Section Four-Families And Households Flashcards
1
Q
Household
A
Group of people who live together. 25.3 million households recorded in GB
2
Q
Family
A
Household where people are related. Kinship group, related by birth or blood.
Non-kinship- foster children, step parents.
3
Q
Nuclear family
A
Two generations living together (parents and dependant children)
4
Q
Traditional extended family
A
Three or more generations of the same family living together or close by, frequent contact between aunts, cousins.
5
Q
Attenuated extended family
A
Nuclear families thst livid apart from their extended family, keep regular contact, via phone or email.
6
Q
Lone-parent families
A
Single parent and their dependent children.
7
Q
Reconstituted families
A
New step families created when two previous families brought together. For example, two new partners who bring children from previous relationship together.
8
Q
Functionalists emphasise positive role of family
A
Murdock (1949) family’s useful to society, inevitable and universal- can’t avoid having family units.
9
Q
Murdock (1949) looked at 250 societies in different cultures
A
Four basic functions:
Sexual-stable sexual relationship for adults.
Reproductive-new babies,new members.
Economic-provides for members
Educational-family teaches norms and values
10
Q
Argued family has two basic and irreducible (vital) functions
A
Primary socialisation- children learn and accept values and norms.Parson says ‘factories’ next citizens produced.
Stabilises personalities-emotional gives support and security.
11
Q
Functionalists families and households
A
Positive nature if the family as a two-way, equally useful and beneficial to individuals in society.
12
Q
Functionalists ignore negative aspects of family life
A
Morgan (1975) says Murdock made no reference to alternative households to family.
13
Q
Functionalists ignore negative aspects of family life
A
Murdock or Parsons didn’t look into conflict, class or violence. Feminists argued they ignored exploitation of women.
Functionalists overlook negative aspects, made their position weak.
14
Q
Marxists see family as meeting needs of the capitalist system
A
Engels (1884) family had an economic function keeping wealth within bourgeoisie by passing it on generations.
15
Q
Marxist view criticised being too negative
A
Being a tool of capitalist oppression, doesn’t mention nice things like bedtime stories.
16
Q
Criticisms of Marxist view of family
A
Focuses in benefits of the economy. Ignores benefits to individuals.
Workers male.housewives female
17
Q
Feminists belief family exploits and oppressed women
A
Social orders patriarchy. Combination of system,ideologies and cultural practices makes sure men have power.
18
Q
Ideology
A
Set of ideas about the way things are and the way things ought to be.
19
Q
Three main strands of feminist thought on the family.
A
Marxist feminists-capital system.
Radical feminists-power dominance of men.
Liberal feminists-cultural attitudes and laws that allow discrimination.
20
Q
Marxist feminism (exploitation of women essential for capitalism success)
A
Benston (1969) housework unpaid even at a minimum wage it damages capitalist profits.
21
Q
Radical feminism (housework’s an exploitation of women)
A
Delphy and Leonard (1992) family as a patriarchal institution which women do most of the work and men get most benefit.
22
Q
Liberal feminism (emphasises cultural norms and values reinforced by family)
A
Believe social change is possible. Put pressure on institutions as the legal system and government to change law which discriminate against women.
23
Q
Feminist theory criticised
A
Black feminists said the theories don’t address the women from different ethnic backgrounds based on different experiences.
24
Q
New Right believe nuclear family is bedrock of society
A
Murray (1989) welfare benefits are too high and create ‘culture of dependency’ take benefits rather than work.
25
Postmodernists say diversity in family structures good
Stacey (1990) never be one dominant type of family. Western societies varied and flexible. Move from one structure to another and not stuck with one fixed structure.
26
Parsons said industrialisation changed family structure
Extended and nuclear
27
Pre-industrial society
Society before industrialisation. largely agricultural and work centres on home,farm,village,market.
28
Industrial society
Society during and after industrialisation. Work centres on factories and production of goods in cities
29
Talcott Parsons (1951) nuclear families became dominant in industrial society
Pre-industrial society, extended family most common. Live and work together (goods and crops).
Industrial society, nuclear becomes dominant. Increase in individuals leaving home to work. Industrialisation separates home and work.
30
Functionalists say industrialisation changed functions of family
Parsons said nuclear family’s ’isolated’, few ties with local kinship and economics system. (Family can move easily, geographical mobility).
31
Functionalists say industrialisation changed roles and status in family
Parson says specialised roles come from family. Men instrumental (practical) leads and women expressive(emotional leaders.
32
Criticism of Functionalist Parson saying industrialisation changed roles and status in family
Peter Laslett (1972) reckons nuclear family was most common structure. Evidence is parish records
33
Willmot (1960) and young (1973) said families developed through three stages
They tested the theory, nuclear family is the dominant form in modern industrial society.
34
Stage one: pre-industrial
Family works together as an economic production unit. Work and home combined.
35
Stage two: early industrial
Extended family broken up as individuals (mostly men) leave home to work. Women at home have string extended kinship networks.
36
Stage three:privatised nuclear
Family based on consumption, not production-buying things, not making things. Nuclear family focused on personal relationships and lifestyle.
‘Symmetrical family’ husband and wife have joint roles.
37
Stage four:Asymmetrical (got dropped)
Husband and wife roles become asymmetrical as men spend more leisure time away from home-pub.
38
Helen Wilkinson (1994) Increasing number of women working
Helen Wilkinson (1994) Economy’s moved away from the historically male-dominated industrial sector to the female-dominated sector
39
Governments try to influence family structure through social policy
Laws made to influence family life/structure (social policy).
40
Social policy
Cover divorce, changes to the benefit system which affects family income, reforms educational system, adoption and employment.
41
Donzelot (1977) Social policy criticisms
Used to control families, argues health care visitors use their knowledge to control family behaviour.
42
1) 1979 (Margaret Thatcher as leader) Conservative government believed in reduce state intervention (law)
Influenced by New Right ideology, nuclear families cornerstone of society.
Society should be freed from interference by the state.
Uk had become as ‘nanny state’ too much government control over lives
43
2) 1979 (Margaret Thatcher as leader) Conservative government believed in reduce state intervention (law)
State intervenes much less in private matters.
Benefits were cut and lowered taxes.
Testings were introduced, help who genuinely need help.(income below a certain amount)
44
3) 1979 (Margaret Thatcher as leader) Conservative government believed in reduce state intervention (law)
Mothers encouraged to stay at home through preferential tax allowances.
Families pushed to take on more responsibility for older people through benefit cuts.
45
Conservatives legislated to protect people in traditional family
Thatcher (1988) described family as, the “building block of society”. School/Leisure place for refuge/rest.
46
New labour begin power
Came to power in 1997 led by Tony Blair
47
New labour promised a compromise between the old Ideologies
Laws allowing cohabitating couples to adopt children
2005 civil partnerships, a union like marriage available to gay couples.
48
After general election 2010
No party won a majority, coalition government of conservatives and Liberal Democrat’s formed under a conservative leader David Cameron
49
Coalition government promoter family stability
Coalition promoted marriages as stabilising force in family life. For example, pledged to remove the ‘couples penalty’ that made those on benefits better off if lived apart.
50
2015 conservative government elected
Announced a cap in child benefits- decided families with three plus children wouldn’t receive an increase in child tax credits or housing benefits after second child.
51
Industrialisation led to the creation of the ‘housewife’
Oakley (1974) thinks the role of the housewife was socially constructed by the social changes of the Industrial Revolution, when people started working in factories instead of at home.
Married Women not allowed to work in factories.
M/C had female servants. W/C did it themselves
52
Decision-Making and sharing resources can be unequal
Edgell (1980) interviewed M/C couples and found men had decision making control whilst women had minor decisions. Men brought higher earnings into a household.
53
Personal life perspective
Control over money in a relationships convenience more than power. Studies don’t use traditional family norms.
54
Weeks et al (2001) personal life perspective
Found couples tend to pool money in a joint account whilst keeping money in a personal account- sole control over their personal spending money.
55
Explanations for inequality are based on theories about power in society
FUNCTIONALIST-men and women perform different tasks and roles, most affective way of keeping society running smoothly.
MARXIST-capitalism works best with unequal roles,promote women as ‘naturally’ caring and nurturing, roles maintained ideologically through the media.
FEMINIST-inequality shows inequality in power,patriarchal society produces unequal conjugal relationships,society’s system and values benefit men.
56
Some sociologists see child abuse in terms of power
Parent/carer can abuse a child by manipulating the responsibilities and trust.
Families are private and separate from society, less likely for children to support it.
57
Children act 1989
State can intervene in families if social workers are concerned about children’s safety.
2013-14: 658,000 children referred to social services, just under half of these cases main reason was at risk of abuse or neglect.
Therefore, 59,800 under a child protection plan, allows social workers to monitor families to protect children from neglect and abuse.
58
Elizabeth Stanko (200) Domestic violence affects many families in the UK
Woman’s killed by current of former partner every three days in England/Wales.
570,000 cases of domestic violence reported in the UK every year.
Domestic violence occurs every 6-20 seconds.
59
Dobash and Dobash (1979)Radical feminists see domestic violence as a form of patriarchal control
Police usually didn’t record violent crime by husbands against their lives.
Since, police have set up specialist domestic violence units, low conviction rate compared to others.
60
Radical feminists see domestic violence as a form of patriarchal control
Dobash and Dobash found most women who left violent partners returned in the end, fear of being stigmatised-and financially dependent on their partner.
61
Radical feminisms criticised for overemphasising the power of men
1). Functionalists argue most families operate harmoniously, postmodern theory argues individuals have much more choice and control to avoid a reshape.
2) men as all-powerful and women as powerless, women hold some power over men. Journalist Melanie Philips (2003) highlights women abuse men and male victims ignored by society and police.pressure group families need fathers campaigns for equal rights.
62
Social trends indicate more variety of families and households
Variety of family types increased in Britain since mid 20th century, no such thing as ‘British family’.
63
Social trends indicate more variety of families and households
Biggest increase in household type have been in a single-person households and lone-parent family households. Lone-parent ‘matrifocal’ (women are the head).
Single person households increased by 500,000 from 2003 to 2013- rise of divorces and living alone over 65.
64
Rapoport and Rapoport (1982) identified five types of family diversity
Organisational diversity, cultural diversity,life-course diversity, cohort diversity.
65
Original diversity
Differences in the way families are structured, whether they’re nuclear, extended, reconsituted.
66
Cultural diversity
Differences that arise from different norms and values of different cultures.
67
Class diversity
Different views held by different parts of society conserving families. More affluent families more likely to send their children boarding school then poorer families, leads to different relationship between family.
68
Life-course diversity
Different stages people have reached in their lives. Family relationships tend to be different for newly-weds with children, childless couples and people with grown-up children.
69
Cohort diversity
Differences created by historical periods family have lived through. Children reaching maturity 1980s remain dependent on parents for longer due to high unemployment.
70
1) Increasing individualism and personal
Choice is linked to family diversity
Giddens (1992) argues individual choice dictates family relationships-Individualisation thesis.
71
2) Increasing individualism and personal
Choice is linked to family diversity
Rigid class, gender and family roles used to stop from choosing their own life-course. Fixed roles no longer exist and free to make their own decisions.
72
Women’s rights
Women’s rights and availability of contraception resulted in people having more choice in their relationship.
73
Fewer people marry and more people live together instead
Marriage rates have fallen since 20th century. 2009 had lowest number of marriages,increased 2010.
74
Duncan and Phillips (2013) not a decline in family life
Number of people in a serious relationship but not cohabitating or married, ‘living apart together’.
75
Divorce and separation are common in England and wales
Rise in divorce rate in modern industrial societies.
40% plus of marriages end in divorce.
76
Social , cultural and political factors that explain why divorces increasing
Divorces easier to obtain-more available.
More socially acceptable
Women have higher expectations, better employment opportunities makes them less financially dependent.
77
Demography
Study of statistics that measures size and growth of population. (Birth and death rate)
78
Population size’s affected by births and deaths
Population increases when birth rates are higher in death (mortality) rates.
Low fertility or high morality rates lead to decline in population,fewer children to replace those dying.
79
Population size’s affected by migration
Immigration to a country causes population to increase, emigration decreases.
80
Birth and fertility rates have decreased
Fallen since 20th century.
2014: 700,000 births-1 million in 1901.
High fertility rates after the wars in 60s, baby-boomers, now falling.
81
Total fertility rate
Average number of children a woman would have if she followed the current fertility through her life. Decreased since 20th century,2014:1.83 children per woman.
82
Completed family size
Average number of children for a woman born in a specific year. 1968:1.92 children. 1941: 2.34 children
83
People having fewer children
Average number of children 1971 was 2.0, 1.7 2011
84
People having children later in life
Average age of women’s first child was 24 in 1971, 28 to 2013.
85
More people having no children at all
9% of women born in 1945 were childless at age 45, 20% women born in 1966.
86
Social change influence on not having children
Contraceptions more available, and women’s roles are changing
87
McKeown (1972) Morality and death rates have fallen dramatically since 1990
Thought better nutrition was a major factor improving morality rates, to fight off infection.
Critics stated some diseases like measles rose as nutrition improved.
88
Infant mortality rates (deaths of children 0-1 per 1000 live births)
1901 16.6% of boys and 13.6% of girls died before their first birthday- now less than 0.5%.
89
Adult mortality
Number of deaths per year stayed the same since 1901, but an increase in the population in the 20th century, proportion of deaths fallen.
90
Population of UK is ageing
Number and proportion of older people increase. Median age of population (age when half of the population is younger and other half’s older) increase.
Total fertility rate of 2.1 to replace existing population-replacement level.
91
Mortality rates and life expectancy increasing
More people living past the age of 65.
92
Life expectancy
1 in 3 babies born 2013 have a life expectancy of 100. Falling infant mortality is largely responsible, so does public health
93
Ageing population changes Burden of care in society
Society having responsibility to take care of the vulnerable (children and elderly).
94
Hirsch (2005)
States people have to work into their 60s and 70s or pay more taxes to contribute to health and social care later on. House prices rise due to single pensioners compete for housing with single young people. Also, elderly have their own homes, young have fewer assets.
95
Peter Townsend (1979) Poverty in old age is linked to Social Class, Gender and Ageism
Higher production of elderly in poverty to young. Argued underclass of pensioners develop due to not relying on employment income.
So, people in poverty less likely to have savings and private pension.
96
Pilcher (1995) Affect of retirement
Argues class and gender affect income retirement. Women have smaller pensions due to taking time away from work to have children.
97
Net migration increased since WW2
Foreign-born was low but after war labour shortage encouraged polish soldiers to move to UK.
Doubled 1991-2011.
98
Net migration
Number of people moving into a country minus the number moving away.
Reached 330,000 2014-15.
99
Increasing net migrations affected structure of society and families.
Low fertility rates outweighs the impact of net migration
100
Globalisations increased international migration
Since 1990s society’s more ethically diverse-cultures and religions brought to the UK, multicultural society.
101
Eriksen (2007) Globalisation international migration
Argues migrants form a transnational identities-not belonging to a single country but a network.
Less likely to assimilate (learn the language/culture) not seen as a permanent home.
Political issue- give,ents decides to promote assimilation or accept multiculturalism.
102
Robert Chester (1985) Functionalists think growth in diveristys been exaggerated
Growth in family diversity, nuclear family remains top.
Nuclear families less traditional and more symmetrical.
103
New Right think family diversity’s caused by falling moral standards
Family diversity’s result of decline in traditional values, threat to nuclear family and blame its antisocial behaviour/crime.
104
Murray (1989) family diversity’s caused by falling moral standards
Single mother families principle of crime, lack of male role model.
105
Sociology of personal life focuses on individual families
Focuses on what families see as important rather than what sociologists think’s important.
106
Vanessa may (2013) Individualisation thesis
Based on idealised views of freedom of choice. Ignores levels of choice to those who aren’t white,M/C males-social identity
107
Carol smart (2007) ‘Family’
‘Family’ linked to traditional ideas.
‘Personal life’ for studying relationships, includes newer relationships in postmodern society.
108
Carol Smart alternative to individualisation thesis
Connectedness Thesis argues individual choices influenced by relationship and past experiences.
109
Smart and may family diversity
Accept family diversity’s increased, believe importance of individual choice more limited.
110
Ethnicity influence family type and household structure
England/Wales - 2011 census found a higher proportion of people born abroad lived in multi-family households.
Pakistanis most likely live in extended families with dependent children.
111
Modood et al (1997) study of ethnic minorities in the Uk whites/African-Caribbeans
Whites and African-Caribbeans:divorced.
African-Caribbean: lone parent- higher proportion of matrifocal families(women in charge).
112
Modood et al (1997) study of ethnic minorities in the Uk Indians and Pakistanis.
Indians and Pakistanis- married
South Asians- traditionally extended family, more nuclear family and extended kingship links to reach back.
113
Eversley and Bonnerja (1982) Class affect types of family you experience
M/C areas have higher nuclear families.
W/C have higher lone-parent households.
114
Donovan et al (1999) sexuality affect types of family you experience
Increase in gay/lesbian households since 1980s, change in attitudes and legislation.
Fertility treatments allow couples to have children.
115
Beck (1992) ‘negotiated families’
More equal than nuclear families but less stable.
116
Stacey (1998) ‘divorce-extended family’
Extended family after divorce stay connected by choice.
Connect with former mother-in-law or new relationship with ex husband’s partner.
117
Weeks and Donovan et al (1999) family commitment viewed as ongoing negotiation
Weeks (2000) beloved personal morality become individual choice, rather set values.modern liberal attitudes towards marriage, divorce, cohabitation.
118
Weston (1992) ‘family of choice’
Same sex couples form a family of choice by surrounding themselves with supportive members of their children and family
119
Childhoods a social construct
Age you can leave education moved from 12 to 18 in last century.
120
Jane pilcher (1995) separateness of childhood from life phases
Children have different rights and duties from adults, regulated and protected by special laws.
121
Ariès (1962) looked at paintings.
Concept old childhood only existing in last 300 years. Medieval society, child took a role of an adult when physically able.look like mini-adults.
122
Ariès (1962) looked at paintings. (Industrialisation)
Social attitudes changed and people value children needing care and nurtured. Childhood reinforced house wife.
123
Ariès (1962) looked at paintings.
(cult of the child)
First develop in M/C, overtime develop to W/C values.
124
Pollack (1983) criticised Ariès (1962) looking at paintings
Ariès work looks weak due to paintings as main evidence.
125
Shorter (1975) ‘march of progress.
Society has a functional need for better-educated citizens and lower infant morality rates.
School ages increased and child protection improved.
Positive progression from past.
126
Donzelot (1977) child development
Argues children need to be protected and supervised.
Fewer children die in infancy, less children on average in families. More attention devoted to each child
127
Radford et al (2011) NSPCC, Child protected by special laws
1 in 20 children aged 11-17 have experienced sexual abuse, 1in 14 experienced physical abuse.
128
Child liberationists believe society’s oppressed children
Some see increased protection of children and Seperation from adult life as oppressive.
129
Diana Gittins (1985) ‘age patriarchy’
Adults maintain authority over children.
Using enforced dependency through ‘protection’ from paid employment, abuse and legal rules.
130
Hockey and James (1993)
Childhoods a stage most children wished to escape from and many resisted.
131
Childhood varies to Class
Poverty suffer poorer health, lack of basic necessities, lower achievement.
2013-14, 17% children were low-income households.
132
June Statham and Charlie Owen’s (2007)
Found black and dual-heritage children were more likely to end up In care than white or Asian.
133
Childhood varies to ethnicity
Influences where a child lives. For example, England and Wales 2011,22% white British people lived in rural areas. 1% of Bangladeshis and Pakistanis.
134
Julia Brannen (1994) strict parents.
Asians families were stricter on their daughters than sons
135
Hillman et al (1990) boys freedom
Children 7-15 boys have more freedom than girls, travel unaccompanied, cross roads and go out after dark.
136
Wagg (1992) Childhoods different in cultures.
States construction of childhood varies across historical, cultural societies, cross-culture differences, children not always seen as vulnerable.
137
Punch (2001)
Growing up in the countryside in Bolivia given responsibilities and work to perform at age 5. Contrasts with western attitudes towards child labour that’s developed.
138
Katz (2004) childhood different in cultures
Sudanese children have more freedom to explainer and travel around their local area than western societies.
139
Jenks (2005) 20th Century focused on ‘futurity’.
Children symbolise potential and main concern of society. Protect and nurture children.
140
Jenks (2005) adults relationships
Adults relationships less depends how due to increase in divorce. Adults prioritise relationships with children rather than adults.
141
Critics of Jenks (2005)
He makes too many generalisations
142
Palmer (2007) ‘Toxic childhood’
Children’s lives more violent, stressful, sexually active leads to teen pregnancy, self harm and addiction.
Damaged by technological advancement.
143
Neil Postman (1994) childhoods disappearing
Grow up quickly and experience things available to adults in the past. Shift from print and literary culture to visual. Lack of literacy isn’t a barrier, access TV. Defintitions of ‘childhood’ and ‘adulthood’ need to be changed soon.
144
Nick Lee (2005) disagrees with Postman
Childhoods became ambiguous area, parents have financial control and only spend as much as parents say. So, paradox of childhood is dependence and independence.
145
Opie (1993) childhood culture
Still exists independently of adult influence.
