Sociology : family

• Parsons view on domestic Division labour in couples?

  • Believe men/ women are biologically suites roles for a functional society
  • Expressive role = GIRLS homemaker ( cooking , cleaning looking after the family
  • Instrumental role = Boys breadwinner ( paid work , earring income for the family
• Bott view on domestic Division labour in couples?

  • Segregated conjugal roles- roles in households are shared between man and wife ( man do domestic tasks - girls work )
  • Joint conjugal roles - couples share domestic tasks and leisure time
• Willmott and young on domestic division labour in couples?

  • Joint conjugal role increased = more symmetrical families for example LPF , Step families
• reason on changing in family patterns ?

  • increasing divorce rates
  • decreasing marriage rates
  • partnership
  • childbearing
• increasing divorce rates ?

  • law changes = divorce is easier to do- equal rights between both families ( sex discrimination act 1975)
  • less stigma = divorce become more common and accepted
  • woman financial independence = women now able to put in employment , LPF benefits available , less dependent on a man
• DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES ?

  • changing stigma = less pressure to marry
  • Alternatives to marriage = cohabitation less criticism
  • Impact of feminism = women get more rights and see marriage = patriarchal institution
  • Fewer church wedding - due to secularisation
• patnership?


  • more people living alone : working men , old widows
  • increase same sex partnership = increase secularisation mad stigma
  • increased cohabitation due to secularisation
• childbearing?

  • more children are born outside marriage
  • women having children later ( in early 30s)
  • radical feminists wants to go into their carriers/ education so would not want to have children
• what is Murdock theories of family pattern?

  • Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
  • Nuclear family performs four essential functions.
  • Satisfaction of young
  • Satisfaction of the members economic needs
  • Reproduction of the next generation.
• Parsons theories of of family pattern?

  • Believe family depends on the society its in
  • Pre-industrial society = had a function of production and consumption
  • Modern society = nuclear society - had the function of social and geographical mobility
• what does parson think of nuclear family?

  • primary socialisation of the young= help next generation with basic skills/ society values
  • stabilisation of adult personalities= enabling adults to relax than go back to work