sociology

• The theory of social reproduction suggests that major institutions in society, such as the education system, help produce existing social inequalities.
• according to parsons (functionalist), what are the four functions of family?


  • educational
  • reproductive
  • economical
  • sexual
• what did the rapoports conclude from their study of family diversity? (1982)


  • nuclear family is 'ideal'
  • only 20% of british families consisted of married couples with kids
  • families decreasing in popularity, increasing in diversity
• according to the rapoports, what were the five types of family diversity?

  • Cultural diversity
  • Class diversity
  • Life course diversity
  • Generational diversity
  • Structural diversity
• what are alternatives to living in a family?

  Living alone, living with roommates, living in a communal living arrangement, living in a co-housing community.
• according to delphy and leonard (feminists), who in the family does house work benefit?


  MEN! :(
• what do functionalists think about the nuclear family?

  Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is the ideal family structure for maintaining social stability and fulfilling societal functions.
• what do feminists believe about the nuclear family?

  sees nuclear family as 'boring' and 'traditional'. family practises triple (duncombe and marsden)/ double (delphy and leonard) shift
• what do marxists think of the nuclear family?

  believe that it is too liked upon, many other family types can fulfill the same roles that the nuclear family 'sustain.'
• what are the TWO KEY FUNCTIONS of the family, according to parson?

  • stabilisation of the adult personality
  • socialisation of children
• what does Zaretsky say about how the family serves capitalism?

  Reproduction of labor power.
• what do feminists believe about the negative role of family?

  • serves patriarchal society
  • oppresses women; women are taken advantage of, double (delphy and leonard) and triple (dunscome and marsden) shift.
  • oakley: nuclear family socialises children into their future gender roles, eg; canalisation
• what is Oakley's view on the conventional family?

  puts unnecessary strain on parents:

  • woman always at home providing for family maternally - leads to depression and dissatisfaction
  • men are always at work - man feels pressured and suffers health issues as he worries about providing for his family monetarily
• what were young and willmotts (funtionalists, 'march of progress') view of the symmetrical family?


  men and woman in the house share domestic roles equally
• what are some contemporary issues in families?

  Divorce, domestic violence, substance abuse, and financial instability.
• when was the divorce reform act established?

  1969
• what is polygamy?

  Polygamy is the practice of having multiple spouses at the same time. this is illegal in the uk!
• what is polyandry?

  when a woman has more than one husband
• what is monogamy?

  Monogamy is the practice of having only one spouse or partner at a time.
• what type of marriage pattern is becoming more apparent in modern uk society?

  serial monogamy
• what are two advantages of polygamy?

  • more income as there are money people in work
  • childcare is not a problem: more woman
• what are two disadvantages of polygamy?

  inequalities, jealousy
• benefits of the nuclear family, according to functionalists?

  1. primary socialisation
  2. emotional stability (warm bath theory)
  3. both male and female role models
• who created the 'warm bath theory'?

  parsons!
• what is canalisation?

  giving toys to children, which reinforce the gender roles in society
• what is divorce?

  when two people legally terminate their marriage
• why are women less likely to get married/ have a divorce?

  • they are more influenced to build their career and provide for themselves rather them having someone else provide for them.
  • otherwise, they get married later in the future after pursuing their goals.
  • they can raise a child on their own due to support from welfare system and child support from father
• what is secularisation?


  the decline in the belief of religion
• what is the functionalist view on divorce?

  • Giddens- 'pure love' over stability and security
  • a way out of an unhappy marriage; a chance to start again