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Sociology - Family > Theories > Flashcards

Theories Flashcards

1
Q

(FUNC) outline conflict criticisms as an external critique of functionalism

A
  • Marxists critique F for its inability to explain conflict and change
  • society isn’t harmonious - its based on exploitation + divisions
  • F is a ‘conservative ideology’ - justifies the existing social order
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2
Q

(FUNC) outline action perspective criticisms as an external critique of functionalism

A
  • Wrong: F has an over socialised and over deterministic view of the individual. e.g. socialisation shapes peoples behaviour - they have no free will
  • F reifies society (treats it as a distinct thing over individuals, with its own needs), whereas social reality is only constructed by individuals
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3
Q

(FUNC) name Parson’s 3 similarities between society and a biological organism (organic analogy)

A
  • system
  • system needs
  • functions
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4
Q

(FUNC) outline Parsons view of the family in terms of social change

A
  • functions performed by the family depends on the type of society
  • there are 2 family structures: the nuclear family and the extended family
  • there are 2 types of societies: modern industrial (fits the NFs) and traditional pre-industrial society (fits the extended families)
  • trad pre industrial society: fams spend their whole lives in 1 village working the same job that could be passed down generationally (agriculture)
  • mod industrial society: industries require people to move where the jobs are (a geographically + socially mobile work force is needed)
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5
Q

(FUNC) define structural differentiation

A
  • structural differentiation = the gradual process in which separately specialised institutions develop to meet a different need
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6
Q

(FUNC) define moving equilibrium in terms of social change

A
  • moving equilibrium = as a change occurs in one part of a system, it produces changes in other parts
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7
Q

(FUNC) what is an AO3 evaluation of Parson’s view of the family

A
  • Young and Willmott + Laslett: the NF was the most common family type pre-industrialisation - was the extended family actually the most suited?
  • the ext. family hasn’t disappeared - and it still performs important functions (financial stability, childcare)
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8
Q

(FUNC) outline system as a similarity between society and a biological organism

A
  • the human body and society are both self regulating systems of independent parts that work together (organs - institutions)
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9
Q

(FUNC) outline system needs as a similarity between society and a biological organism

A
  • organisms and the social system have needs that must be met to survive
  • e.g. members must be socialised
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10
Q

(FUNC) outline functions as a similarity between society and a biological organism

A
  • the function of a system it makes to meet the system needs ensures its survival
  • e.g. the circulatory system carries oxygen + nutrients to the tissues and the economy helps maintain social order by meeting the need for food and shelter
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11
Q

(FUNC) outline Parson’s idea of the family’s loss of functions

A
  • the pre-industrial family was multi functional; e.g. was both a unit of production (F members worked together) and a unit of consumption (fed + clothed its members)
  • when society industrialises, the F changes its structure from extended to nuclear and loses many functions
  • thus, the NF performs 2 functions: primary socialisation of children + stabilisation of adult personalities
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12
Q

(FUNC) what are Parsons 2 family functions

A

1) the primary socialisation of children: equips them with basic skills + societies values to integrate them into society
2) the stabilisation of adult personalities: the family is a place where adults can relax / release tensions which allows them to return to the workplace refreshed + ready to meet the demands - its functional for efficiency of the economy

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13
Q

(FUNC) how does Parsons think social order is achieved

A
  • shared culture/ value consensus: the existence of a central value system provides a framework for all inds to cooperate through how they should behave etc
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14
Q

(FUNC) what is the function of the value consensus

A
  • to make social order possible through integrating individuals into society, thus meeting the system’s needs
  • e.g. system has to ensure peoples material needs are met, and so with the consensus would value the need for people to work
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15
Q

(FUNC) what are the 2 ways Parsons says the system ensures a value consensus/ individual integration

A
  • socialisation
  • social control
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16
Q

(FUNC) how does socialisation ensure a value consensus/ individual integration

A
  • through socialisation, individuals internalise the systems norms and values so that society becomes part of their personality structure
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17
Q

(FUNC) how does social control ensure a value consensus/ individual integration

A
  • positive sanctions reward conformity, whilst negative ones punish deviance
  • e.g. those who conform to the norm of individual success through education are rewarded with educational certificates whilst those who deviate are stigmatised
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18
Q

(FUNC) outline the second half of Parsons ‘building block’ model for describing the parts of the social system

A
  • institutions are grouped to form sub-systems; e.g. shops
  • these form the economic sub-system; whose function is to meet society’s material needs
  • finally these sub-systems make up the social system
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19
Q

(FUNC) outline the first half of Parsons ‘building block’ model for describing the parts of the social system

A
  • at the bottom, is individual actions; each action is governed by a social norm/ rule
  • these norms come in clusters called status-roles; statuses are the positions that exist in a given social system - e.g. teacher
  • status-roles also come in clusters, known as institutions; e.g. the family
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20
Q

(FUNC) outline the A in Parson’s AGIL schema

A
  • Adaption: the social system meets its members’ material needs through the economic sub-system
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21
Q

(FUNC) define Parsons AGIL schema to outline the sub-systems needed to meet societies needs

A
  • Adaption
  • Goal attainment
  • Integration
  • Latency
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22
Q

(FUNC) outline the I in Parson’s AGIL schema

A
  • Integration: the separate parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals. this is the role of the sub-system of religion, education and media
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23
Q

(FUNC) outline the G in Parson’s AGIL schema

A
  • Goal attainment: society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them. this is the function of the political sub-system, through institutions like parliament
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24
Q

(FUNC) outline the L in Parson’s AGIL schema

A
  • Latency: refers to the processes that maintain society over time. the kinship sub system provides pattern maintenance and tension management
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25
Q

(FUNC) name the 3 aspects of Merton’s internal critiques of functionalism

A
  • indispensability
  • functional unity
  • universal functionalism
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26
Q

(FUNC) outline indispensability as Merton’s internal critique of Parson’s functionalism

A
  • Parsons assumes every aspect of society is ‘functionally indispensable’ in its existing form
  • M suggests that there are functional alternatives - structures can be well performed in alternative structures
  • e.g. primary socialisation may not be best performed by the NF - but also by other fam types
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27
Q

(FUNC) outline functional unity as Merton’s internal critique of Parson’s functionalism

A
  • P assumes all parts of society are integrated into a unity + are functional for all, there is also a moving equilibrium
  • M says that in complex moderns society, society has many parts which have functional autonomy
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28
Q

(FUNC) outline universal functionalism as Merton’s internal critique of Parson’s functionalism

A
  • P assumes that everything ins society performs a positive function
  • M says that some things may be positive for one group - they may not be for another
29
Q

(FUNC) outline Merton’s distinction between manifest + latent functions

A
  • M uses the example of the Hopi Native American tribe who in times of drought, performed a rain dance aiming to produce rain (its manifest (intended) function)
  • however, the ritual also has latent (unintended) functions, such as promoting solidarity in times of hardship
  • Merton’s distinction reveals the hidden connections between social phenomena which the actors may not be aware of
30
Q

(FEM) what aspects of inequality are Liberal Feminists most concerned with

A
  • education
  • the family
  • employment
31
Q

(FEM) what are the 2 main methods of change in LFs view

A
  • changes in socialisation/ culture
  • changes in law
32
Q

(FEM) Liberal: what does Oakley distinguish between

A
  • Oakley distinguishes between 2 things; gender and sex
  • gender is the social differences between men and women
  • sex is the fixed biological differences between men and women
33
Q

(FEM) outline a contextual eg of sexism in the media

A
  • a Daily Mail front cover of female politicians with their legs on show captioned ‘Never mind Brexit, who won legs-it’
  • this shows how women in any position of power are sexualised and not taken seriously
34
Q

(FEM) what is radical feminists’ stance on the progress of society

A
  • society is not making progress
  • don’t think that changes in attitudes + the law will make a difference
35
Q

(FEM) Radical: what is Firestone’s view

A
  • the root of patriarchy is the biological differences in men and women
  • women bear children and so are more dependent on a man
  • men also benefit from women’s unpaid labour + sex services
36
Q

(FEM) Rad: what is Brownmiller’s view

A
  • men are able to control women through fear of rape
  • e.g. it keeps them from staying out late at night
37
Q

(FEM) Rad: outline sexual politics

A
  • the male domination over women in all spheres of life
  • this is possible due to fear of sexual assault
38
Q

(FEM) Rad: outline RF’s views on sexuality

A
  • sexuality is a social construct; heterosexuality has been forced on society as the norm
  • the media emits the message of the female body as a sexual being for male consumption
39
Q

(FEM) Rad: outline political lesbianism

A
  • a solution to eradicate female subordination
  • not sleeping with the enemy (men) removes the patriarchy imposed by the family structure
40
Q

(FEM) Rad: outline Greer’s solution to patriarchy

A
  • ‘separatism’/ living separately from men to create female independence
41
Q

(FEM) what do Marxist Fs say is the source of women’s oppression

A
  • capitalism
  • ruling class men are the beneficiaries
42
Q

(FEM) Marxist: what 2 aspects are women’s subordination due to

A
  • the emergence of private property
  • women not owning the means of production
43
Q

(FEM) Marxist: what 4 ways does the nuclear fam play into w’s oppression

A
  • w reproduce the labour force for free
  • w absorb men’s anger from the workplace - wives are men’s takers of shit (Ansley)
  • w are cheap labour due to pay gap
  • the NF performs ‘ideological conditioning’ - teaches capitalist ideology (passive workers)
44
Q

(FEM) outline the difference feminist view

A
  • women aren’t a single homogenous group
  • due to intertextuality, women have different experiences
  • they critique mainstream feminism for claiming a ‘false universality’
45
Q

(FEM) outline the postmodern feminist view

A
  • PMFs are concerned with the language and relationship between power + knowledge
  • discourse = a way of seeing, thinking or speaking about something (a viewpoint)
  • discourse gives power over those it defines by allowing its users to define others
46
Q

(MARX) outline the structure of Marxist society

A
  • built on an economic base (capitalism)
  • society/ institutions (the superstructure) are formed to maintain capitalism
47
Q

(MARX) outline pre modern society

A

pre industrial revolution, there was the pre-modern society;
- based on agriculture
- land was the main source of wealth and so was a motive force of the ruling class
- aim of production was consumption - not accumulation
- was a strong collective consciousness

48
Q

(MARX) outline modern society

A

post industrial revolution, is modern society;
- cities + populations grew - as did poverty, crime and social issues
- people now work to generate money for themselves + produce goods for the owner of the means for production (bourgeoisie) in return for a salary
- workers have to take on low-paid roles
- modern production maximises output + minimises cost (profit is key)
- with the era of enlightenment, people looked to rational thought

49
Q

(MARX) outline the case study of Grenfell Tower

A
  • the Grenfell Tower is based in Chelsea; one of the most affluent areas
  • in 2017, killed 72/350 residents
  • the fire was due to the less safe - but cheaper - materials used in its construction (flammable cladding) which enabled the fire to spread quicker
  • Laws around construction were ambiguous and allowed loopholes for cheaper construction
  • constructors of the block are also to blame as they cut corners to spend less money; profit is key and comes at the danger of the w/c
50
Q

(MARX) outline the case study of the Rana Plaza

A
  • a Bangladesh factory producing fast fashion collapsed - killing 1,100 people
  • after years of protest, murder charges were filed to those involved in forcing workers to come in after a crack in the structure was alerted to factory owner
  • consumers of fast fashion must acknowledge their contribution to the continuity of w/c exploitation
51
Q

(MARX) outline a contextual example of Marxism

A
  • white collar crimes are ignored; Donald Trump comitted a white collar crime (tax fraud) and has still been elected president
52
Q

(MARX) outline Gramsci’s core views

A
  • a humanist Marxist
  • hegemony (ideological leadership) explains how the RC maintains their position
  • the WC must develop a counter hegemony to become dominant
  • he rejects economic determinism as an explanation of change
  • G explains the RC dominance in society by 2 things: coercion (uses institution such as police to force WC to accept its rule) + consent/ hegemony (uses ideology to legitimise their rule)
53
Q

(MARX) outline Gramsci’s view of revolution and hegemony

A
  • the RC relies heavily on consent to maintain their rule which they’re able to do as they control society
  • revolution hasn’t yet occurred due to the RC hegemony that society accepts
  • the WC can only revolt by having a counter hegemonic bloc - where an organic intellectual (class conscious leader) will bring about an ideological revolution
54
Q

(MARX) why does Gramsci think the ruling class hegemony is never complete

A

1) the RC are a minority:
- to rule they need to create a power bloc by making alliances w/ other groups - like the MC
2) the proletariat has a dual consciousness:
- their ideas are influenced by both bourgeois ideology as well as the poverty + exploitation they experience (their material conditions)
- they can see through the dominant ideology to an extent

55
Q

(MARX) outline 2 criticisms of Gramsci

A
  • he overemphasises the role of ideology + underemphasises the role of both state cohesion and econ factors
  • many are aware of their exploitation but wont revolt due to fear of consequences
  • e.g. Willis: describes WC lads as ‘partially penetrating’ bourgeois ideology by recognising that in schools, meritocracy is a myth
56
Q

(MARX) outline Althusser’s model of society vs Marx’s base superstructure model

A
  • Marx: societies economic base determines institutions, ideologies + actions. challenges to the base causes changes in the structure + the downfall of capitalism
  • Althusser: society is made up of 3 levels that have relative autonomy (independence)
  • the economic, political and ideological level
  • a collapse in one level means the others will still exist
57
Q

(MARX) outline Althusser’s concept of ideological and repressive state apparatuses

A
  • ISAs: Institutions like school that shape inds ideology to subtly socialise the status quo
  • RSAs: Institutions like the police, military that use force + coercion to maintain order and enforce the RC’s dominance
58
Q

(MARX) outline Marx’s concept of historical materialism + development of production

A
  • materialism = the view that humans have material needs (e.g. food, shelter etc). in doing so they use the means of production
  • in early history, production is unaided human labour - but over time people develop tools to assist production
  • in working to meet their needs, humans enter social relations of production - cooperating with each other
  • as the means of prod. develops, so does the social relations of prod and so a division of labour/ 2 classes are formed (class that owns means of prod and the class that doesn’t)
59
Q

(MARX) outline Marx’s concept of class society and exploitation

A
  • primitive communism: in early humanity, society was classless, there was no private ownership/ exploitation, everyone worked + everything was shared
  • there were 3 successive class societies; ancient (exploitation of slaves legally tied to their owners), feudal (exploitation of serfs (agricultural worker) legally tied to the land) and capitalist society (exploitation of free wage labours)
60
Q

(MARX) outline Marx’s concept of capitalism

A
  • cap is based on the division between the owners/ bourgeoisie and the labourers/ proletariat
  • 1) P are legally free + separated from the means of prod. they have to sell their labour in return for wages
  • this exchange of labour + wage is unequal. the capitalist makes profit
  • 2) through competition, ownership of the means of production becomes concentrated in fewer hands. this drives independent owners into the proletariat
  • competition also results in lower wages - causing immiseration (impoverishment of the proletariat)
  • 3) cap continues to expand means of prod in its pursuit for profit meanwhile tech advances de-skills the workforce
  • concentration of ownership + de-skilling of proletariat produces class polarisation of the minority capitalist class and the majority working class

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61
Q

(MARX) outline Marx’s concept of class consciousness

A
  • capitalism sews the seeds of its own destruction
  • e.g. by polarising the classes, brining the proletariat together and low wages, this creates the conditions for which the WC can develop a consciousness for its won econ/ pol interests
  • as a result, the WC becomes a class for itself, whose members are class conscious + aware of the need for a revolution
62
Q

(MARX) outline Marx’s concept of ideology

A
  • the class that owns the means of prod also owns + controls ideology
  • thus, the dominant ideology in society is that of the bourgeoisie
  • the institutions that produce + spread the ideology (e.g. education, media) are controlled by the ruling class and spread sets of ideas beliefs that legitimise the existing social order
  • ideology curates a false class consciousness + helps to sustain class inequality
63
Q

(MARX) outline Marx’s concept of alienation

A
  • M believes that our true nature is based on our capacity to create things to meet our needs
  • alienation is the result of our loss of control over our labour
  • alienation exists in all class societies – but under capitalism its at its peak for 2 reasons;
    1) workers are completely separate from + have no control over their means of production
    2) the division of labour is at its most intense – the worker is reduced to an unskilled labourer mindlessly repeating a meaningless task
64
Q

(MARX) outline Marx’s concept of the state, revolution and communism

A
  • Marx defines the state as ‘armed bodies of men’
  • the state exists to protect the interests of the RC who own institutions. They use the state in the class struggle to protect their priv property, suppress opposition + prevent revolution
  • the proletarian revolution that overthrows capitalism/ the ruling class will be majority against the minority
  • revolution will: abolish state/ create a classless + communist society, abolish exploitation + priv ownership, end alienation as humans regain control of their labour + its products
65
Q

(MARX) name the 2 aspects of criticisms of Marx

A
  • Marx’s view of class
  • economic determinism
66
Q

(MARX) outline marx’s view of class as a criticism of Marxism

A
  • M has a simplistic, one-dimensional view of inequality
  • he sees class as the only division: Feminists argue that gender is a more fundamental source of inequality
  • Marx’s 2 class model is also simplistic: Weber subdivides the proletariat into skilled + unskilled classes
  • class polarisation has not occurred: the MC has grown (instead of being swallowed into the proletariat) and the industrialist WC has shrunk
67
Q

(MARX) outline economic determinism as a criticism of Marxism

A
  • Marx’s base-superstructure model is criticised for economic determinism (the view that economic factors are the only cause of everything in society). This view fails to recognise that humans have free will + can bring about change through their own actions
  • the model also neglects the role of ideas: weber argues it was the new emergence of new ideas (Calvinist Protestantism) which helped to bring about modern capitalism
  • Marx is also criticised for his prediction of a revolution that has not come true: M thought a rev would happen in the most advanced capitalist countries – but its only the economically backwards countries like Russia that have seen Marxist led countries
68
Q

(MARX) outline the ‘two Marxisms’

A
  • the absence of revolution in the west has led Marxists to reject the economic deterministic model and have tried to explain why capitalism has persisted
  • there are 2 approaches: humanist/ critical Marxism (has similarities with action + interpretive theories), scientific/ structuralist Marxism (is a structural approach + has similarities with positivist theories)

Sociology - Family (8 decks)

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