families and house holds

• Functionalism


  The family is a vital organ maintaining the body of society
• Functions of the family according to Functionalism

  • Sexual
  • Reproduction
  • Socialization
  • Economic
• Parsons' functions of the family

  • Social socialization
  • Stabilization of adult personalities
• Marxism


  The family performs essential functions for society which benefit the bourgeoisie and the economy but disadvantage the proletariat
• Marxist functions of the family

  • Inheritance of wealth
  • Cushioning effect
  • Unit of consumption
• Feminism


  The family has harmful effects on women due to gender inequality
• Feminist perspectives on the family

  • Liberal feminism - culture and norms reinforced by family
  • Marxist feminism - exploitation of women central to capitalism
  • Radical feminism - family is a patriarchal institution
• Post-modernism


  People have more choice in relationships and families, leading to more diversity
• Post-modern family trends


  • Pure relationships
  • Cohabitation
  • Serial monogamy
  • Single mothers
  • Lone parent families
  • Divorce extended families
• Sociology of personal life

  The family is not in decline, it is more diverse and complex than before
• Functionalism sees the family as good because it helps society function more efficiently
• New Right policies undermine the self-reliance of the family, leading to an 'underclass'
• Marxist policies provide ideological legitimation of capitalism
• Liberal feminism led to greater gender equality
• Radical feminism sees gender inequalities as needing more than just policy changes
• Family policies by government

  • 1918-1990 Conservative reforms - reduce state control, increase personal responsibility
  • 1997-2010 New Labour - support diverse family types, provide financial support and advice
  • 2010-2015 Coalition - reduce family breakdown, get people into work
• Other important family policies

  • 1967 Contraceptive pill legalized
  • 1975 Paid maternity leave
  • 1970 Equal Pay Act
• Causes of family diversity

  • Cultural
  • Life course
  • Organizational
  • Generational
  • Class
• Drivers of family diversity

  • Changing patterns (more divorce, cohabitation)
  • Sperm donors
  • Post-modernization
  • Economic factors
  • Changing gender roles
• Parsons' functional fit theory


  The family changes its functions to suit the changing needs of society
• Murray's new right view

  The nuclear family is under threat due to social policies
• Post-modernist view


  Diversity is the new norm, people have more freedom in relationships
• Chester's neo-conventional family


  Couples are dual earners, share domestic tasks more equally
• Reasons for changing gender roles: more women in work, feminism, technology reducing housework
• Despite changes, women still do more housework than men in dual-career families
• Becoming a mother


  Negatively impacts job prospects
• Women's 'triple shift'


  Little time for leisure, leading to depression and loneliness
• Perspectives on causes of domestic violence

  • Radical feminism - marriage legitimizes violence
  • New Right - only in dysfunctional families
  • Post-modernist - emotional intensity and isolation of families
  • Marxist feminism - result of social inequalities
• Women are provoked by challenges to their authority, so with the increase in their role in the family they feel they have more confidence to stand up to their husbands, which traditionally men do not like
• Many men still have a very traditional view that they are the man of the house and should not be challenged