Sociological Theories of the Family Definitions (2) Flashcards
Symmetrical family
A family where the roles of husband and wife or cohabitation partners have become more alike and equal.
Functional fit
Parsons’ theory that, with industrialisation, the structure of the family becomes nuclear to fit the needs of industrial society for a geographically and socially mobile labour force.
Four functions of the family
Murdock’s theory that families function to provide sexual regulation, reproduction, economic cooperation and socialisation.
Structural differentiation
The way new, more specialised, social institutions (e.g. welfare state) emerge to take over functions that were once performed by a single institution (e.g. the family).
Nayar tribe
Used as evidence against Murdock, this 19th century south-west Indian society had no nuclear family.
Geographical mobility
Movement of people and families from one place to another e.g. in search of work.
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Process where the family becomes responsible for fewer and fewer functions.
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One of the two functions of the nuclear family identified by Parsons, where adults can relax and release tensions, enabling them to return to the workplace ready to meets its demands. This is functional for the efficiency of the economy.
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Willmott and Young’s idea that as standards of living rise, families become more privatised and …
Instrumental role
The provider/breadwinner role in the family, often associated by functionalist’s with men’s role in the family.
Warn bath theory
Parsons’ theory of the family is sometimes described as this.
Isolated nuclear family
The family structure common in industrial societies according the Parsons.
Universal nuclear family
The idea that the nuclear family is so important that is exists everywhere, in every society.
Expressive role
The nurturing, caring and emotional role, often linking by functionalists to women’s biology and seen as women’s ‘natural’ role in the family.
Primary socialisation of children
The first stage in the process of learning the culture of society which takes place in the family.
March of progress
The idea that societies inevitably improve and change for the better.
Industrialisation
The economic change from farming to factories.
Anderson
Social historian who researched the 1851 census and found that industrialisation reinforced the need for an extended family due to increased poverty and hardship.
Extended family
Family structure identified by Willmott and Young amongst working class communities. Kinship ties are strong, particularly between mothers and daughters, and provide emotional, practical and financial support. These families often share the same residence or live in close proximity to each other.
Social mobility
Movement of groups or individuals up or down the social hierarchy.
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Family structure identified by Litwak which recognises that extended kin ‘stay in touch’ despite geographical mobility.
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Family structure which has emerged as a result of increased life expectancy and falling birth rates (Brannen).
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The family becomes responsible for fewer, more specialised functions through a process of structural differentiation.
Achieved status
Social position based on individual effort, ability and reward.
Conservative
An ideology which emphasises traditional values and dislikes so social change.
Nanny state
Describes the state as to interfering in the lives of individuals.
Traditional nuclear families
A family structure which segregated conjugal roles where men are instrumental and women are expressive. New Tight believes this is the best family type.
Privatisation
New Right social policy of transferring and enterprise or industry from the public sector e.g. NHS to the private sector.
Free markets
New Right economic system in which prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses.
Single parent families
Family structure consisting of one parent and the child/ten; especially disliked by the New Right theorists.
Abolition of welfare benefits
New Right policy aimed at removing the underclass and the perceived culture of dependency.
Underclass
Social class group said by the New Right to have been created for an overgenerous welfare state.
Feminists
Political movement blamed by the New Right for the breakdown of the family.
Dependency culture
A shared way of life viewed negatively in which members are said to be dependent on the state benefit rather than working for a living.
Decline of the family
New Right ideology which maintains the family values and traditional moral beliefs are breaking down and must be reversed.
Over generous welfare state
New Right view of the welfare state.
Male role models
Dennis and M Broadus maintains the use are missing from single-parent families and harm boys socialisation.
Fatherless families
Single parent families as described by Dennis and Erdos
Moral decay
New Right belief that society is in decline caused by a breakdown in traditional Norma’s and values.
Capitalism
Economic system of production for profit in which one class own the means of production and the other class only their labour.
Proletariat/workers
The social class of workers who have to work for wages as they do not own the means of production.
Infrastructure
The economic base of a society.
Communism
An equal society without social classes or class conflict, in which the means of production are the common property of all.
Social class
A social group who share a similar economic situation such as income and wealth.
Bourgeoisie/bosses
The social class of owners of the means of production/wealth.
Private property
Land and belongings owned by a social group or individual and kept for their exclusive use.
Buffer zone
Zaretskyks idea that families provide an ideological space which appears to protect workers from the full-force of misery caused by capitalism.
Unit of consumption
Unlike the pre-industrial family, the modern family no longer works together but still consumes together e.g. food, housing and leisure activities.
Ideological state apparatus (ISA)
There used by Althusser to identify those parts of the superstructure that brainwash people into accepting social class inequalities.
Policing families
Donzelot uses this term to describe the social control of poor families by state professionals such as social workers to ‘improve’ and change them.
Pester power
Children demand the latest fashion items and gadgets from their parents; contributes to the function of the family as a unit of consumption.
Superstructure
Those parts of society which are based on the economic infrastructure including social institutions such as families or education and cultural norms, values and belief.
