Topic 1 - Identity: Functions of the Family

Question 1

What sociologist questioned year 10 working class girls in the 1970’s?

Answer 1

Sue Sharpe.

Question 2

When Sue Sharpe repeated her study from the 70’s to the 90’s how did their priorities change?

Answer 2

• Girls in the 70’s wanted to fall in love, get married and have kids.
• Girls in the 90’s wanted to achieve qualifications and a career before everything else.

Question 3

What is primary socialisation?

Answer 3

The process of socialisation between the ages of 0-5, carried out by the family.

Question 4

What kinds of things do the family introduce a child to?

Answer 4

Language, other agents of socialisation, essential skills like eating with a knife and fork, social norms…etc.

Question 5

What is deliberate instruction?

Answer 5

The family tells the child what, how and why to do something.

Question 6

How do role models socialise children?

Answer 6

The child copies what it sees the other family members doing.

Question 7

What are positive sanctions?

Answer 7

When the child is given a reward for behaving in a correct manner, this makes it more likely for the child to repeat the same good behaviour in the future.

Question 8

What are negative sanctions?

Answer 8

When the child is punished for breaking the family’s rules so the bad behaviour is less likely to be repeated in the future.

Question 9

How does play socialise a child?

Answer 9

Toys or games are introduced to the child which help it to develop skills or social norms. For example; skills like holding, throwing or catching and social norms like taking turns are brought to their attention.

Question 10

What sociologist in 1981 found that children were clearly being taught how to be a boy or girl by their parents through several different methods?

Answer 10

Anne Oakley.

Question 11

What is manipulation?

Answer 11

When parents encourage behaviours that is seen as normal for the child’s sex.

Question 12

What is Canalisation?

Answer 12

This is where children are channelled by their parents towards toys and activities that are thought to be appropriate for their sex.

Question 13

What are verbal appellations?

Answer 13

These are ways we talk to children by using words we associate with their gender, for example, a little girl being called a beautiful princess.

Question 14

How do different activities socialise children into their gender roles?

Answer 14

Boys and girls are encouraged to get involved in different activities with their respective parents as gender role models, for example, a boy being told to help his dad fix the car.

Question 15

What can sometimes occur when children are not socialised?

Answer 15

Feral children.

Question 16

Give an example of a feral child.

Answer 16

Oxana Malaya - She was a normal child at birth, but later she was neglected by her alcoholic parents at an early age, and she lived surrounded by dogs. She was found at 7 but lacked many skills, acted like a dog, ran on all fours, cleaned herself like a dog and could not talk.