Sociological perspectives

Question 1

What is the functionalist perspective

Answer 1

Consensus theory that emphasises integration and harmony between different parts of society

Question 2

Murdock’s 4 main functions

Answer 2

1.Sexual
2.Reproduction
3.Socialisation
4.Economic

Question 3

Criticisms of Murdock

Answer 3

-They could be performed equally well by other institutions or non-nuclear family structures
-Feminists reject the view and say that it serves the needs of men
-Marxists say it meets the needs of capitalism

Question 4

What are Parsons 2 basic functions of the family

Answer 4

1.Primary socialisation of children
2.Stabilization of human personalities (men have instrumental role and women have an expressive role)

Question 5

Criticisms of Parsons

Answer 5

-Young and Wilmott argue that men now take on a greater share of domestic tasks
-Feminists reject the view because the division of labour is natural

Question 6

Reasons for the decline in extended family life

Answer 6

-Need for geographical mobility
-Growth in peoples wealth
-Growth of meritocracy
-Different occupations, incomes and lifestyles

Question 7

Young and Wilmott- symmetrical family

Answer 7

They argue that the extended family unit only went into decline in the 1960s as a result of social changes

Question 8

Criticisms of the functionalist perspective

Answer 8

-Downplaying conflict- Baby P
-Out of date- very old fashioned
-Ignoring the exploitation of women- Women suffer from the sexual division of labour

Question 9

What does the New Right support

Answer 9

Values and institutions

Question 10

Brenda Almond

Answer 10

Sees social changes as undermining the nuclear family. They say that it also undermines social stability as well

Question 11

Murray and Marsland

Answer 11

Welfare state has undermined personal responsibility

Question 12

What does the New Right argue

Answer 12

For a return to traditional family values with government policies that reverse the decline in traditional family unit

Question 13

Criticisms of New Right

Answer 13

-Assumes patriarchal model of nuclear family is ‘natural’ rather than socially constructed
-Its rosy view of what family life is like ignoring the darker side

Question 14

What does the Marxist perspective argue

Answer 14

Structural perspective on the family
Sees the family within the framework of a capitalist society

Question 15

Engles

Answer 15

Passing property to heirs as it provides proof of the paternity
-Saw women’s position in the family as like prostitutes

Question 16

Althusser

Answer 16

Capitalisms survival depended on the w/c submitting to the m/c

Question 17

Zaretsky

Answer 17

Capitalism is an escape route from exploitation and oppression at work

Question 18

Criticisms of Marxism

Answer 18

-Question the notion that the nuclear family is always good for society
-Old fashioned
-Functionalists argue that Marxists ignore the very real benefits that the family provide its members

Question 19

Foucault

Answer 19

Surveillance

Question 20

What is the feminist perspective

Answer 20

Emphasises the harmful effects of family life upon women and the role of the family

Question 21

Radical feminists

Answer 21

Focus upon the problem of patriarchy in society and in the family

Question 22

Greer (2007)

Answer 22

Many relationships between men and women in all spheres of life remain patriarchal and exploitative

Question 23

Hilary Land

Answer 23

Argues that many social policies assume the ideal family is the nuclear family

Question 24

Firestone

Answer 24

Women should use new technologies like IVF to exclude men from child bearing and child rearing

Question 25

Marxist feminists

Answer 25

See women as doubly exploited both as workers and as women

Question 26

What are the 2 ways Marxist feminists see the family

Answer 26

1.The social reproduction of labour power
2.Social control of the working class

Question 27

Safety valve

Answer 27

A release from frustration and lack of power or control

Question 28

Criticisms of Marxist feminists and radical feminists

Answer 28

-Women’s roles aren’t the same in all families
-Assumes that women are passive victims without choice
-More women are working
-Rise of the symmetrical family

Question 29

What do liberal feminists say

Answer 29

They don’t see gender inequality in the family as the product of a system or structure like Marxists

Question 30

Oakley

Answer 30

See gender inequality as simply a product of discrimination by individuals who run institutions

Question 31

Criticism of liberal feminists

Answer 31

-The don’t tackle the fundamental inequalities that women face due to patriarchy and capitalism
-Cosy middle class view of family life

Question 32

What do difference feminists say

Answer 32

We cant generalise about women’s experiences and they argue that lesbian and heterosexual women, white and black women, m/c and w/c women have different experiences of the family

Question 33

What do postmodernists say

Answer 33

Contemporary society is changing rapidly
-No longer constrained to social structures
-Rejecting ideas about the traditional family
-Society has become fragmented

Question 34

Giddens (Need based family)

Answer 34

No family stays in the same structure or divisions they change as circumstances change

Question 35

Ulrich Beck (the negotiated family)

Answer 35

The roles and power structures within the family is negotiated by members to satisfy all members

Question 36

Fictive kin

Answer 36

Close friends treated as relatives

Question 37

Criticisms of the postmodernist theory

Answer 37

-Social structures still have power as can be seen by the cereal packet family
-Connectedness theory
-Recognises that relatedness may not always be positive