Topic 2- Families And Households

Question 1

Conjugal roles

Answer 1

The roles carried out between a married couple with particular reference to the domestic division of labour
2 types: segregated and joint conjugal roles

Question 2

Commercialisation of childhood

Give 2 examples

Answer 2

Where children are targeted as a key consumer group by big businesses.
-Includes toy advertisements on TV
-

Question 3

Commercialisation of housework

Give examples

Answer 3

Mass production of goods and services that reduce the amount of domestic labour that needs to be done
- microwave, dishwasher, vacuum

Question 4

Civil Partnership Act 2004

Give examples of what this meant

Answer 4

Gave same sex couples identical rights and responsibilities to married couples. For example:
- property rights, social security, pension benefits

Question 5

Define the ‘Dark side’ of the family

Answer 5

A term used to challenge the typically functionalist romantic view of the family. Mainly feminist and Marxists hold this view highlighting the extent of conflict and domestic violence in families.

Question 6

Dependency ratio

Answer 6

The ratio within the population of those under 15 and over 65 who are dependent on those between these ages

Question 7

Divorce reform Act 1969

Put in effect in 1971

Answer 7

Introduced ‘no fault’ divorce so couples could simply divorce citing ‘irretrievable breakdown’
- led to a significant increase in divorce

Question 8

Dual Burden

Triple shift (Duncan and Marsden)

Answer 8

A) The combination of both paid work and domestic work

B)Having thé responsibility of paid work, housework and emotional work

Both of theses typically fall to the woman of the house

Question 9

Difference feminism

Answer 9

Emphasises that the position of women in society varies and women cannot be seen as a single united group (different times, cultures, circumstances etc)

Question 10

Expressive role

Answer 10

The caring, nurturing ‘homemaker’ role in the family. Functionalists see women as being more biologically suited to this role, but feminists reject this.

Question 11

False (class) consciousness

Answer 11

Marxist term: a false view which prevents people from seeing the reality of their situation, their exploitation and their class interests.

Question 12

Functional Fit theory

Answer 12

Sociologists like Parsons argues that the family changed from extended to nuclear to provide a functionalist fit to the new industrial society that benefited more from small mobile families.

Question 13

Gender regimes

Answer 13

Certain rules regarding the assumed way roles men and women play in family life

Question 14

Ideology

Answer 14

A distorted set of beliefs that only benefits a certain social group

Question 15

Assisted reproductive technologies

4 examples

Answer 15

Technology used to achieve pregnancy such as

• fertility medication
• artificial insemination
• in vitro fertilisation
• surrogacy

Question 16

Assimilation[ism]

Answer 16

An approach to the immigration policy, believing that immigrants should adopt the language, customs and values of their ‘host community’ or settling country.

Question 17

Unit of consumption

Answer 17

Typical modern family situation where although the members no longer work together they still consume the members’ income together as a single unit
(Spent on food, clothes, leisure activities etc)

Question 18

Unit of production

Answer 18

More common in pre industrial times. All members of the family work together as economic producers
E.g: extended family working on a farm

Question 19

Concealed families

Answer 19

Families living in a multi-family household
Like a young couple living with one of the partners parents.
These families could often be hidden from Official Statistics.

Question 20

Chosen families

Answer 20

Families who are not necessarily blood or marriage related but choose to form a type of family together (could be close friends)

Question 21

Endogamous marriage

Answer 21

Marriage taken place between members of the same class, religion, ethnicity or tribe either by the law or custom.

Question 22

Exogamous marriage

Answer 22

Opposite of endogamous: marriage between members of different groups (class, ethnicity, religion…)

Question 23

Boomerang family/ generation

Answer 23

Young people who have had to return back to their parents house after leaving usually due to financial instability/ struggles of finding a place to live

Question 24

Dispersed extended family

Answer 24

Extended family may be geographically isolated/ distant from each other but still remain in frequent contact and support with one another.

Question 25

Personal Life perspective

Answer 25

Influenced by postmodernism and interactionism. Emphasises the importance of identifying personal meanings behind situations
-Allows for a wider meaning behind ‘family’, beyond blood and marriage ties.

Question 26

Living Apart Together (LAT’s)

Statistic in UK 2017

Answer 26

Couples in a significant relationship (even with children) but not cohabiting.
-9% of all married couples in UK

Question 27

Structuralist perspective

Answer 27

Such as Marxism and Feminism:

They see individuals as shaped entirely by the way their society is structured or organised

Question 28

Social action perspectives

Answer 28

See individuals as having free will and choice with the ability to create society through their own actions and interactions instead of just being shaped by society itself.

Question 29

Individualisation thesis

Answer 29

As a result of the weakening influence of traditional norms and values individuals are now free to make their own lifestyle choices. Can lead to greater family diversity but also risks instability.

Question 30

Connectedness theory

Answer 30

Emphasises how we are not all individually isolated but instead social structures (class, gender, ethnicity) limit choice and diversity in personal relationships

Question 31

Welfare state

Answer 31

Agencies run or financed by the government to provide for the well being of society members.
E.g education, health and social services

Question 32

Globalisation

Answer 32

The idea that the world is becoming increasingly interconnected

Question 33

Child liberalists

Answer 33

Believe that in society children are over controlled by adults and need to be empowered

Question 34

Toxic childhood 
(Sociologist + definition)

Answer 34

Sue Palmer
Refers to how recent rapid technological and cultural advances have slowly began to ruin childhood by damaging children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development

Question 35

Social mobility

Answer 35

The moving of people between social groups, particularly classes

Question 36

Stabilisation of the adult personality

Answer 36

One of Parson’s key functions of the family. The family plays a key role in the emotional support of its members.

Question 37

5 social family policies

Answer 37

• Divorce reform Act 1969
• Child benefits 1977
• Sex Discrimination Act 1975
• Child Maintenance Service
• National Minimum wage 1998