Topic 2: Families

• Breadwinner


  The person in the family who earns the money, usually the male
• Cereal packet family


  The 'ideal' nuclear family shown in the media and advertising
• Cohabitation


  When two partners live together in a relationship without being married
• Commune


  Self-contained and self-supporting communities where childcare, property etc. are shared
• Conjugal roles


  The domestic roles of married partners-who does what in the home
• Domestic division of labour

  The division of tasks such as housework and childcare in the family
• Dual burden

  When women are in full time employment and be responsible for household tasks
• Expressive role


  Traditionally a woman's role in the family according to Parsons, where they look after the emotional needs of the family
• Extended family


  A family which contains members beyond the nuclear
• Family diversity


  This means there are a range of families in society today e.g. lone-parent, reconstituted, same-sex
• Household


  One or more people who live at the same address but may not related e.g. university students
• Instrumental role


  Traditionally the male's role within the family to be the breadwinner and provide financially for the family
• Lone-parent family


  A family of one parent and their dependent children Usually headed by the mother
• Neo-conventional family


  A typical nuclear family but where both parents go to work
• Nuclear family


  A family of one man and one woman with their dependent children
• Patriarchy


  Male power and dominance over women
• Reconstituted family


  A family of one man and one woman with children from previous relationships
• Secularisation


  A decline in religious belief and activity
• Stratified diffusion


  How the roles adopted by those at the top of the social hierarchy (richer families) filters down to the rest of society
• Symmetrical family


  Families which are equal on both sides where partners have joint roles
• The family is a key social structure as it performs several essential functions for individuals and society
• Four vital functions of the family (Murdock)


  • Sexual function: regulates sexual behaviour that is approved by society, prevents breakdown and maintains stability
  • Reproductive function: creates the next generation to fill roles needed
  • Economic function: providing shelter, food & clothes, economic cooperation
  • Socialisation function: provides primary socialisation and learning of shared norms and values
• Two important functions of the family today (Parsons)


  • Primary socialisation
  • Stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory)
• Functionalists ignore the dark side of the family and the impact of diversity
• Three main ways the family helps to maintain the class divide and benefits capitalism (Marxist)

  • Inheritance: money and wealth is passed down in richer families through inheritance and is not shared with the working classes
  • Consumerism – families are targeted as consumers who buy products, children use 'pester power', profits go to the ruling class
  • Socialisation – children learn to accept hierarchy and that someone is in charge meaning they accept it in the workplace and don't revolt
• Marxists ignore positive functions and that not all families benefit capitalism
• Four ways the family helps to maintain the gender divide and promotes patriarchy in society (Feminist)


  • Men acting as the breadwinner in the family (they usually earn more) so have more control and power
  • Women often have a double shift or triple shift and take on the majority of unpaid housework
  • Domestic abuse from men in the family
  • Gender socialisation in families teaching stereotypical roles for boys and girls
• Feminists ignore that some women may enjoy/choose the housewife role and that positive changes have been made
• Reasons why nuclear families are the ideal family type (New Right)

  • They promote traditional values such as marriage
  • Children grow up with two role models (for better socialisation)
  • They are more likely to be financially stable and less likely to be reliant on benefits (and become part of the underclass)
• The New Right see lone-parent and same-sex families as causing problems for society
• Reasons for increase or decrease in family diversity

  • Nuclear: Secularisation, Increase in divorce, Changing position of women

  Reconstituted: Increase in divorce, Changing attitudes, Greater individualism

  Lone parent: Increase in divorce, Changing position of women, Changing attitudes

  Same sex: Changing laws (gay marriage is legalised), Changing attitudes

  Beanpole: Increase in life expectancy, Decrease in the birth rate

  Neo-conventional: Changes in law (equal pay), Changing attitudes, Changing position of women

  Cohabitating couple: Changing attitudes, Changing position of women, Increase in divorce

  One person household: Increase in divorce, Longer life expectancy, Greater individualism
• Alternatives to families


  • Living alone (increasing among younger and older individuals)

  Living in a commune (shared property, resources, childcare etc. An example: Living in a kibbutz)
• First time marriages are decreasing
• Reasons for first time marriages decreasing

  • Secularisation / changing attitudes

  Changing position of women

  Increasing cost of marriage
• Remarriages are increasing
• Reasons for remarriages increasing


  • Secularisation / changing attitudes

  Increase in divorce / changes to divorce laws
• Age of first time marriage is increasing
• Reasons for age of first time marriage increasing


  • Changing position of women

  Increasing cost of marriage

  Changing attitudes
• More couples cohabitate before marriage
• Increase in same-sex marriages