Paper 2 Families And Households & beliefs Flashcards

Question 1

Q

what do functionalists think of the family

Answer

A

functionalists view society as a body, a collection of separate systems working together to maintain the whole. they view the family as an integral system to keep society functioning.

Question 2

Q

what do postmodernists believe

Answer

A

believe that we are in a new era and have greater freedom to choose our own identities, families, etc.

Question 3

Q

what does the personal life theory think of the family

Answer

A

the personal life approach recognises that the family is not the only significant relationship in people’s lives. It’s common for people to be estranged from their family or not have a family at all. Their identity or sense of belonging comes from other meaningful relationships

Question 4

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define cohabitation

Answer

A

families that live together but or not married or ina civil partnership

Question 5

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define an extended family

Answer

A

families that live with extended relatives - grandparents

Question 6

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define a lone parent

Answer

A

a single parent with one or more children

Question 7

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define a beanpole family

Answer

A

refers to the shape of the family tree, tall and thin, meaning families with a small number of children.

Question 8

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define a blended family

Answer

A

formed from other relationships - eg step families

Question 9

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define kinship

Answer

A

a unit of people linked together by blood, marriage, adoption, or other ties

Question 10

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define matrifocal

Answer

A

where the mother is the head of the hosuehold and makes all the decisions

Question 11

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define empty nest

Answer

A

refers to a household where there is a couple who had children, but they have now left the home.

Question 12

Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY

define empty shell

Answer

A

refers to a husband and wife who live together and remain legally married, but who experience no intimate or emotional relationship. eg remaining together for the kids

Question 13

Q

define conflict theory Vs. consensus theory

Answer

A

conflict theory
the idea that society is based on:
- values and interests of dominant groups
- emphasis on the difference and inequalities in society and looks to the ruling classes to explain these

consensus theory
the idea that society is based on:
- social order and stability come from unifying norms and values
- without these norms and values society crumbles

The consensus theory suggests that social order in society is based on a system of shared norms and values, while conflict theory proposes that social order in society is based on a system of inequality.

Question 14

Q

how does the family help society?
refer to a theorist and a functionalist, marxist, and feminist perspective

Answer

A

functionalists - see the family as the foundation of society
feminists- see family as serving the needs for men and oppressing women
marxists - argue that it meets the needs of capitalism, not those of family members or society as a whole.

THEORIST
george peter murdock - 1949
argued that the family performed 4 essential functions to meet the needs of coiety and its members
1. stable satisfaction of the sex drive
2. reproduction of the next generation
3. socialisation of the young
4. meeting its members and economics needs

Question 15

Q

what does parson believe about the family

Answer

A

argues that there are only 2 key functions of the family:
1. primary socialisation of kids
2. stabilisation of adult personalities

he believes that as society evolves the family loses some of it functions, due to structural differentiation -meaning institutions such as school has taken their place.

Question 16

Q

what is warm bath theory

Answer

A

the family provides an environment in which the stress of everyday working life is relieved. women are the foundation of the family and in service, children are centred.
men are able to use the family to relieve stress using unpaid labour of women.

Question 17

Q

what is the new right perspective

Answer

A

see the family as a cornerstone of society and the normal family as a nuclear family.
They believe in minimal government intervention and oppose social and welfare policies. This is because they undermine personal responsibility and creates a dependency culture.

Question 18

Q

what are the four functions of the family according to Murdock

Answer

A

stable satisfaction of the sex drive
reproduction - of the next generation
socialisation - of young people into societies shared norms and values
economics - meeting its members economic needs like food and shelters

Question 19

Q

what is structural differentiation

Answer

A

when institutions take over the role of the family (school). this means that parents have less control.

Question 20

Q

MARXIST KEY TERM

what is the bourgeoisie

Answer

A

the ruling elite class.
they own the means of production. eg. machinery, factories, etc. they profit from the work of the proletariat and run society in a way that maintains their rule

Question 21

Q

MARXIST KEY TERM

what is a base (subculture)

Answer

A

the means of production, eg. tools, machinery, factories.

Question 22

Q

MARXIST KEY TERM

what is a proletariat

Answer

A

the worker/working classes who are exploited by the bourgeoisie for their labour

Question 23

Q

MARXIST KEY TERM

what is a superstructure

Answer

A

the social institutions that make up society. eg. media, schools/education, religions.

Question 24

Q

MARXIST KEY TERM

what is capitalism

Answer

A

a social and economic system in which exists in all countries, it is based on private ownership of services and goods. people create and sell their products and services and each individual is responsible for their own economic success. capitalists own the means of production and benefit of the labour of their workers. the government plays a secondary role in capitalism as society is run by private ownership.

Question 25

Q

MARXISM

what is the marxist perspective on family

Answer

A

marxists believe that the family (particularly the nuclear family) is a tool of capitalism and its main function is to maintain capitalism and reinforce social inequalities.
it is a superstructure and is part of the way the bourgeoisie maintain the social order. it is a social institution that reinforces capitalist ideas overall.

Question 26

Q

MARXISM

what are strengths and weaknesses to the marxists perspective on the family

Answer

A

strengths:
- marxists explain the ideological role of families in society and suggest reasons people feel strongly about family structures
- offers an explanation of why families first developed in society
- points out unpleasant aspects of family life and the inequalities of power within the family
- feminist perspectives have based their analysis on marxist views
weaknesses:
- ignores the meanings families have for individuals
- presents people with an oversocialised view of humans, seeing socialisation as a one way process where children are embedded with capitalist culture
- its over focuses on the negative aspects of the family while ignoring the satisfaction it gives people
- ignores recent economic and educational changes which seem to have resulted in a radical change in how women think of their careers

Question 27

Q

What is Marxism?

Answer

A

Marxism is a structural conflict perspective. They see society as structured along class lines with institutions generally working in the interests of the small elite class who have economic power (The Bourgeoisie) and the much larger working class (the proletariat). The Bourgeoisie gain their wealth from exploiting the proletariat There is thus a conflict of interests between the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat.

Question 28

Q

What is feudalism

Answer

A

The dominant social system in medieval
Europe where society was based on the feudal pyramid, with king on top.
In the feudal system the nobility held lands from the crown, while peasants were obliged to live in their lords land.

Question 29

Q

what do Marxists believe about social conflict (his central view)

Answer

A

for marx, the centre of his view of society is the idea that there is a struggle between segments of society over valued resources. in particular, the battle between social classes over material goods.

Question 30

Q

how does the family reinforce the capitalist ideology - use theorists to support your answer

Answer

A

Engel’s view = due to inheritance of private property and ownership
Zaretsky’s view = due to women still doing the majority of housework and because children are socialised to accept and embody norms and values that uphold capitalism.
Althusser’s view = the family socialises children into the norms and values that are useful to the capitalist ruling class eg. obedience

Question 31

Q

the purpose of the family in marxism

the family helps to supply workers to capitalists in what ways?

Answer

A

more workers - raising children in a safe environment
free maintenance of work force - domestic labour
teach children to accept capitalism through socialisation
pressures family to keep up - the family feel they have to keep up a certain lifestyle for the capitalist agenda
the family is a cushion - Zaretsky believed the family allows the adults to feel stabilised and ignore the alienation of their working life, making them not rebel.

Question 32

Q

what is feminism perspective

Answer

A

feminsts perspective highlights the social issues that are often overlooked or misidentified. it analyses women’s experiences of gender subordination and identifies the underlying cause of gender opression.

Question 33

Q

diverse feminst theories

what do liberal feminists believe

Answer

A

they believe that women’s unequal access to social, political, and economic institutions cause their oppression

Question 34

Q

diverse feminst theories

what do radical feminists believe

Answer

A

they believe that oppression is rooted in sexuality. women’s bodies are controlled by violence, objectification, and social institutions.

Question 35

Q

Who suggested that the family is a ‘economy in miniature’? What does this mean?

Answer

A

Delphy and Leonard suggest that the family is a ‘economy in miniature’ This means that the family is run by the woman’s unpaid work. It is central to maintaining the patriarchal control of society. Like Marxists they believe that the elite of society profit off the work of the oppressed but for feminists the women are the oppressed and the men are the elite.

Question 36

Q

What is dual burden

Answer

A

Women still have to take most responsibility for the domestic work even in full time employment

Question 37

Q

What is the triple shift

Answer

A

Women take on the paid, emotional and domestic work in the home

Question 38

Q

Outline and explain 2 ways that Marxists explain how the family contributes to social inequalities

Answer

A

socialises children into dominant capitalist ideology ⬇️
Socialised through:
•• Superstructures - sending children to school to learn the capitalist ideology
•• Unit of consumption - feel pressured to consume and buy things to keep up. Children have power to encourage/force parents to buying and living a certain lifestyle.
cushioning and effect - family alleviates the alienation of work and quells rebellion. Zaretsky believed the family allows adults to feel stabilised and ignore the alienation of their working life.

(Example answer in book one)

Question 39

Q

Summarise radical feminism

Answer

A

all society = patriarchy
gender inequality = key problem
men = enemy/source of exploitation
family/marriage = maintain inequality and patriarchal societies which maintains stereotypes and therefore the nuclear family

Question 40

Q

Summarise Marxist feminism

Answer

A

capitalism = cause of gender inequality
↪️ system exploit women’s labour
↪️ patriarchy = causes capitalism
eliminate economic barrier = reach equality

Question 41

Q

Summarise liberal feminism

Answer

A

concerned on ending gender discrimination
egalitarian (balance of men and women) no enemy’s
critique to their view for not fighting to end unpaid labour

Question 42

Q

The personal life perspective argues that all families suffer from what 2 weaknesses

Answer

A

They tend to assume the traditional nuclear family is the dominant family type. Ignoring diversity in families today
They are all structural theories. They assume the hay families and their members are simply passive puppets manipulated by the structure of society to perform certain functions

Question 43

Q

How does the family perform an ideological function according to Marxists

Answer

A

It socialises children into the idea that hierarchy and inequality are inevitable and offer an illusory ‘haven’ from the harsh and explorative world of capitalism outside

Question 44

Q

Explain the difference between Marxist feminism and radical feminism

Answer

A

Marxist feminists see capitalism as the main cause of women’s oppression whereas radical feminists see men as the main cause

Question 45

Q

What is meant by a ‘bottom up’ approach to the family

Answer

A

An approach focusing on the meanings that individual family members hold and how these shape their actions and relationships

Question 46

Q

Give 2 examples of relationships some people regard as ‘family’ but aren’t based on blood or marriage

Answer

A

pets
relationships with friends

Question 47

Q

Define family diversity

Answer

A

The difference between families including: roles, organisation, and structures

Question 48

Q

‘Is family beneficial to society?’
Give reasons for why someone would say yes to this statement

Answer

A

Don’t have to know ALL:
- creates better variety of support systems, eg. Same sex couples
- provides a greater social world to experience
- women no longer oppressed badly by patriarchal relationships = post modernism
- flexibility in relationships - Giddens, confluent love
- no gender roles
- feminists = no evidence it doesn’t socialise kids as good

Question 49

Q

Is family beneficial to society?
Give reasons for why someone would say no to this statement

Answer

A

Don’t have to know ALL:
- can be less cohesive and hard to form shared norms and values - functionalist
- can go against religious or cultural views and norms
- ‘zombie families’ cannot provide (Beck)
- doesn’t support necessary socialisation AS well - functionalist, parsons
- leads to society breaking down, kids less socialised - new right

Question 50

Q

Define modernist

Answer

A

Where modern society is fairly fixed in its structure. Nuclear families are best suited to the capitalist working structure

Question 51

Q

FAMILY DIVERSITY

What is the functionalist/Parsons perspective on diversity?
(Is it good or bad?)

Answer

A

DIVERSITY = BAD

modernist perspective - nuclear families are better suited.
they see the split functions of the family into father and mother/husband and wife as beneficial (nuclear family is good)
other family types are dysfunctional as they are less able to support the necessary socialisation of children

Question 52

Q

FAMILY DIVERSITY

What is the New right perspective on diversity?
(Is it good or bad?)

Answer

A

DIVERSITY = BAD

patriarchal nuclear family is the only natural family type. Biological distinctions between men and women mean they are suited to the role of breadwinner and career.
marriage is necessary and more stable and shows a deliberate and permanent commitment.
Cohabiting is a negative trend as it’s more likely to end marriage.
⬆️ Harry Benson - cohabiting is more likely to break down in the first three years than a marriage. Cohabiting = 20% ended, marriage = 6% ended
social policy has increased diversity by supporting non - nuclear family types eg. Single mother benefit. This leads to society breaking down as children are more vulnerable in non-nuclear families. They are not socialised into societal norms and expectations

Question 53

Q

FAMILY DIVERSITY

What is the functionalist/Chester’s perspective on diversity?
(Is it good or bad?)

Answer

A

DIVERSITY = OVER-EXAGGERATED

Chester: neo-conventional family:
neo-conventional families (nuclear families but not as patriarchal).

movement away from gender roles, more equal partnership in domestic labour and wage earning. The family is still nuclear but the organisation is different.
majority of families are still nuclear and most non nuclear family types either were or will become nuclear.
most cohabiting families are temporary before getting married

Question 54

Q

FAMILY DIVERSITY

What is the rapoports perspective on diversity?
(Is it good or bad?)
Include the 5 types they found

Answer

A

DIVERSITY = GREAT

Study in 1980’s found family becoming more diverse. Looked at the changes to social policy and found this allowed for more diversity in the family.
Identified 5 types of family diversity:

organisational:
Differences in the way family organises its obligations. eg. More diversity in gender roles and expectations
cultural:
Social differences in families from different ethnicities
social class:
MC and WC had different ways of organising the family
life course:
Stage of life we are at means the family is structured and organised in different ways. Eg. Young 20 yr old couple and mid 40’s family
cohort:
The different generations had different expectations and roles in the family

Question 55

Q

FAMILY DIVERSITY

What is the post modernist perspective on diversity?
(Is it good or bad?)

Answer

A

DIVERSITY = GREAT

society is now more fractured and divided. People now exist as a collection of subcultures
people can create their identities from a variety of cultures and sexualities and social movements
the rapid rise of tech has dissolved the previous geographical and generational barriers making life less predictable
David Cheadle argues this decreases stability and increases freedom. Therefore we can no longer generalise about family life as it is too fractured and diverse

Question 56

Q

FAMILY DIVERSITY

What is Stacey’s postmodern feminist perspective on diversity?
(Is it good or bad?)

Answer

A

DIVERSITY = GREAT

The increased freedom has allowed women to no longer be oppressed by patriarchal relationships. Through life history interviews Stacey found that postmodern family’s women have been the agents of change rather than men. Women are creating families on their own terms

Question 57

Q

FAMILY DIVERSITY

What is Beck’s negotiated couple perspective on diversity?
(Is it good or bad?)

Answer

A

DIVERSITY = GREAT

We live in a risk society because we have more freedom to make choice so we are more aware if the risks to be able to calculate the risk reward ratio.
People can now negotiate their roles in the relationships, they are not confined by the patriarchal gender roles if traditional nuclear families. This means people can calculate what roles best suit their partnership.

However there are zombie families where they appear to function but cannot provide. They don’t end due to the need for comfort and structure in the postmodern world.

Question 58

Q

what is Giddens - confluent love, perspective

Answer

A

Relationships have moved from need to want. there is greater choice in what we can do so we have greater equality and flexibility in relationships.
this leads to a personal choice of family for personal satisfaction. marriages are less secure and only held by the will of people in them. these are referred to as pure relationships. they are less stable, leading to greater family diversity

Question 59

Q

what is the personal life perspective

Answer

A

agree with individualisation thesis from Beck and Giddens that there is greater family diversity but disagree that people have complete freedom of choice.
this is because we are still limited by traditional norms.

Question 60

Q

what is the connectedness thesis (smart)

Answer

A

That we have choices but these are always made within a web of connectedness; all choices are linked and influenced by our networks of existing relationships and interwoven personal histories.

Question 61

Q

what does may argue about changing power structures

Answer

A

may argues power structures are changing not disappearing. women have more rights but there are still barriers to accessing freedom in society

Question 62

Q

define social policy

Answer

A

ideas/policies made by political parties and government designed to affect/improve quality of life

Question 63

Q

the 1969 and 1984 divorce acts

how could this policy affect family life in the UK?

Answer

A

more women have more power = more file for divorces, this leads to more lone parents and re-marriages

Question 64

Q

the 1969 and 1984 divorce acts

does it support or undermine the traditional nuclear family?

Answer

A

undermine.
it shows women are not property (but in long term (chester) they will become nuclear families again

Answer 65

A

women.
as it is shown they are not mens property and have power

Answer 66

A

raise in the number of children. enforces a certain role of women in the family, as they have longer paid leave. benefits child centred society

Answer 67

A

both.
support = because more women have kids, encourages traditional roles
undermine = can encourage single mothers due to paid leave

Answer 68

A

women - can now be a lone parent; have a child and get paid still

Answer 69

A

more marriages and therefore diversity in families
decreases the social expectations of men unable to foster care
rise in adoption

Answer 70

A

undermine.
goes against what ‘traditional’ nuclear family looks like

Answer 71

A

same sex couples

Answer 72

A

rise in children, knowing its supported and you will gain money.
poor families can afford to have children
provides basic standard of living

Answer 73

A

support.
allows support for nuclear family as it encourages them to have kids

Answer 74

A

poorer families

Answer 75

A

more confidence to get a divorce, knowing there is support = more lone parents

Answer 76

A

undermine = more lone parents

Answer 77

A

lone parents

Answer 78

A

negative view.
- donzelot sees policy as a form of state power/control and survelliance over families
- argues doctors and social workers use their knowledge to control and change families
- argue social pocies operate in the interests of the capitalist class and reverse progress made.

Answer 79

A

negative view.
- argut it has reinforced the patriarchy
- only benefits men, not usually women

Answer 80

A

some polcies have damaged marriage and the nuclear family by promoting deviant family types/lifestyles
state should still play a MINIMAL role in peoples lives
family is naturally self-reliant

Answer 81

A

state serves the interests of society as a whole eg. free healthcare
but they assume all families benefit equally and there is a progress

Answer 82

A

positive view
- policy supports us all as a whole and keeps us going as a group
- helps develop and support families

Answer 83

A

positive view.
- social policies relating to equal work pay and opportunties has helped women to insist on more equality in the family

Answer 84

A

negative label, social disapproval or shame attached to a person, action, or relationship

Answer 85

A

decline in the influence of religion in society

Answer 86

A

It is bad.
Following consequences:
- elimination of nuclear family, they don’t believe other families can survive without it.
- negative influence on kids as they are more likely to be deviant
- rising number of single mothers who depend on and take advantage of the welfare system

Charles Murray:
Believes the above +
Claims that single parents are part of an ‘underclass’ that brings up kids in a dependency culture in which they become deviant

Answer 87

A

It is good.
- see post modernism as there cause behind changes in relationship trends
- people have more opportunities. Free to enter and exit relationships, creating diversity.

at the same time people get a divorce easier if a ‘more perfect’ partner comes - creating more diversity
Beck and BG call this a clash between love and individual freedom

Answer 88

A

It is bad.
- see divorce as being detrimental (harmful) to children and parents should stay together
- Rodger’s and Pryor argue children of divorced parents experience more poverty, poor housing, behavioural problems, teenage pregnancy, and educational underachievement

Answer 89

A

It is good.

The higher expectations people place in marriage today is a major cause of rising divorce rates. However, people’s continuation with marriage demonstrates a continued commitment to marriage within society. Therefore, divorce isn’t that bad as they are likely to get married again

Answer 90

A

It is good.
Women won’t have the burden of housework etc.
this frees women from the oppression of marriage.

Answer 91

A

pros
- kids learn to relate with different people
- kids develop good problem solving skills
- more diversity
- good financial security and family support

cons
- conflict increase within families
- tense relationships affects a kids wellbeing and attitude

Answer 92

A

pros
- more decision making power
- strong sense of community
- kids appreciate value of parenthood

cons
- work overload
- kids can get stressed and see a difference between friends lives
- kids prone to negative wellbeing

Answer 93

A

change in gender roles
domestic labour reliant on women still (radical feminism)
increase in state policy supporting single parents
more women working - equal pay, so they don’t rely on men for income
less focus on religion (secularisation)
more cohabitation = no reason to get married

Answer 94

A

confluent love

The individualisation of society means that people are looking for more meaningful relationships, and when these are no longer fulfilling the individual they will move on

Answer 95

A

liquid love

In a postmodern world we are so focused on on consumption that we can only form temporary relationships that satisfy immediate needs. To him our relationships are made up of fragile bonds.
Overall it shows that our relationships are made out of fragile bonds due to a lack of self love. This relates to marriages today as we see a mental health increase = no self love which means relationships are made temporary.

Answer 96

A

pros
- feminists view cohabitation as an advancement in society as it allows women freedom to not be restricted by the patriarchal nature of marriage.
- Stacy suggests that women are the agents of change in the family dynamic

cons
- new right view cohabitation as detrimental to society as it removes the structures of marriage that promote social norms

Answer 97

A

pros
- a study reported that children in gay and lesbian households are more likely to talk about emotionally difficult topics, and they are often more resilient, compassionate and tolerant.
- lower divorce rate for states that allow same sex marriage
- helps society become more diverse

cons
- lack of male or female figure in the family could lead to a lack of socialisation for the child and the child could also become more deviant
- some religions, like Christianity, don’t agree with same sex couples because one of the parts of a relationship in their eyes is the ability to reproduce which you can’t do in a same sex relationship

Answer 98

A

pros
- by actively managing their budgets and spend, single person households have more purchasing power. They also tend to socialise and spend more time outside than traditional families
- you have your own responsibilities and privacy. You have the choice of things in your own home.

cons
- you may get lonely and bored which could decrease your mental health
- chores and upkeep are up to your responsibility
- living costs are higher which leads to less savings

Answer 99

A

can visit and see the extended family more often
have close family connections through mobile phones

Answer 100

A

higher number of EF in Asian households
depending on where you are from, it may or may not be common.
(But this can also change depending on age and class)

Answer 101

A

finances can be shared
reconstituted family = new EF
pensions support EF

Answer 102

A

children are more supported
paid maternity leave
women more likely to take on caregiving roles for elderly

Answer 103

A

single parent benefits lowers EF
pension schemes support EF

Answer 104

A

The roles that men and women play in relation to housework, childcare and paid work.

Answer 105

A

80% are dissatisfied with housework
fragmentation and excessive pace, and loneliness make work boring
freedom is experienced as you can “be your own boss”
not happy due to their work not being appreciated = low status

Answer 106

A

It is a functionalist concept.
Associated sociologists: Talcott Parsons
Def: a dominant task orientated leader in the public sphere, taking care of economic needs and serving as an authority figure that makes decisions within a family.
Examples: the husband (men) has an instrumental role geared to succeed at work so that he can provide to the family. He is the breadwinner.

Evaluation:
This division is based on biological differences, it is beneficial to men and women, society and children.
**Criticism **- young and wilmott argue that men have more domestic tasks.
Feminists reject the view that the division is natural. It only benefits men.

Answer 107

A

It is a functionalist concept.
Associated sociologists: Talcott Parsons
Def: a functionalist understanding of the females function in the family. The role is to provide stabilisation, emotional support, child rearing.
Examples: the wife has an expressive role. She is the homemaker, full time housewife, rather than a wage earner.

Evaluation:
This division is based on biological differences, it is beneficial to men and women, society and children.
**Criticism **- young and wilmott argue that men have more domestic tasks.
Feminists reject the view that the division is natural. It only benefits men.

Answer 108

A

This a liberal feminist concept.
Associated sociologists: Elizabeth Bott
Def: the domestic and household responsibilities of partners
Examples: segregated conjugal roles - where couples have separate roles.
Joint CR - couples share their asks and spend leisure time together

Evaluation:
+ young and wilmott identified segregated CR in w/c Bethnal Green in the 1950’s: women as full time housewives and men using leisure time in pubs etc.

Answer 109

A

It is a liberal feminist concept.
Associated sociologists: young and wilmott
Def: they see family life as gradually improving, more equal. Roles in the family are now similar
examples:
- women now go to work
- men help with housework
- couples spend free time together

Evaluation: SF more common in younger couples. SF is a result of major social changes eg. New technology

Answer 110

A

Associated sociologists: Ann Oakley
Def: they argue little has changed, inequality remains in the family, women still do housework. They see it stemming from the fact that family and society is male dominated and patriarchal
Examples: only 15% husbands participated in housework, 25% in childcare.

Evaluation:
Mary Boultan found less than 20% of husbands supported childcare. Society supports the division of labour by it being patriarchal.

Answer 111

A

Why do women do more housework?
Crompton and Lyonette have 2 explanations:
- the cultural/ideological explanation
- the material/economic explanation

Answer 112

A

determined by patriarchal norms and values
society expects women to do more and socialises them to

Answer 113

A

women generally earn less so it is economically rational for women to do more, while men earn money

Answer 114

A

Gershuny - found couples whose parents had a more equal relationship are more likely to share housework equally themselves = parental role models are important

Answer 115

A

Sullivan - shows working full time rather than part time makes the biggest difference in terms of how much domestic labour each partner does, because full time brings women’s earnings closer to their or partners

Answer 116

A

• FOR: There is an emergence of the
‘New Man’ who is more involved in the family life shows that the instrumental and expressive roles are more evenly shared.
AGAINST: The ‘new man’ is only a minority of men. Women still do twice as much as men

• FOR: The rise of feminism means that women have more rights and power in society than previously, so are able to have roles outside of the home.

AGAINST: society is still male-dominated/patriarchal. There is still lower pay and stereotypical views. Still expectations to perform within the home

• FOR: The equal pay act allows for women to have careers and have led to a rise in dual-career or dual-earner families.

AGAINST: men are still likely to do less housework even when the woman is working. There is still a gender pay gap and men are likely to be higher power = high pay.

• FOR: The commercialisation of housework means that technology has reduced the amount of labour needed to complete housework and makes it easier for men to engage.

AGAINST: this also means less jobs are needed so women are more likely to stay at home. Still a privileged position to be in. LC stil pertorm.

• FOR: There are less value given to gender stereotypes in postmodern society, so men are more likely to taken on traditionally feminine roles.

AGAINST: socialisation reduces the amount done by men/women.
Still an unfair division of power.

Answer 117

A

She interviewed women and housewives

Answer 118

A

repetitive
lonely

Answer 119

A

Families are becoming more equal

Wilmott and young argue this

Answer 120

A

Men help with housework

Answer 121

A

Only 15% of husbands participated in housework

Answer 122

A

Increase in same sex marriage - same sex act

Lower marriage rate - less pressure

Answer 123

A

Due to Covid and the divorce act

Answer 124

A

People have fewer kids - focus on careers

Answer 125

A

The way: rise in lone parent families
Analysis 1: children aren’t fully socialised because they dont have both gendered parents
Analysis 2: boys without a dad - more likely to commit crimes due to the absence (functionalist)

Answer 126

A

Vogler identifies 2 main types of control over family income:
1. The allowance system - men give their wives an allowance with the man retaining any surplus for himself
2. Pooling - where both partners have access to low income and joint responsibility for expenditure. This is now on the increase/most common.

Answer 127

A

Kempson found in low income families women denied their own needs to make ends meet. A woman sees anything spent on herself as money/essentials for the children. Leaves women in poverty

Answer 128

A

Edgell did a study of professional couples and found that:
- very important decisions were taken by the husband
- important decisions were usually taken jointly and seldom by the wife alone
- less important decisions were made by the wife

He argues that this is because men on average earn more

Answer 129

A

Where a family shares roles and responsibilities equally

Answer 130

A

Women still take on the majority of domestic labour
- dual burden
- Anne Oakley - men don’t do much
Women still socialised into the role of the housewife
- children toys - hamley’s little housewife section
- Anne Oakley - socialisation into the role is pervasive in society
Decision making - men making more important decisions
- Stephen Edgell - men make financial decisions and women make domestic decisions

Answer 131

A

Russell and Rebecca Dobash’s (1979: 2007) research in Scotland, based on police and court records and interviews with women in women’s refuges. They cite examples of wives being slapped, pushed about, beaten, raped or killed by their husbands.

Dobash and Dobash found that violent incidents could be set off by what a husband saw as a challenge to his authority, such as his wife asking why he was late home for a meal. They argue that marriage legitimates violence against women by conferring power and authority on husbands and dependency on wives.

Answer 132

A

Firstly, victims may be unwilling to report it to the police. Stephanie Yearnshire (1997) found that on average a woman suffers 35 assaults before making a report.
Secondly, police and prosecutors may be reluctant to record, investigate or prosecute those cases that are reported to them. According to David Cheal (1991), this reluctance is due to the fact that police and other state agencies are not prepared to become involved in the family.

Answer 133

A

Radical feminists interpret findings such as those of Dobash and Dobash as evidence of patriarchy. For example, Kate Millett (1970) and Shulamith Firestone (1970) argue that all societies have been founded on patriarchy.
They see the key division in society as that between men and women. Men are the enemy: they are the oppressors and exploiters of women.

Radical feminists see the family and marriage as the key institutions in patriarchal society and the main source of women’s oppression. Within the family, men dominate women through domestic violence or the threat of it.
For radical feminists, widespread domestic violence is an inevitable feature of patriarchal society and serves to preserve the power that all men have over all women.

Answer 134

A

Radical feminists use the concept of patriarchy to explain why most victims of domestic violence are women, but they wrongly assume that all women are equally at risk of patriarchal violence. They explain why it is women and not men who are victims, but they fail to explain which women are most likely to be victims.

Answer 135

A

The materialist explanation of domestic violence focuses on economic and material factors such as inequalities in income and housing to explain why some groups are more at risk than others. For example, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett (2010) see domestic violence as the result of stress on family members caused by social inequality.

Answer 136

A

A dual earner family - still NF but not traditionally

Answer 137

A

The family provides a ‘cushion’ from the effects of ‘alienating work’

Answer 138

A

Socialisation means parents are passing down and continuing their traditional (patriarchal) values.

Answer 139

A

It does not occur randomly
Seen to be in patterns

Answer 140

A

In low social classes
In shared accommodation

Answer 141

A

Wilkinson and pickett don’t explain why women rather than men are main victims
not all males commit acts of violence against their partners

Answer 142

A

See inequality causing DV.
Fran ansley describes wives as ‘takers of shit’. Arguing DV is the product of capitalism: male workers are exploited at work = they take out their frustration on their wives. This explains why DV is mainly against females

Answer 143

A

Fails to explain why not all male workers commit acts of violence against a their partners.

Answer 144

A

Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage and children in our society occupy a different status from adults.

Answer 145

A

Aries argues that during this time ‘the idea of childhood did not exist’. Children were not seen as having a different ‘nature’ or needs from adults - at least not until infancy has passed.
Aries uses work of art as evidence, where children are seen with adults working.
Aries argues we have moved from a world that did not see childhood as in anyway special, to a world obsessed with it. He describes the 20th century as ‘the century of the child’

Answer 146

A

Sociologists have criticised Aries for arguing that childhood did not exist in the past.
Pollock argues that it’s more correct to say that in the Middle Ages, society simply had a different notion of childhood from today’s.

Answer 147

A

Yes.

They argue that childhood has improved significantly, and paints a rather dark picture of children in the past
Aries argues that children are more valued, protected, educated, and cared for than ever before.
For example, children today are protected from harm and exploitation by laws against child abuse and child labour, while an array of professionals and specialists caters for their educational, psychological and medical needs. The government spends huge sums on their education.
Better healthcare and higher standards of living also mean that babies have a much better chance of survival now than a century ago. In 1900, the infant mortality rate was 154 per 1,000 live births; today its 4 per 1,000.
Argue for a child centered family

Answer 148

A

Laws restricting children working as this helps separate the difference between children and adults and can allow children to have a safer childhood because they are not being exploited by parents or working in dangerous conditions. For example, you have to be 14 to work.
1889 prevention of cruelty to children act as children are safer and live longer with less trauma. In 1989 the children act made the welfare of the child the fundamental principle of underpinning the work of agencies such as social services.
Compulsory school (1880) and raising the school leaving age as you have to be in education until your 18. This makes childhood better as it allows you to gain better qualifications and opportunities to gain a higher status and more money which can help their children in the future.

Answer 149

A

• Higher living standards and smaller family sizes (down from 5.7 births per woman in the 1860s to 1.83 in 2014) also mean that parents can afford to provide for children’s needs properly.
According to one estimate, by the time a child reaches their 21st birthday, they will have cost their parents over £227,000.
• March of progress argue this because children are no longer to be ‘seen and not heard’, as they were in the Victorian times.
• Instead they are now the focal point of the family and are invested financially and emotionally from their parents a lot more now than in the past.
• Parents have high aspirations for their children and want them to have a better life and greater opportunities than they themselves had.

Answer 150

A

Argues that the ‘new sociology of childhood’ aims to include the views and experiences of children themselves
e.g. mason and tripper show how children actively create their own definitions of their family, based on closeness= enables sociologists to explore the diverse childhoods that exist within a single society

Overall childhood is better

Answer 151

A

• Unlike Postman, lona Opie (1993) argues that childhood is not disappearing. Based on a lifetime of research into children’s unsupervised games, rhymes and songs, conducted with her husband Peter Opie, she argues that there is strong evidence of the continued existence of a separate children’s culture over many years.
• Postman’s study is valuable in showing how different types of communication technology, such as print and television, can influence the way in which childhood is constructed. However, he over-emphasises a single cause - television - at the expense of other factors that have influenced the development of childhood.
• Jenks does not agree with Postman that we are seeing the disappearance of childhood. Childhood continues to be a separate status, and the legal and other restrictions placed on what children can do continues to mark them off from adults.

Answer 152

A

• Critics of the child liberationist view argue that some adult control over children’s lives is justified on the grounds that children cannot make rational decisions and so are unable to safeguard their interests themselves.
• Critics also argue that, although children remain under adult supervision, they are not as powerless as the child liberationists claim. For example, as we saw earlier, the 1989 Children Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child establish the principle that children have legal rights to be protected and consulted

Answer 153

A

• Critics of Aries view on the fact that the influence of media is bad or childhood would argue that technology and educational software has helped to improve children’s skills and facilitate their learning
• They can be used as a classroom tool the with help children stay motivated in new ways

Answer 154

A

laws restricting children working - helps separate the difference between life and adults. Children are less at risk and can have a safe/fun childhood
compulsory school and raising school leaving age - helps separate the difference between kids and adults, kids get the opportunities to gain a higher status and make money
1889 prevention of cruelty to children act - children are safer and live longer with less trauma
lower infant mortality rates - population increases and more succession in kids, bigger families
laws restricting kids engaging in dangerous activities - population increases and kids can spend more of their free time freely

Answer 155

A

That childhood is a cultural experience.
The study showed Trobriander children and how they engage in sexual activity in keeping with their age.

Answer 156

A

Childhood is getting worse because..
- trend towards giving children the same rights as adults, disappearance of unsupervised games etc.

In postman’s view the cause first of the emergence of childhood, and now its disappearance, lies in the rise and fall of print culture and its replacement by TV culture.

Answer 157

A

Toxic childhood

Rapid technology and cultural changes in the past 25 years have damaged kids physical, emotional and intellectual development changes eg. Junk food, games, marketing

Answer 158

A

Consumption as compensation
Pugh suggests that parental spending on children is ‘consumption as compensation’ - parents who are ‘cash-rich but time-poor’ alleviate their guilt about not spending time with their kids by buying them whatever they want.

Answer 159

A

Influence of media
- believed media and peer groups have a stronger influence than parents
- exposure to media is an issue. Encouraged young girls to view themselves as sexual beings
- increase in social problems eg. Suicide, ed, in kids is an outcome of this process

Answer 160

A

Demography is the statistical study of human populations. Demographers use census data, surveys, and statistical models to analyse size, movement, and structure of populations.

Answer 161

A

There’s an emergence of the ‘ new man’ who is more involved in the family life showing that the instrumental and expressive roles are more evenly shared
The rise of feminism means that women have more rights and power in society than previously, so are able to have roles outside the home
The equal pay act allows for women to have careers and have led to rise in dualcareer or dual earner families
commercialisation of housework means that technology has reduced the amount of labour needed to complete housework and makes it easier for men to engage
The less values given to gender stereotypes in postmodern society, so men are more likely to take on traditionally feminine roles

Answer 162

A

The ‘ new man’ is a minority of men.
Women still do twice as much as men
Society is still male dominated/patriarchal. There is still lower and stereotypical views. There is still expectations to perform within the home.
Men are still likely to do less housework even when a woman is working. There is still a gender pay gap and men are more likely to be higher power meaning more pay for them
Less jobs are needed because of technology so women are more likely to stay stay at home.
socialisation reduces the amount done by men and women. There’s still an unfair division of power.

Answer 163

A

Parents are not as economically dependent on children, so they will have less kids. Women are now In employment, having children later means they have less kids. People focus on careers, having children is less of a priority. Longer life expectancy meaning more generations alive at once. Lower infant mortality rate = people having less children.

Answer 164

A

Mark scheme:
• an increase in junk food
•increase in screen time (video games)
• intensive marketing to children
• long work hours (parents shifts)
•the growing emphasis of testing in education.
• increase in mental health problems within children
• drugs and alcohol abuse
• early sexual experiences

Answer 165

A

Advantage - more freedom = formed more on love than a sense of duty or transactionality.

Disadvantage - less stable= more likely to breakdown.

Answer 166

A

Maintains the unequal division of labour - women caring for emotional needs of family and paid and unpaid labour.

Answer 167

A

Shifted and fragmented institution - emphasis on diversity and nuclear family is only one. The family is a product of personal preferences and life-style choices rather than a fixed institution.

Answer 168

A

Cultural, Social class, generational, organisational and life stage.

Answer 169

A

Men feeling challenge eg, women challenging their behaviour or exerting power over them

Answer 170

A

Parsons - as society changes the family changes to be the best fit.

Answer 171

A

Disagree - largely an illusion as the family cannot meet the members needs

Answer 172

A

Immigration is the movement of individuals away from their country of origin to a new country
(People arriving)

Emigration indicates people leaving the country in question (exit)

Answer 173

A

The difference between the number of persons who enter a territory (immigrants) and number of people who leave (emigrants) generally calculated over a year

Answer 174

A

increases labour supply and promoting innovation
Increases poverty

Answer 175

A

The family
- Lower fertility rates, an increase in bean pole families
- Women free to go to work – more dual earner couples

the dependency ratio
- Few people of working age – greater number of dependent people
- Burden of dependency may increase again

vanishing children
- Falling fertility rate – few children.
- Childhood becomes lonely, but may become more valued with less siblings

public services
- More people means more pressure on services. If there’s less - it is barely used and there’s a lack of money

ageing population
- less/more to care for and there may be less/more to care for the aging population. People may have to work to support themselves as there will be more old to young

Answer 176

A

Increasing life expectancy.
Declining infant mortality.
Declining fertility.

Answer 177

A

The proportion of the population that’s dependent on the welfare state in comparison of the proportion of the population in employment

Answer 178

A

How retirement, poverty, institutionalise and restriction of domestic and community roles in later life have contributed to artificially structuring or deepening the dependency of older people

Answer 179

A

religions are defined by their followers

don’t believe religion has to include a God
focus on how individuals and groups define religion for themselves
religion is seen as constructed and defined differently in areas; therefore avoiding generalisations

Answer 180

A

religions are collections of people believing in a supernatural power

focus on the content of religious beliefs
Weber’s definition - religion is belief in a superior power and beyond nature

Answer 181

A

religion is a series of beliefs that unite people together

focus on social or psychological functions religion performs
Durkheim’s definition; religion contributes to social integration, regardless of belief in God etc.

Answer 182

A

multiple religions existing and accepted in one society

Answer 183

A

pre-modernity = up to 17th century
modernity = 17th - 19th century
late modernity = 1970..
post modernity = 1980+

Answer 184

A

religion was dominant and controlled society, eg. church of England
more nuclear families - main structure
more focus on government, shifting away from catholic beliefs to the church of England

Answer 185

A

traditional on marriage and divorce
scientific discovery rises, people focus more on reasoning than religion
although there was still focus on religion, people became more distant

Answer 186

A

traditional beliefs decrease
divorce, same sex couples, gender equality rises
religious pluralism enters and a decrease in religion. more focused on science and facts
5% church
increase in migration = more religion and diversity = secularisation (KEY TERM!)

Answer 187

A

a world view or set of ideas and values

Answer 188

A

Marx belives an ideology is a false presentation of the world created by the ruling bourgeois. Marx saw religion as part a tool used by the bourgeois to enable them to control the working man and create a flase consciousness.

Answer 189

A

That equality will never work because it goes against ‘human nature’.
Victim blaming ideas about poverty, such as what Bowles and Gintis (1976) call ‘the poor are dumb’ theory of meritocracy: everyone has an equal chance in life, so the poor must be poor because they are stupid or lazy.
Racist ideas about the inferiority of ethnic minorities, which divide black and white workers and make them easier to rule.

Answer 190

A

Hegemony, according to Gramsci, is the ruling class’s ideological domination over society, where their beliefs and values are accepted as common sense.

However, Gramsci argues that the working class can develop a dual consciousness, combining ruling-class ideas with those formed from their own experiences of exploitation. This allows them to challenge hegemony and develop class consciousness, potentially leading to the overthrow of capitalism. For this to happen, a political party of organic intellectuals—workers who understand their oppression—must lead the movement.

Answer 191

A

Nationalism can have both positive and negative effects on society. From a functionalism view, it promotes social cohesion and stability, similar to civil religion, which unites people through shared beliefs. However, Gellner argues that nationalism, a product of industrialization, helps maintain social order but can be manipulated by elites. In false consciousness, nationalism distracts the working class from recognizing their exploitation by prioritizing national loyalty over class solidarity.

Answer 192

A

Mannheim’s free-floating intelligentsia refers to intellectuals who are independent from any social class. He believed this detachment would allow them to objectively analyze society and combine different ideologies for a balanced, collective view. However, critics argue that true neutrality is hard to achieve due to inherent biases.

Answer 193

A

Nations are real, distinctive communities each with its own unique characteristics and a long, shared history.
Every nation should be self-governing.
National loyalty and identity should come before all others, such as tribe, class or religion.

Answer 194

A

Anderson (2006) argues that a nation is only an ‘imagined community’, not a real one. Although we identify with it, we will never know most of its other members. This imagined community can bind millions of strangers together and create a sense of common purpose.

Answer 195

A

Mannheim argues that all belief systems provide a partial, one-sided view of the world, shaped by the interests of specific groups or classes. He distinguishes between two types of thought:
- ideological thought, which justifies maintaining the status quo and reflects the interests of privileged groups
- utopian thought, which advocates social change and reflects the interests of the underprivileged. For example, Marxism is a form of utopian thought.

Intellectuals who represent particular classes create these belief systems, but since they only serve specific groups, they present partial truths. This leads to social conflict, as different intellectuals produce conflicting ideas that support their group’s interests.

Answer 196

A

Karl Popper

Answer 197

A

Open Belief System: A system that welcomes questioning, criticism, and change, allowing its beliefs to be modified or rejected based on new evidence (e.g., science).

Closed Belief System: A system that resists change and criticism, holding its beliefs as absolute truths that cannot be challenged, often rejecting evidence that contradicts them (e.g., religion).

Answer 198

A

Paradigm Shifts in Sociology: Big changes in how sociologists understand society when new theories replace old ones. For example, shifting from functionalism (which sees society as stable) to conflict theories (which focus on social inequalities).

Answer 199

A

Science as an Open Belief System:
• Falsifiability, empirical evidence, peer review, cumulative knowledge, skepticism.

Science as a Closed Belief System:
• Paradigm shifts (Kuhn), institutional bias, scientific dogma.

Answer 200

A

Religion as an Open Belief System:
• Interpretive flexibility, pluralism, theological debates.

Religion as a Closed Belief System:
• Absolute truth, sacred texts, self-sustaining beliefs, faith over evidence.

Answer 201

A

Fast food
Or
Technology
Etc

Answer 202

A

Child benefits

Answer 203

A

Anne Oakley

Answer 204

A

Burden of emotional, paid and domestic work

Answer 205

A

Matrifocal

Answer 206

A

File for divorce without giving a reason
And
Secularisation

Answer 207

A

Unwritten rules in society considered as normal

Answer 208

A

Deaths per 1000 of children under one

Answer 209

A

Every 10 years

Answer 210

A

Average number of children per woman during childbearing years

Answer 211

A

The emotional support and caring role

Answer 212

A

Sue palmer

Answer 213

A

Abuse and violence in the family

Answer 214

A

Dual earning family with traditional roles

Answer 215

A

Cultural, Life course, Organisational, Generational, Social Class

Answer 216

A

Secularisation, less stigma, women’s financial independence, rising disillusionment with marriage

Answer 217

A

Murdock and Parsons

Answer 218

A

Economic, Reproduction, Socialisation, Stabilisation of Sex Drive

Answer 219

A

We create the family that suits our needs at that moment in time

Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Paper 2 Families And Households & beliefs Flashcards

Brainscape's Knowledge Genome^TM