Topic 2- Families And Households Flashcards
Conjugal roles
The roles carried out between a married couple with particular reference to the domestic division of labour
2 types: segregated and joint conjugal roles
Commercialisation of childhood
Give 2 examples
Where children are targeted as a key consumer group by big businesses.
-Includes toy advertisements on TV
-
Commercialisation of housework
Give examples
Mass production of goods and services that reduce the amount of domestic labour that needs to be done
- microwave, dishwasher, vacuum
Civil Partnership Act 2004
Give examples of what this meant
Gave same sex couples identical rights and responsibilities to married couples. For example:
- property rights, social security, pension benefits
Define the ‘Dark side’ of the family
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.
Dependency ratio
The ratio within the population of those under 15 and over 65 who are dependent on those between these ages
Divorce reform Act 1969
Put in effect in 1971
Introduced ‘no fault’ divorce so couples could simply divorce citing ‘irretrievable breakdown’
- led to a significant increase in divorce
Dual Burden
Triple shift (Duncan and Marsden)
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
Difference feminism
Emphasises that the position of women in society varies and women cannot be seen as a single united group (different times, cultures, circumstances etc)
Expressive role
The caring, nurturing ‘homemaker’ role in the family. Functionalists see women as being more biologically suited to this role, but feminists reject this.
False (class) consciousness
Marxist term: a false view which prevents people from seeing the reality of their situation, their exploitation and their class interests.
Functional Fit theory
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.
Gender regimes
Certain rules regarding the assumed way roles men and women play in family life
Ideology
A distorted set of beliefs that only benefits a certain social group
Assisted reproductive technologies
4 examples
Technology used to achieve pregnancy such as
- fertility medication
- artificial insemination
- in vitro fertilisation
- surrogacy
Assimilation[ism]
An approach to the immigration policy, believing that immigrants should adopt the language, customs and values of their ‘host community’ or settling country.
Unit of consumption
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)
Unit of production
More common in pre industrial times. All members of the family work together as economic producers
E.g: extended family working on a farm
Concealed families
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.
Chosen families
Families who are not necessarily blood or marriage related but choose to form a type of family together (could be close friends)
Endogamous marriage
Marriage taken place between members of the same class, religion, ethnicity or tribe either by the law or custom.
Exogamous marriage
Opposite of endogamous: marriage between members of different groups (class, ethnicity, religion…)
Boomerang family/ generation
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
Dispersed extended family
Extended family may be geographically isolated/ distant from each other but still remain in frequent contact and support with one another.
Personal Life perspective
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.
Living Apart Together (LAT’s)
Statistic in UK 2017
Couples in a significant relationship (even with children) but not cohabiting.
-9% of all married couples in UK
Structuralist perspective
Such as Marxism and Feminism:
They see individuals as shaped entirely by the way their society is structured or organised
Social action perspectives
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.
Individualisation thesis
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.
Connectedness theory
Emphasises how we are not all individually isolated but instead social structures (class, gender, ethnicity) limit choice and diversity in personal relationships
Welfare state
Agencies run or financed by the government to provide for the well being of society members.
E.g education, health and social services
Globalisation
The idea that the world is becoming increasingly interconnected
Child liberalists
Believe that in society children are over controlled by adults and need to be empowered
Toxic childhood (Sociologist + definition)
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
Social mobility
The moving of people between social groups, particularly classes
Stabilisation of the adult personality
One of Parson’s key functions of the family. The family plays a key role in the emotional support of its members.
5 social family policies
- Divorce reform Act 1969
- Child benefits 1977
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975
- Child Maintenance Service
- National Minimum wage 1998
