topic 1 Flashcards by miri holt

what is functionalism?
-what type of theory?
-main beliefs?

functionalism is a consensus theory

emphasizes integration and harmony between different parts of society

believes all parts of society provide a function (like the human body)

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what is the functionalist view towards the family?

believes the family is an integral part of society

organic analogy

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who founded functionalism?
who refined it?

Emile Durkheim (1897) founded functionalism

refined by Talcott Parsons

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when was Functionalism a dominant American theory?

1940s/50s

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What type of theory is Marxism?

Marxism is a conflict theory

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Who founded Marxism?

Karl Marx (1848)

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What are the key beliefs of Marxism?

there is a class conflict between the proletariat and bourgeoisie

eventually the proletariat will rise up and over throw bourgeoisie - creating communist society

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Murdock was a functionalist

what was his date?
what did he believe? (4 functions)

Murdock (1949) was a Functionalist and believed the family provided four functions.

These four functions were:

-sexual
-reproduction
-socialization
-economic

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Parsons (?) was a Functionalist

what two functions did he say the family had?

Parsons (1951)
-the primary socialisation of children

-stabilisation of the adult personality

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what did Parsons say the affect of the ‘sexual division of labour’ had on the family?

who played what role? what affect does this have?

warm bath theory

women provide the expressive role

men provide the instrumental role

when a man returns home tired and stressed (his personality being destabilized) , the wife’s expressive role relives him and keeps him stable

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What did Fletcher (1966) suggest about the classic extended family?

clue:
what has happened to it in modern society?
what has emerged in contemporary Britain?

Fletcher (1966) suggested that the classic extended family has disappeared in modern society

suggests that the privatised nuclear family (or some form of modified extended family) has emerged in contemporary Britain

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How did Parsons describe the privatised nuclear family?

what does this show about families in western societies?

‘structurally isolated’

acknowledging that in a Western society, families are not as connected compared to other societies

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explain how geographical mobility has caused a decline in extended family life?

labour forces are needed to be geographically mobile

isolated nuclear family is ideal for this because it is small and therefore easy to move around

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explain how social mobility has caused a decline in extended family life?

people can move up/down social classes

higher levels of mobility means that members of the same extended family may find themselves in very different positions

these differences may weaken relations between extended kin

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explain how welfare state has caused a decline in extended family life?

clue:
provides functions that were…

therfore reduced dependence on…

weakened…..

the welfare state provides many functions that were once the sole responsibility of the family

this has reduced dependence on extended kin in times of distress

weakened family relations

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explain how growth in meritocracy has caused a decline in extended family life?

how is this different for those at the very top

contemporary societies are more meritocratic (require skills)

extended families therefore have less to offer

(kin links remain very important for those at the top- heirs and inheritance means relations need to stay strong)

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Explain what Parsons means by ‘structural differentiation’

give example

what does this prove according to Parsons?

clue:
what has been removed?
transferred to where?
waht does this prove?

many of the functions once provided by the family have now been removed

these responsibilities have been transferred to other specialized institutions
eg NHS

believes this proves that the family now only provides two functions (socialization and stability of adult personality)

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What are some criticisms of the Functionalist perspective?

out of date

ignores exploitation of women

pains rosy picture of family life

ignores harmful affects of family life

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What does Fletcher (1966) argue about the family?

the family has more responsibilities/ functions today

says the family has an an important economic role as a unit of consumption

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what are the main views of those from a New Right perspective?

supports traditional values and institutions

see the nuclear family as under threat from social changes

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What does Murray (1990), a New Right thinker, argue the welfare state has done?

undermined p…. r…. and f…. s…..

what does Murray describe benefits as?

Murray (1990) argues the welfare state has undermined personal responsibility and family support.

Murray calls benefits ‘perverse incentives’

New Right thinkers believe we are encouraging a dependency culture and work shy underclass.

What is meant by that?

people want to avoid work by depending on the welfare state

What government policies have been implemented to encourage marriage?

tax credits - reduces the amount of tax you have to pay, therefore encouraging the nuclear family
‘Married Couples Allowance’

What do Marxists believe the nuclear family is?

believe the nuclear family is an i… s… a…. which is concerned with s…. c… and teaches members to …..

Marxists believe the nuclear family is an ideological state apparatus concerned with social control and teaches its members to submit to a capitalist society

Engels was a marxist date? beliefs?

1884 beliefs the nuclear family has developed as a way to pass on property/inheritance women's position in the family is similar to that of a prostitute , exchanging money and sex in return for financial stability.

Althusser was a marxist date? beliefs?

1971 Althusser beliefs the family is an ideological state apparatus and in order for capitalism to survive, the working class must submit to the bourgeoisie through socialisation, the ruling class tries to maintain false consciousness

Zaretsky date? beliefs?

1976 ideological role of family is propping up capitalism family is an escape from oppression and exploitation at work many point out that this is clearly a male marxist perspective

Foucault (1991) clue: how does he suggest the state keeps an eye on you? suggests in postmodernist society, this has become what? therfore people believe it is in their....

focussed on the idea of surveillance said the state keeps an eye on you - state exercises social control in a postmodernist society, surveillance is internalised and people have come to accept this and believe it is in their best interests

Henderson et al (2010) applied Foucaults idea of s..... to m..... c.....to social norms: m.... exercise s..... over themselves and others this is accompanied by g.....

applied Foucault's idea of surveillance to the family and motherhood conformity to social norms- mothers exercise surveillance over themselves and other parenting styles henderson stated this surveillance was accompanied by guilt

describe evidence showing that motherhood is a lot of pressure (Netmums survey)

a Netmums survey in 2011 a survey of 5000 mothers showed that mothers felt pressure from both themselves and others to appear like a perfect mum

how does Okaley (1974) describe housework? FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE 'H...R.... U....'

'hard, routine and unrewarding'

Who proposed the idea of the 'symmetrical family' and when? what is meant my this?

Young and Willmott (1973) states that families are becoming more equal

why do feminists criticise the idea of the symmetrical family?

women: -perform most household tasks -more likely to miss out on career opportunities -less likely to make important decisions -make more sacrifices to buy children things

give a statistic demonstrating the pay gap, thus proving women are forced to rely on men for financial stability

women's wages on average are 85% that of men

explain what liberal feminists believe

liberal feminists believe the best way to improve the position of women is through legislative change

When was the Equal Pay Act introduced?

1970-

give examples of change that has improved equality between men and women (liberal feminists)

establishment of equality in maternity and paternity pay better and cheaper childcare stronger action against domestic violence

Greer date viewpoint + explanation

2007 radical feminist many relationships between men and women in a contemporary society are patriarchal and exploitative

what do marxist feminists focus on?

marxist feminists draw attention to the fact that women are doubly exploited, both in the homes and in the workplace

how does women's work in the family contribute to the support of capitalism?

social reproduction of labour power (by providing a safe space, labour power is renewed) do free labour so keeps family running socialise children into dominant ideas of society (the dominant ideology)

What did Leonard (1992) argue? what do women provide? s....v.... emotional support is important part of.....

women provide safety valve women's emotional support is an important part of their domestic labour

what are some criticisms of the marxist perspective? 1.assume women are 2.roles 3.financial

women's roles are not the same in all families assumes women are passive victims many women are working and have financial independence

who is more likely to initiate a divorce?

women around 2/3 of divorces are initiated by women

what did Hakim (2011) say?

most men and women have different life goals some women may choose to become a housewife

what do postmodernists believe about society? changing- more u... questioning... individuals less.... give examples of postmodernists L B

Lyotard (1979) Baudrillard (2001) postmodernists believe that society is rapidly changing and is growing more uncertain people are questioning a range of traditionally accepted ideas individuals are less constrained by social structures

what did Gernsheim (2002) argue is the cause of the disintegration of the traditional family widespread d....of r....

Gernsheim argue that as a result of widespread diversity of relationships, the traditional family is disintegrating

what do feminists and marxists belive social policies are made around?

the dominant family ideology

What did Barrett and McIntosh (1982) say about stereotype of the dominant family ideology? (FEMINIST PERSEPCTIVE) p....and h..... devalues suggests .... are deviant exploits .....

Barrett and McIntosh (1982) said that the dominant family ideology is patriarchal and harmful -devalues life outside family -suggests those not in traditional family are deviant -involves exploitation of women

What did the Child Support Agency do and when was it established?

The Child Support Agency ensured that absent fathers contributed financially it was established in 1993

What did The Civil Partnership Act do and when was it established?

The Civil Partnership Act allowed same sex couples to essentially marry- gave legal recognition it was established in 2005