Sociology - Unit 1 Flashcards
1
Q
Functionalists emphasise…?
A
Positive role of family - ev. institution = essential to smooth running of society
2
Q
Murdock - 4 basic functions of nf?
A
Stabilisation of sex driveReproduction of next genEconomic - pools resources & provides for membsEducational - teachers n&vs
3
Q
Parsons…2 vital functions:
A
Primary socialisation - process by which children learn/accept n&vs like “factories” for next citizenStabilises personalities through emotional r’ships between parents = support & security needed to cope in wd. society - sanctuary from stress of evd. life
4
Q
Functs ignore..? (3) *
A
ConflictClassViolenceFocus too much on positive
5
Q
Feminists on functs?
A
Ignore exploitation of women
6
Q
Marxist view on family/system:How (2)
A
Family meets needs of capitalismBenefits minority in power - bourgeoisie Disadvantages maj w class - proleteriat
7
Q
Marxist sociologists
A
EngelsZaretsky
8
Q
Engels
A
family = eco function of keeping bourgoisie wealthy/rich through inheritance
9
Q
Zaretsky
A
But at home, proleteriat man have power/control = helps them accept/deal with opposition
10
Q
Housewife role
A
Looked after/kept workers healthy = more productive = free benefit to bourgeoisie
11
Q
Criticisms of Marxism:(3)
A
Too negativeIgnores benefits to indvs/society (not just eco/bourg)Women work too/not all housewivesAternatives to family
12
Q
Feminists:(1)Believe that?Family’s role in that^ belief?Underlying causes (2)
A
Family exploits/Oppresses womenMaintains existing social order (like funcs/marx) - patriarchy= comb of system/ideology/cult practices that keep men in powerFamily supports/reproduces inequalities between m&wWomen = oppressed because they’re socialised to be dependent on men (by fam)+ Ideology about men/women’s roles
13
Q
Diff feminists - root causes of patriarchy
A
Radical -> Power dom of menMarx - cap systemLib -> cultural attds & discrimination
14
Q
Marxist fem view: (2)
A
Exploitation of women = key to success of capitalismThey produce/care for next gen of workers at 0 cost to capt system - unpaid dom labour
15
Q
Radical feminist: (3)
A
Housework = exploitation of women BUT root cause = dom. of men in society - men will alwys oppress women- women do most work & men benf most
16
Q
Liberal fem (2)Solution
A
Cultural norms & values = reinforced by fam/other instsFamily, only sexist because it supports sexist mainstream cultureSocial change possible - legislation to change policies/discrim laws
17
Q
Feminists - criticisms (3)*?
A
Portray women as too positivePower could be shared in famLesbian/gay/single parents…power structures..not same*Ethnic backgrounds = diff experiences/worse
18
Q
New right perspective on family
A
Social policies on family/children/welfare/divorce = undermines trad nuclear which is best for family
19
Q
New Right - name
A
Charles Murray: welfare benefits, too high = culture of dependency - rely on benfts
20
Q
NR - Problems with families (2)
A
Biggest prob: welfare -> single mothersLone-pars/reconst’d + divorce => brk’down in trad values => crime
21
Q
Criticism of NR
A
Blames victim…
22
Q
Post-modernists
A
Diversity is good thing
23
Q
Central idea of pm views of familyWhy?
A
N’days, wide range of living options avb - social/cultural changesBecause..we have CID
24
Q
What changed family structure
A
Industrialisation
25
2 basic types of family
Extended & nuclear
26
2 basic types of society
Pre-industrial: agri/farms Industrial: after ind - factory jobs/cities
27
Families & Societies (2)
Pre-industrial: extended - fams lived/worked together to produce goods/crops & sold surplusIndustrial: nuclear - separated
28
Parsons - family structure
Dom family structure changed from extended -> nuclear because more useful for ind society
29
Why did nuclear become better fit for ind society: (3)Basic funct view:
Many functions of pre-ind family = taken over by state in ind society e.g. edc/healthcareSo nuclear can focus on function of socialisation of children into n/v's of ind society"Isolated" = can move easily/geo portable for work=> Family structure adapts to needs of society
30
Functs say:
Industrialisation changed roles/status in family
31
FunctsPre-industrial society:Industrial society:
Ascribed = born into stausAchieved by success outside family
32
FunctsAchieved status in ind society means
Nuclear family is best for allowing indvs to achieve status/positions without conflictAllows social mobility - people can climb up social ladder/better themselves
33
Conjugal roles - Parsons also says:
Specialised roles for men/women devp'd within familyInstrumental/pract role & Expressive/emotionalThese roles came about because most effc for society
34
Functs - Fem/Marx Criticisms
Ideology/power => instrumental/expressive roles
35
Fam structs - functs criticisms:
Mod nuclear fam shouldnt be seen as superior - PMods say, CID/variety in fam div nowadays Some still lived with extended family after moving to cities - ind society
36
Functs: 3 stages of family developmentWho?3 Stages?
Willmott & Young - MOPs1. Pre-industrial = fam works together as eco prod unit2. Early ind: Extended fam broken up as men move to work but women = strong extended kinship3. Privatised nuclear:Family = unit of consmp not prodFocused on personal relships & lifestyles"Symmetrical family" - husband/wife have joint roles
37
Criticisms of W & Y
Assume family life has improvedIgnore neg aspects - dark side of fam - dom vioFems = equal roles in "symm fam" don't actually exist
38
Diff classes = Diff fam structures Working class (2)Sociologist? Means?
Working class = closer extended kinship networks than m-cWorking class = more freq contact/ties outside nuclear famWillmott => n'days, extended fam ties, still important to mod nuclear but held in reserve for times of crisis rather than part of evd lifeSo mod fam = "partially isolated fam"
39
Social policy (2)
Laws designed to influ fam life/structureCover areas such as divorce/benf system/edc/adoption/fst/empl
40
Trends in social policy (3)
After WW2 = interventionistWelfare state started supporting through benfs/pub housing/1948 free NHSNational insurance scheme to pay for welfare system + universal
41
1979 Conservative/Maggy T:Did 3 things?
Reform = reduced state intvNew Right ideology: trad nuclear fam/cornerstone of society should be freed from intf as much as poss - UK/nanny state w too much gov control over indv's livesMake indvs more respo for own lives/decs - state would intv less = benfs cut + taxes lowered + means testing intro'd = only those in gen need get benfsMums encg'd to stay at home + take care of elderly
42
Conv leg to protect p in trad nuclear fam (3)
Child Support Agency = absent father/mother have to pay fair amount towards upkeep of childrenChildren act 1989 = rights for childTried to make divc more diffc through compulsory 1 year cooling period but abd
43
New Labour 1997/Tony Blair (4)
Marriage = still preferred basis for fam life but awareness/concern for fam diversity= Civil parts 2005= Cohabiting can adoptBut NR fam policy ideas e.g cut lone parent fam benfd
44
Fem on social policy:How? (2)
Protects patriarchyNR want to reinforce sexist/exploitative model of fam by keeping women as housewife looking after childrenCont to support patriarchy society - diff in mat/pat leave = reinforces idea that mother is primary carer/father is earner/provider
45
Marx on social policy:How (2)
Protects capitalismOppose NR: reducing benfs to poor makes them poorer & means testing = degrading so likely to dissuade those who can claimMaintain capitalist system - by reinforcing trad gender roles, social policy moulds women into 'reserve army of labour' (there during times of crisis)
46
Family diversity trends (2)
Avg size of fam smallerIncr in single-person & lone-parent h-hsMore reconst'dIncr in cohab
47
2 overall patterns (2)
Incr in divBut nuclear still more common
48
5 types of fam diversity idf'd by4 types?
Rapoport & RapoportOrg div = diff structures/nuclear/extdCult div = diffs arising from diff n/vs of diff culturesClass divLife-course div = div caused by diff stages in life
49
Class/ethc/sexuality-->?2 exmpls?
Affccts which type of fam you expM-C = more in nuclear famW class - more lone parent
50
Trends with classes: (3)
Afro-Carib, m likely to be divorced & Inds/Pakis = m likely to be marriedAfro-Carib => single-parent famsS Asian = trad extended + extd kinship links
51
Trends in marriage (2)
More cohabiting - often just delay in marriage - 1/3 go on to mrgWomen live longer = elderly widows/single person h'hs + aging pop = more single-person h-hs overall
52
Divorce trends (3)(Past figure)
Rise in divorce - 40% divMore re-marriages1% 1971
53
Why had divorce increased (4)View:
Easier to obtain - avbMore socially acceptable/less stigma/secHigher expcs of marriage & better emplyp opps = less finc depcy needMarriage focuses on indv's emotional fulfilment NR -> marriage, less supp'd by state n'days
54
Can't assume...about marriage
Less divs = Happier in the past - empty-shell marriage
55
Having children, trends (3)
Fewer children - 1.6 avgLater in lifeMany choosing not to have any at all
56
Why less children (4)
ContraceptionChanging position of women - prioritise career = put off until laterEco liability than asset - time/moneyChild-centredness - post-ind society
57
Many new fam structures created from: Examples (2)
New techsFertility treatment = allow fam structs that were prev imposs = gay/les/older womenIVF = test tube babies/surrg
58
NR view on fam diversity/caused by:3 things (1 study) (believe/solution)
Falling moral standardsResult of decline in trad values/div = threat to trad nuclear + leads to anti-social behaviour/crimeMurray = single-mother fams = lck of male role modelState benfs should be cut + social policy should be targ'd to dicg fam diversity & promote nuclear
59
Fam div - functs thinkStudy:Why:Also*
Growth in div = exg'dRobert Chester: some growth but nuclear = still domDecreasing death rates/ageing pop => less nuclearNuclear fams becoming less trad + more symm
60
Death rate decline:
Stand of livingHealthcare Decr in manual jobs
61
Post modernists viewArgue:Why: (2)
Diversity = new normNo longer single dom fam structure - pm society = highly diverse + increasing divImprovs in women's rights + contraception = more choice R'ships nowadays = to suit own needs rather than trad values of relg/gov
62
PM study on fam diversity (3)
Beck = we now live in "negotiated family"More equal than trad nucl but less stableFamily commitment = now viewed as matter of ongoing neg rather than forever
63
New Study - fam divIdea:ExplanaAlso
Jeffrey WeeksIncreased choice in moralityPersonal morality = indv choice rather tha nset of values by relg/societyLiberal attds towards marrg/div/cohab/homo = maj cause of irreversible div
64
Conjugal roles
Roles of h/wife within home/marriage
65
Study - conjugal roles:
Elizabeth Bott - studied how jobs/roles within family were allc'd
66
Rise in nuclear family led to ....
Joint Conjugal roles
67
Conjugal roles
Roles of h/wife within home
68
Study 1 on conjugal roles
Bott => show jobs/roles within fam were allocated
69
Bott findings:
Segregated roles = h/wife -> sep livings with distinct respos within fam (man works/DIY + woman at home/kids/emo)Joint roles = h/wife roles more flex/shared + less defined tasks + shared leisure time + shared resp for dec-making
70
Study 2 - conjg roles:
W & Y mopsPredicted that after rise in nuclear fam, joint conjg roles would dev & equal/shared resps would be future norm
71
Study - Criticism of W & Y
Oakley = joint roles meant men had to do few things around the house to qualify as having joint roles = overlooked amount of time spent on housework comp'd to women = pretty rare for men to do hw
72
Conjugal roles nowadays
Still unequal, despite women being in paid work
73
Trend in conjg roles:
New fam structure devs = more fams where both work but: Equal share of paid employment hasn't led to equal share of dom labour
74
Studies - 2 names + 3 facts
Edgell criticised W&Y theory - none of W&Y's sample fam had joint conjg roles/h-work but increased sharing of childcareOakley => double burden - paid jobs + trad resp for home & childrenMen help out with childcare etc but more pleas actvts = women still prim resp for children2/3 full-time working mothers = resp for cooking/cleaningLARGE sample study - Br. Social Attds Survey = 3%/1000 men did h'work === clear division of labour
75
Creation of housewife
Industrialisation
76
Study - housewife:2 things
OakleyRole of housewife = socially constructed by social changes of Ind Rev/factoriesMarried women not allowed to work in facts = housewife role emergedCultural values of women/housework = so dominant that came to be seen as natura/bio role of women
77
2Ways in which conjugal roles are unequal:
Division of labourDecision-making & sharing of resources
78
Studies - conjg roles (2)
Edgell = men had decision-making control over major/long-term decision whilst women = minor thingsPahl/money management of dual-income couples = pooled but "husband-controlling pooling" in terms of spending
79
Explanations for inequality - theories:::3
POWERFuncts: men/women have diff conj roles because most effective of keeping society running smoothlyMarxists: diffs are evidence of power of capitalism to control family life/best for captWorking "caring/nurturing" women will keep workers fitWoman's role maintained ideologically through media/adsFems: demos inequality in power between men/womenPatriarchal society will produce unequal conjugal r'ships because society's systems & values will inevitably benefXXXXXit men at expense of women
80
Women's needs/roles/resps in family
Women oft responsible for all emo work/reacting & responding to family memb's emotions
81
Women & Emotional work in fam - studies/2names1.2. (3)3. (4)
Women run "eco of emotion"Duncombe & Marsden => triple shiftMarried women often happier when husbands shared some burden of emo workEmo work - predominantly gendered - women have main resp for managing whole fam's emotions/balancing fam's emo budgetDunne = lesbian h-hs=More equal distrb of resp/childcare/h-w=Flexible/fair in how they shared workHetero = division of work less fair because of trad ideas about masc/fem
82
Domestic Violence Child abuse according to sociologistsHow? (2)
Due to power relationshipsParent/care ca abuse child by manip'ing reps/trust parent holds + fams, private/separate inst = child less likely to report
83
Laws affecting children?
Children Act 1989State can intervene if social workers concerned about safety
84
Dom violence stats (2)
25% women experienceWoman killed by ex/partner every 3 days
85
Rad Fems say
Dom v = form of patriarchal control.power
86
Rad fem - probelms/studies
Dobash & Dobash: police didnt usually recordLow conv rate compared to other assaultaBefore 1991 = man could rape wife
87
domestic violence - problems (2)what makes it worse1 study/name
Social climate/society = maintains situation by making women feel ashamed/stigmatised if reported = part of ideology of patriarchy (women should know their place)Tendency to blame victim - women should know better/not get involved with violentDobash & Dobash: fear of stigma/finc dependent = many women returned
88
Radical feminists criticisms:(2)
overemphasise power of menoveremp place of dom violence in fam lifefuncts = most fam's operate harmoniously pms = more choice/control - can leave abusive Presents men as all-powerful & women as powerlesswomen abuse men too & many male victims ignored by society/police
89
CHILDHOODAll sociologists say...in terms of..So..
Childhood is socially constructed - values/behaviour/atts = not universal exp
90
Example of diff childhood in UK
Sociallu unacceptable + illegal for 12 year old to be at work/not school but other countries..
91
Study on childhood:Said (3)
PilcherChildhood/adult separatenessDifferent rights/dutiesProtected by special laws
92
Study on dev of childhood
ARIES = Cult of childhood developed after industrialisationAfter ind, social attds changed & people began to value/nurture children + housewife role = job to look after
93
Aries criticisms - study
Pollack = Aries' work looks weak/used paintings as main evd
94
How are children diff to ads (2)
Protected by special laws - restrict sexual behaviour/alcohol access/paid workChildren Act 1989 = allows them to be taken away from parents by the state if parents incapable/unsuitable
95
Special laws affecting children (4)
Sexual behv/alco/paid work in add to laws affecting adultsChildren ActPrice reductions on g/s e.g. public transpNSPCC = more protc needed - 25% exp phys vio
96
GB - childhood
More child-focused than ever Social policy ---> unique human rightsChild Support Agency = parents have to finclly support kids whether living with or notMore power than before - have finc/"pester power" = adv targetted at kids
97
Funct view on childhood:Study: (4)
Sign of ProgressShorter = mop argument:Society has functional need for better-edc citz & lower IMPSo school leaving ages have gone up + child protection improvedSo current position of children = result of postv progression from past
98
Childhood varies - how (3)
Blacks/dual-heritage = more likely to end up in care than whiteAsian fams more stricts with daughtersBoys = more freedom in gen
99
Negative childhood view - society....
Society oppresses childrenChild liberationists say age patriarchy means adults maintain authority over children - through enforced dependency
100
Future of childhood - socio views/studies1. (3)
Postman => childhood, disappearing:Children grow up v quickly + exp things only open to adults in past= defs of childhood & adulthood will need to be changed soon
101
Criticism of Postman:(3)
Nick LeeChildhood has become ambig/unclear but parents still have fncial control = children can only spend as much as parents allow= Paradox of childhood is both of dep+indep
