Paper 1:Section B Families and Relationships Flashcards
Functionalists on the role of the family:
MURDOCK (1949)
Researched in 250 societies where he found that the nuclear family was present in some form
Four core functions:
Sexual-channel sex drives into acceptable relationships(monogamy) to minimise conflict
Economic-unit of consumption with needs looked after and benefits society
Reproduction-without children society would cease to exist
Education-become well balanced individuals creating consensus
Functionalists on the role of the family:
POPENOE(1996)
Biological imperatives which underline the way the family is organised
Women biologically suited to nursing children while men are biologically stronger
Functionalists on the role of the family:
PARSONS (1955)
As society has industrialised the functions have changed
1 Socialisation of children- primary socialisation from parents who are a ‘personality factory’ where children are moulded by parents to adapt to norms and values
2 stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory)married couples increasingly rely on each other for emotional support and provide a safe haven from the pressures of society
Functionalists on the role of the family:
Evaluation
Largely positive and optimistic but ignores the dark aspects of the family such as domestic and child abuse
Marxists on the role of the family:
COOPER (1972)
Family relationships represent the property relationships of capitalism in owning family members.
The family is a ideological conditioning device in which the family is a mini version of society and the agents of socialisation socialise children to accept capitalist norms and values.
Marxists on the role of the family:
ZARETSKY(1976)
With the rise of capitalism, work and family life have become separated and as workers we don’t achieve satisfaction and feel alienated which could cause problems within capitalism so the family maintains capitalism in two ways:
1. Reproduce and Socialise children- teach children capitalist norm and values
2. Units of consumption- buying products
The family is a refuge.
Marxists on the role of the family:
ENGELS (1844)
Used to have polygamy (multiple wives) but it was difficult for inheritance so to avoid this most advanced to monogamy with one faithful partner so there was a clear heir which benefited capitalism as the money stays within the Bourgeoisie and women are seen as possessions (chattels)
Marxists on the role of the family:
Evaluation
seen as outdated
fails to consider social divisions such as gender, ethnicity
only focuses on western societies
What are the 5 types of Feminism?
Liberal Black Marxist Radical Post
Radical Feminism on the role of the family:
DELPHY AND LEONARD (1992)
men are regarded as head of the household making key decisions, controlling finances and properties
Women contribute more through unpaid domestic work as well as the triple shift
Nuclear family represents patriarchal control
Marxist Feminism on the role of the family:
BENSTON (1972)
women renew mens ability to go out and work through domestic work
socialise and care for children producing the next generation of workers
exploited to benefit men and capitalism
Liberal Feminism on the role of the family:
SOMERVILLE (2000)
process of gradual reform is more effective
can now marry, cohabit, be single mothers or be a lesbian relationship if they chose too.
New Right on the role of the family:
MURRAY (1990)
Underclass has emerged
Blames the government as they reward irresponsible behaviour by giving over generous welfare benefits
Cohabitation, children outside of marriage and divorce have become too socially acceptable
Growing up without a father figure makes children more likely to turn to crime
New Right on the role of the family:
DENNIS AND ERDOS (2000)
Children raised by single mothers have lower educational attainment
Develop into immature, irresponsible and anti social
Poorer health than children from two parent families
Grow up without learning that adulthood involves taking responsibility for a wife and children
What percent of marriages were remarriages in 1940 and then in 2012?
9%
34%
What percentage were civil partnerships in 2012?
70%
What has happened to marriage over time?
Marriage rate has declined and greater numbers of remarriage
Marriage at a later age
Explanations of changing patterns of marriage and cohabitation:
Continuing importance of marriage
Evidence for some it is still important
People are delaying marriage not rejecting it
Women more career orientated and typically waiting till after 30
Many who cohabit go on to marry
In 2012 around a third of marriages were remarriages for one or both partners
18.2 million families in 2013 with around 12 million being married
Explanations of changing patterns of marriage and cohabitation:
The changing role of women
Feminists often see marriage as a patriarchal institution
SHARPE - the changing attitudes of women and their priorities
LANGFORD - women fear being alone with love as a natural basis for a relationship but in reality it conceals how men exercise power. Suggests women have not given up on the search for love
GREER - decline is a positive as women no longer accept oppression from their husbands
Explanations of changing patterns of marriage and cohabitation:
Changing social attitudes
Up until the 60’s there was social pressure to marry and if women were pregnant before marriage they would marry the father or put it up for adoption but now this is more socially acceptable
British social attitudes society(1989)
72% agreed or strongly agreed that couples who want children should be married but in 2012 this dropped to 42% and 75% saw sex before marriage as not wrong at all
Explanations of changing patterns of marriage and cohabitation:
Cohabitation as a alternative
(JAMIESON et al 2002)
Questions individualist view that cohabitation represents a reduced willingness to create life long partnerships
Found many saw it as a ‘try and see’ strategy in a survey of 20-29 year olds
Does not represent the turning away from commuted relationships
What are the trends of single person households?
People living alone in large numbers for the first time in history
Increasing proportion remaining single
Some choose to remain single
Often not there for whole life
Explanations for increase in single person households:
Klinenburg (2013)
Cult of the individual
Now focused on own needs
Explanations for increase in single person households:
Hall et all (1999)
Freedom in being single
