families & households

• What is the family according to functionalism?


  A vital organ maintaining the body of society
• What is the organic analogy in functionalism?


  It explains how society works by comparing it to a living organism
• What are the functions of the family according to Murdoch?


  • Sexual function: providing stable sexual relationships
  • Reproductive function: producing new members of society
  • Socialization: teaching children societal norms
  • Economic function: providing for family members
• What did Parsons add to the functions of the family?


  He emphasized socialization and the stabilization of adult personalities
• How does Marxism view the family?


  As a unit that benefits the bourgeoisie while disadvantaging the proletariat
• What are the functions of the family according to Marxists?


  • Inheritance of wealth: maintaining wealth within the bourgeoisie
  • Cushioning effect: providing comfort to the oppressed
  • Unit of consumption: families buy goods produced by capitalism
  • Socialization: passing on dominant ideology to children
• What do liberal feminists believe about the family?


  They argue that family is sexist because it reinforces mainstream culture
• What is the Marxist feminist perspective on women's roles in capitalism?


  Women are exploited as they produce and care for the next generation of workers
• What do radical feminists focus on regarding the family?


  They emphasize the patriarchal nature of the family
• What is Giddens' view on relationships in post-modern society?


  People have more choice in relationships, leading to pure relationships
• What does Stacey say about women's roles in family arrangements?


  Women have more freedom to shape family arrangements to suit their needs
• What is Smart's argument regarding family diversity?


  • The family is not in decline but more diverse and complex
  • Importance of relationships that may not fit traditional definitions of family
  • Recognition of various family types beyond the nuclear family
• What did the 1984 Divorce Act allow?


  Couples to divorce within one year of marriage
• What was the aim of the 1997-2010 New Labour government regarding families?


  To support various types of families beyond the nuclear family
• What did the 2005 Civil Partnerships legislation allow?


  Legal recognition of same-sex partnerships
• What is the purpose of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme?


  To allow individuals to check a partner's domestic violence record
• What is the impact of the 2012 Welfare Reform on benefits?


  It introduced Universal Credit to simplify benefits
• What is the 'bedroom tax'?


  A tax on spare bedrooms in a household
• What does family diversity encompass according to Rapaport?


  Differences arising from culture, life course, organization, and generation
• What are the causes of family diversity?

  Changing patterns of divorce, cohabitation, and economic factors
• How does post-modernization reflect family diversity?


  It reflects a more diverse society with varied family structures
• What is the impact of changing roles on family structures?


  Women pursuing careers leads to more diverse family arrangements
• What does the term 'triple shift' refer to?


  The burden on women to manage work, domestic tasks, and emotional labor
• What do radical feminists believe about marriage and domestic violence?


  Marriage legitimizes violence against women
• How do new right theorists view domestic violence?


  They believe it only occurs in dysfunctional working-class families
• What do postmodernists attribute domestic violence to?


  The emotional intensity of family life and isolation of nuclear families
• What do Marxist feminists believe about domestic violence?


  It is a result of stress caused by social inequalities
• How does cohabitation relate to marriage and divorce?


  Cohabitation is increasingly common as people delay marriage or divorce
• What is the significance of the 1970 Equal Pay Act?


  It aimed to promote gender equality in the workplace
• What does Oakley's research reveal about housework?


  Housewives perform as much work as factory workers
• How does motherhood impact women's job prospects?


  Women are often seen as a risk to hire after becoming mothers
• What are the consequences of the triple shift on women?


  It leads to seclusion, depression, and loneliness
• What do perspectives on domestic violence reveal about societal views?


  They highlight how societal norms and structures influence domestic violence
• How do changing societal structures affect family diversity?


  They force individuals into diverse family situations
• What is the functional fit theory proposed by Parsons?


  The family changes its functions to suit societal changes
• What does Murray's underclass theory suggest about social policies?


  They threaten the nuclear family structure
• What is the neo-conventional family according to Chester?


  A family structure where couples are dual earners and share household roles
• What does the term 'symmetrical family' refer to?


  A family where roles are more equal between partners
• What did Wilmot and Young find about family roles after the Industrial Revolution?


  Gender equality became more prevalent in family roles
• What is the impact of technology on housework?


  Technology has reduced the burden of housework for families