Section B - Family

Question 1

Define Family

Answer 1

People related by blood, law or marriage

Question 2

Define Nuclear family

Answer 2

A husband and wife and their children who live together in the same household. Stereotypical family

Question 3

Define Extended family

Answer 3

a family which includes the grandparents and other relatives

Question 4

Define Vertically extended family

Answer 4

A nuclear family extended with grandparents (from the generation above)

Question 5

Define Horizontally extended family

Answer 5

A nuclear family extended with aunts, uncles, cousins.

Question 6

Define Lone parent family

Answer 6

A single parent living with their children

Question 7

Define Same sex family

Answer 7

Two people of the same sex living with their children

Question 8

Define Non family households

Answer 8

Households where people live together who are not related by blood, law or marriage

Question 9

Define Shared households

Answer 9

Households where people who are not related live together, usually for economic reasons – for example student households, or young professionals living together

Question 10

Define Cohabiting couples

Answer 10

Couples who are not married by live together. 11.7% of households were made up of cohabiting couples in 2012 (compared with on 6.5% in 1996), making it the fasted growing type of household (ONS)

Question 11

Define Living apart together

Answer 11

A term developed by Levin, to describe a new type of family where adult partners do not live together, but can share the intimacy of family life and the autonomy of living alone.

Question 12

Define Singlehood

Answer 12

Where people live alone

Question 13

Define Beanpole family

Answer 13

A multi-generation extended family, in a pattern which is long and thin, with few aunts and uncles, reflecting fewer children being born in each generation, but people living longer

Question 14

Define Marriage rate

Answer 14

calculated as the number of marriages per one thousand people per year.

Question 15

Define Divorce rate

Answer 15

calculated as the number of divorces per one thousand people per year.

Question 16

Define Birth rate

Answer 16

calculated as the number of births per one thousand people per year.

Question 17

Define Total fertility rate

Answer 17

The number of children who would be born per woman - can be considered a more useful measurement as it can be compared more easily over time.

Question 18

Define Ageing population

Answer 18

Ageing population is an increasing median age in a region due to declining fertility rates and/or rising life expectancy

Question 19

Define Ideology of the nuclear family

Answer 19

The argument that the nuclear family is the best family type for individuals and society as a whole

Question 20

Define Cereal packet family

Answer 20

An idea developed by Leach – he used this term to demonstrate that the media portrays the nuclear family as the ideal through advertising and TV programs.

Question 21

Define Consensus theory

Answer 21

Theories which argue we all share certain norms and values and that society generally functions smoothly (e.g. functionalist theory)

Question 22

Define Conflict theory

Answer 22

Theories which argue society is generally based on conflict (class conflict, gender conflict) and sees society as unequal and requiring change.

Question 23

Define Functions of the family

Answer 23

Parsons argued that the family serves to meet the basic needs of society including education (primary socialisation), emotional gratification, economic support and sexual and reproductive needs.

Question 24

Define Dark side of the family

Answer 24

The negative aspects of the family e.g. abuse, inequality etc.

Question 25

Define Roles

Answer 25

Parts played by individuals in society e.g. mother, father, grandparent, child. These are often affected by gender or life stage

Question 26

Define Conjugal roles

Answer 26

Refers to the parts played by husband and wife

Question 27

Define Symmetrical families

Answer 27

The idea that relationships between husbands and wives are now equal

Question 28

Define Joint conjugal roles

Answer 28

When husbands and wives share responsibilities in the household

Question 29

Define Segregated conjugal roles

Answer 29

When husband and wife have separate roles in the household, e.g. husbands are the breadwinners and women are housewives.

Question 30

Define Child centred families

Answer 30

Increasingly children are places at the centre of the family and given more status/decision making power.

Question 31

Define Extension of childhood

Answer 31

The argument that childhood has been extended, possibly because young people now have to stay in education for longer and parents have more income to spend on them.

Question 32

Define Boomerang families

Answer 32

Refers to children who leave home to go to University but then return home to live with parents due to economic reasons

Question 33

Define ‘Kippers’ kids in parents pockets

Answer 33

A term developed by Heath (2004) referring to young people who continue to live with their parents in early adulthood to save money, but are eroding their parents savings

Question 34

Define Individualisation

Answer 34

Beck & beck Gersheim argue that we are no longer bound by traditional family obligations and are free to pursue our own individual interests. They argue this has led to family diversity.

Question 35

Define Confluent love

Answer 35

A term developed by Giddens – refers to the idea that we are less committed to long term relationships and more likely to pursue more superficial short term relationships that might be more convenient