topic 1

Question 1

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

Answer 1

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)

Question 2

what is the functionalist view towards the family?

Answer 2

believes the family is an integral part of society

Question 3

who founded functionalism?
who refined it?

Answer 3

Emile Durkheim (1897) founded functionalism

refined by Talcott Parsons

Question 4

when was Functionalism a dominant American theory?

Answer 4

1940s/50s

Question 5

What type of theory is Marxism?

Answer 5

Marxism is a conflict theory

Question 6

Who founded Marxism?

Answer 6

Karl Marx (1848)

Question 7

What are the key beliefs of Marxism?

Answer 7

there is a class conflict between the proletariat and bourgeoisie

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

Question 8

Murdock was a functionalist

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

Answer 8

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

These four functions were:

-sexual
-reproduction
-socialization
-economic

Question 9

Parsons (?) was a Functionalist

what two functions did he say the family had?

Answer 9

Parsons (1951)
-the primary socialisation of children

-stabilisation of the adult personality

Question 10

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

Answer 10

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

Question 11

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?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

How did Parsons describe the privatised nuclear family?

what does this show about families in western societies?

Answer 12

‘structurally isolated’

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

Question 13

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

Answer 13

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

Question 14

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

Answer 14

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

Question 15

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

clue:
provides functions that were…

therfore reduced dependence on…

weakened…..

Answer 15

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

Question 16

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

how is this different for those at the very top

Answer 16

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)

Question 17

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?

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

What are some criticisms of the Functionalist perspective?

Answer 18

out of date

ignores exploitation of women

pains rosy picture of family life

ignores harmful affects of family life

Question 19

What does Fletcher (1966) argue about the family?

Answer 19

the family has more responsibilities/ functions today

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

Question 20

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

Answer 20

supports traditional values and institutions

see the nuclear family as under threat from social changes

Question 21

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?

Answer 21

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

Murray calls benefits ‘perverse incentives’

Question 22

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

What is meant by that?

Answer 22

people want to avoid work by depending on the welfare state

Question 23

What government policies have been implemented to encourage marriage?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

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 …..

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Engels was a marxist

date?
beliefs?

Answer 25

1820-1895

beliefs the nuclear family has developed as a way to pass on property/inheritance

Question 26

Althusser was a marxist

date?

beliefs?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Zaretsky

date?

beliefs?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

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….

Answer 28

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

Question 29

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…..

Answer 29

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

Question 30

describe evidence showing that motherhood is a lot of pressure

(Netmums survey)

Answer 30

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

Question 31

how does Okaley (1974) describe housework?

FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

‘H…R…. U….’

Answer 31

‘hard, routine and unrewarding’

Question 32

Who proposed the idea of the ‘symmetrical family’ and when?

what is meant my this?

Answer 32

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

Question 33

why does feminists criticise the idea of the symmetrical family?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

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

Answer 34

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

Question 35

explain what liberal feminists believe

Answer 35

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

Question 36

When was the Equal Pay Act introduced?

Answer 36

1970-

Question 37

give examples of change that has improved equality between men and women

(liberal feminists)

Answer 37

establishment of equality in maternity and paternity pay

better and cheaper childcare

stronger action against domestic violence

Question 38

Greer

date
viewpoint + explanation

Answer 38

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

Question 39

what do marxist feminists focus on?

Answer 39

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

Question 40

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

Answer 40

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)

Question 41

What did Leonard (1992) argue?

what do women provide?

s….v….

emotional support is important part of…..

Answer 41

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

Question 42

what are some criticisms of the marxist perspective?

1.assume women are
2.roles
3.financial

Answer 42

women’s roles are not the same in all families

assumes women are passive victims

many women are working and have financial independence

Question 43

who is more likely to initiate a divorce?

Answer 43

women
around 2/3 of divorces are initiated by women

Question 44

what did Hakim (2011) say?

Answer 44

most men and women have different life goals

some women may choose to become a housewife

Question 45

what do postmodernists believe about society?
changing- more u…
questioning…
individuals less….

give examples of postmodernists
L
B

Answer 45

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

Question 46

what did Gernsheim (2002) argue is the cause of the disintegration of the traditional family

widespread d….of r….

Answer 46

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

Question 47

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

Answer 47

the dominant family ideology

Question 48

What did Barrett and McIntosh (1982) say about stereotype of the dominant family ideology?

(FEMINIST PERSEPCTIVE)

p….and h…..

devalues
suggests …. are deviant
exploits …..

Answer 48

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

Question 49

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

Answer 49

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

Question 50

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

Answer 50

The Civil Partnership Act allowed same sex couples to essentially marry- gave legal recognition

it was established in 2005