20 Markers FH

• recent demographic changes in the uk include a declining birth rate, increased immigration and an ageing population. some sociologists such as the new right argues that these changes may have a negative impact on families and households as they undermine the traditional nuclear family. however other sociologists such as postmodernists argue that these changes have had a range of different impacts on families and households in the uk.

  applying material from item d and your knowledge evaluate sociological views on the impacts of demographic changes on families and households in the uk

  PEEL 1: NR; traditional, NF, opposed to family diversity, decline in BR= changes in position of women; education + career important so don't have children, less children so less marriage (more cohabitation) + childless couples. ageing population= more extended families living together, move from NF, children care for their parents HOWEVER: not necessarily bad to move from NF, feminists-prevents women from working + financially dependent on men. also extended family can be positive as grandparents care for children while parents work, saves money

  PEEL 2: postmodernists; more freedom + choice about family + relationships; decline in BR; positive for women, more freedom for career + choices + more economically independent. also lowers dependency ratio. ageing population; extended family + move away from NF, GP can help to discipline children + gives children better relationships with GP HOWEVER: lower class women= barriers for education + contraception + have less opportunities
• marxist sociologist argue that families continue to perform a key role in maintaining capitalism. families support the economy and play an important part in transmitting ideology that helps to legitimise the capitalist system. however some sociologists argue that marxists place too much importance on the role of families in supporting capitalism and that families are beneficial to individuals and society as a whole.

  applying material from item d and your knowledge evaluate marxist explanations of the role of families in society today

  PEEl 1= zaretsky: family provide the workforce to make products but are also the consumers of these products, family plays a major role in generating profits for capitalism. adverts= fluencies them to 'keep up with the joneses' by consuming latest products. media= target children who use 'pester power' to persuade parents to spend more. children= those who lack latest clothes or 'must have' gadgets are mocked by peers. EVALUATION= some families less focused on consumerism and don't always give in to 'pester power'

  PEEL 2= parsons: warm bath theory; family allows adults relax and release tensions enabling them to return to the workplace refreshed and ready to meet its demands. functional fit theory, primary socialisation of children and stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory), instrumental and expressive leader. EVALUATION= family not always warm safe place (internal conflict e.g. addiction, DV etc), other institutions can perform these functions
• some sociologists argue that uk society has become more child centred. children today are more privileged than they have ever been. there are a large range of laws and policies in place to protect them there is an increasing emphasis now placed on childrens rights. however other sociologists argue that the extent of child centredness is exaggerated and that childhood can be a negative experience for some children.

  applying material from item d and your knowledge evaluate the view that uk society has become more child centred

  PEEL 1= aries + shorter;over past few centuries childhood has been improving, protected from harm and exploitation by laws against child labour + abuse, better healthcare + higher living standards so babies have better chance of survival; 1900=IMR 154/1000 today=4/1000, by ag of 21 child wil have cost parents 227k, smaller family sizes 5.7 births per woman in 1880s to 1.8 in 2014 so women can provide for them properly EVALUATION:palmers toxic childhood due to rapid tech + cultural changes in past 25 yrs; junk food, computer games etc

  PEEL 2= firestone + holt conflict view; say its not protection but oppression and control; 2013 43000 children subjects to hold protection plans due to risk of harm, controls their space ('no children' signs), time (when they eat,sleep), bodies(what they wear),+ resources (pocket money) EVALUATION= jenks (2005) childhood is changing, children becoming more important as a source of adults stability + become more fearful for child's welfare
• feminists sociologists emphasise the harmful effects of the conventional nuclear family on women. they see it as playing a role in the continuing oppression of women. this is evident in areas such as domestic violence, paid employment and power. other sociologists reject this negative view of the family and argue that it is essential for society

  applying material from item d and your knowledge evaluate feminist explanations of the role of the family in society today

  PEEL 1- feminism: radical= patriarchy, family as root of oppression, gives men more power by putting women by into roles of housewives + mothers (financially dependant on men), privatised nuclear family= easier for men to commit domestic abuse. marxist= men benefit from unpaid domestic labour + CC, fran ansley (1972) argues mens anger toward capitalism is misdirected at women, often through DV. EVALUATION- radical= +women do more HW and CC; 2021 survey 38% of women primarily responsible for HW and CC and 9% of men -dont recognise womens has changed. marxist= +25-34 year old employment rates 80% for non fathers and 92% for fathers, 89% for non mothers and 69% for mothers

  PEEL 2- parsons: 2 functions of the family 1) primary socialisation 2) stabilisation of adult personalities, I + E leaders, socialisation process, functional fit theory. EVALUATION- family not always a warm safe place (addiction, illness etc), other institutions can contribute to 2 functions e.g. education to socialise
• postmodernist sociologists argue individual choice is now more important to people than their responsibilities to their family.as a result people are choosing to live in a variety of different ways + the idea of family is more difficult to define.however other sociologists argue that postmodernists overestimate the extent of change in family life

  applying material from item d + your knowledge evaluate the view that individual choice in personal relationships has made family life less important

  PEEL 1= giddens (1992) individualisation thesis; society moved away from fixed roles, people have become disembedded from traditional roles and structures, 2 key changes led to this; contraception and women's independence, people are free to define relationships and are no longer acting out roles, pure relationships now typical; to satisfy needs of each partner, they say together for the relationship not a sense of duty, free to enter + leave relationships EVALUATION= + more relevant in 2023 than 90s (same sex marriage 2014) - same sex couples still face stigma

  PEEL 2= smart (2007) connectedness thesis; choices are made within a web of connectedness, we can negotiate the relationships we want but family restrictions do restrict freedom of choice, this challenges pure relationships as we cant just walk away, links remain e.g. through children EVALUATION= +children mean people still connected e.g. coparenting more common -people do seek pure relationships (divorce easier + has increased)
• functionalists believe the family has its own important role to play in helping society to function effectively.in each type of society one particular type of family will be the norm. this family type will fit the needs of its individual members and of society of a whole. other sociologists believe that functionalists fail to consider ways in which families are dysfunctional

  applying material from item d and your knowledge evaluate functionalist explanations of the role of the family in society

  PEEL 1= parsons; functional fit theory, pre industrial-> industrial extended-> isolated NF, mobility (geographically/socially), specialist functions (primary socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities) NF most dominant family EVALUATION= radical feminists would argue that the nF is the root of womens oppression, gives men more power by putting women into housewife and mother roles (financially dependant), easier for men to commit domestic abuse

  PEEL 2= murdock; 250 societies- family is universal (nuclear), 4 universal functions 1) stable satisfaction of sex drive 2) reproduction of next generation 3) socialisation of young 4)economic needs EVALUATION= other institutions can perform these functions; sex can cut outside of long term relationship, sperm donors for reproduction, nursery/ school to socialise and gov funding