

What are the criticisms of the fuctionalist perspective ?

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Who is the key marxist sociologist ?

Answer 6

Zaretsky

Question 7

What are Zaretsky’s key ideas ?

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

What are the criticisms of the marxist perspective ?

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

Who are the key feminist sociologists ?

Answer 9

Delphy & leonard

Question 10

What are Delphy & Leonard’s key ideas ?

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

What is meant by the dual burden ?

Answer 11

When women go out to work to earn money & then come home and have to do domestic work and childcare

Question 12

What are the criticicsms of the feminist perspective

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is a nuclear family ?

Answer 13

A mother & father and their children

Question 14

What is an extended family ?

Answer 14

Multiple generations in one household

Question 15

What is a beanpole family ?

Answer 15

When there are many generations with few children in each one

Question 16

What is a reconstituted family ?

Answer 16

When 2 families come together - step parents

Question 17

What is a same sex family ?

Answer 17

A gay or lesbian couple

Question 18

What is a lone parent family ?

Answer 18

When their is one parent and their children

Question 19

What are Rapport and Rapports key ideas ?

Answer 19

• 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

Question 20

What is cohabiting

Answer 20

When 2 people live together but are not married

Question 21

What is polygamy

Answer 21

One person is legally allowed to marry more than one person at a time.

Question 22

What is polyandry

Answer 22

Where a women has multiple husbands

Question 22

What is polygny

Answer 22

Where a man has multiple wives

Question 23

What is an arranged marriage

Answer 23

A marriage in which bride and groom are chosen for each other by their families

Question 24

What are the reaosons for increasing lone parent families ?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What is canalisation ?

Answer 25

The way in which parents channel their child’s interests in activities or toys to reflect stereotypical views of gender

Question 26

What is conjugal relationships ?

Answer 26

The relationship between married partners

Question 27

What is divorce ?

Answer 27

The legal ending of a marriage

Question 28

What is division of labour ?

Answer 28

Household tasks divided between family members.

Question 29

What is an empty nest family ?

Answer 29

A family where the children have moved out

Question 30

What is an instrumental role ?

Answer 30

The family provider (usually associated with the traditional role of the male as ‘breadwinner’).

Question 30

What is an expressive role

Answer 30

A woman’s role within the family to provide care and emotional support to other family members.

Question 31

What is meant by joint conjugal roles ?

Answer 31

Husband & wife share household tasks

Question 32

What is primary socalisation ?

Answer 32

The family is the agent of primary socialisation where the norms, values & culture of a society are first taught.

Question 33

What are segregated conjugal roles ?

Answer 33

Husband & wife perform different & clearly defined activities.

Question 34

What is a symetrical family ?

Answer 34

A family where responsibilities are equally shared between husband & wife.

Question 35

What is the ‘warm bath theory’

Answer 35

unctionalist 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.