Sociological Perspectives of Families

Question 1

Functionalists perspective of the family

Answer 1

The family meets the needs of society by socialising children into shared norms and values, that is, a value consensus leading to social harmony and stability.

It also provides security for the conception, birth, and nurture of new members of society.

In conclusion the family is a supportive and general happy social institution.

Question 2

What is the sexual division of labour that helps to maintain a stable society?

Answer 2

The clear division of roles between men and women by their sex ( Instrumental and expressive roles)

Question 3

Define ‘Instrumental roles’

Answer 3

refers to the role allocated to men to discipline and provide economic support for the family as the ‘breadwinner’ which can lead to stress and anxiety and can destabilise his personality.

Question 4

Define ‘ Expressive roles’

Answer 4

refers to the roles allocated to women ( providing warmth, security and emotional support to the family.)

Question 5

Which sociologist argue that family as an institution has lost its function and what’s his argument.

Answer 5

Parsons

He argues that families in contemporary society had lost many of its functions through the process of structural differentiation.

Question 6

Define ‘Structural differentiation’

Answer 6

refers to the way functions are transferred to other specialised institutions, such as the welfare state and healthcare.

Question 7

What the two main functions of families according to Parsons

Answer 7

Parsons believes that the two main functions of the family are the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of human personalities.

Question 8

List some of the types of family in the contemporary society

Answer 8

Extended family ( popular amongst W.C)

Nuclear family

Lone parent family ( Patrifocal & Matrifocal )

Reconstituted / blended family

Question 9

What are the benefits of the traditional family according Parsons

Answer 9

Parsons argues that nuclear family ‘fits’ contemporary industrial societies better than extended families.

Smaller families provide a more geographically mobile workforce who can easily move around the country to areas where their skills are most needed.

Question 10

Criticisms of the Functionalists approach

Answer 10

Functionalism assumes that the family is a happy and harmonious institution and ignores the reality of family conflicts and domestic abuse.

Outdated - Today , both partners are likely to be playing the instrumental and expressive roles. ( Wilmott & Young study in the late 20th Century) - Mordernists

Ignores the exploitation of women ( triple shift), who suffer the responsibility of housework and childcare, undermining their position in paid employment and reducing their power. - feminism

Question 11

Summarize The New Right Perspective of the family.

Answer 11

They believe that the traditional heterosexual nuclear family is the best.

( cause it encourages conformity and the division of gender roles)

Question 12

According to TNR, what do welfare state policies that supports other family types do?

Answer 12

undermine personal responsibility and create a dependency culture and social problems such as juvenile crime and anti-social behaviour.

-plus they opposes changes to the law that would make divorce easier.

Question 13

Marxist perspective of the family

Answer 13

Marxism sees the family as reproducing, nurturing and maintaining a workforce to support capitalism.

Question 14

Which Marxist views the family as an ideological state apparatus, passing on the acceptance of the ruling class ideology and damping down social conflict.

Answer 14

Althusser

Question 15

What did Zaretsky points out

Answer 15

‘the family is a private place where workers can be valued as individuals.’

Question 16

Criticisms of Marxist perspective of the family

Answer 16

It’s out-dated, for example, people rarely marry just to pass on wealth to their children.

The family can be as much of source of conflict as well as an escape route; this is particularly true for women.

Marxists paint a very negative view of family life, arguing that its purpose is simply to produce workers for the dominant ideology, whereas, family life can be harmonious and fulfilling.

Question 17

Feminist perspective of the family

Answer 17

Feminism emphasises the patriarchal nature of the family and the harmful effects it has on women’s power, careers and health.

Question 18

What are the different types of feminism and how does family impact the lives of women.

Answer 18

There are three main types of feminism: liberal, Marxist and Radical

Liberal - they believe that the way to remedy the adverse effects to women’s careers is by reforming

Radical - see the family as a patriarchal institution reproducing the inequality of women and benefiting men.

Marxist feminists, regard the family as an oppressive institution that doubly exploit women; as workers in an exploitative capitalist system and as women in a patriarchal society.

Question 19

According to ——- and ——-, the family acts as a safety valve, in that women provide a sanctuary for male workers through their emotional expressive work, helping to prevent frustration at work spilling over into unrest.

Answer 19

Delphy and Leonard.

Question 20

Criticisms of the feminist perspective

Answer 20

1 
Women’s roles are not the same in all families
2
Today most women are in employment
3
Women have more choice over the roles they take on and so are not trapped victims
4
More women than men initiate divorce

Question 21

What beliefs do Postmodenists hold

Answer 21

They disagree with the premise that society is orderly and predictable.

Therefore, it is impossible to make generalised statements of theories about family life.

Question 22

Explain Postmodernists view of sociological theories

Answer 22

Metanarratives - big stories that are no longer able to explain the diversity of personal relationships.

Question 23

According to Postmodernists what are the evidences that shows people are no longer tied to traditional ideas and expectations

Answer 23

Rising divorce rates ( 8.9 per 1,000 in 2019 from 7.5 in 2018)

Cohabitation ( Over the last 10yrs - from 15.3% to 18.4%)

Multiple partners

Stepfamilies

Gay couples

Births outside marriage ( In 1997, 37.0% / 2017, 48.1% )