AQA A-level Sociology: Family and Households

Created by

Ellie Story

Cards (100)

What is the functionalist view of the family? 
The family meets the needs of society by socialising children into shared norms and values
Who says that men and women perform the instrumental and expressive roles? 
Parsons
What does Parsons believe to be two 'essential and irreducible' functions of the family?
Primary socialisation and the stabilisation of adult personalities
What is the instrumental role? 
The breadwinner and disciplinarian of the family usually the male.
What is the expressive role?
The emotional and caring role, usually performed by the mother
What are some criticisms of the functionalist approach?
Critics would say that is outdated and assumes that the family is a happy and harmonious institution and ignores the reality of conflict and domestic abuse.
Ignores the exploitation of women.
What is structural differentiation? 
Where institutions become more specialised as society becomes more complex and industrialised
What do The New Right theorists believe about the family?
The best family is one made of of two natural parents with the division of instrumental and expressive roles
What do The New Right believe about welfare state polices?
They support relationships outside of the conventional nuclear family. This undermines personal responsibility and creates social problems
What do Marxists think about the family?
It reproduces, nurtures and maintains a workforce to support capitalism
What does Althusser think about that family? 
It is part of the ideological state apparatus (ISA)
What does Engels argue?
That monogamous marriage is important for passing down private property
What are some criticisms of the Marxist view of the family?
Out-dated and portrays the family too negatively
What do feminists believe about the family?
It is patriarchal
What do radical feminists believe about the family?
The family reproduces inequality and benefits only men.
Men exercise power and control over women, sometimes supported with physical violence
Who claims that 
'the family is a private place where worker can be valued as individuals'Zaretsky
What do Marxist feminists believe?
That women are doubly expoited
What are some criticisms of the feminist view?
The role of women is now changing and so they now have more independence.
More women file for divorce than men.
Who claimed that the family acts as a safety valve where women provide a sanctuary for men, helping to prevent frustration at work spilling over into unrest?
Delphy and Leonard
What are some of the different family types?
Nuclear.
Beanpole.
Extended.
Lone-parent.
Same-sex.
Reconstituted (step-family)
What theory is Murdock associated with? 
Functionalism
What are the four functions that Murdock believes that the family performs for society?
Reproductive
Sexual
Economic
Educational
Why was the nuclear family more suited to industrial times than the extended family?
It became a unit of consumption and geographically mobile. The workforce became socially mobile
What is Peter Laslett's criticism of Parsons view? 
Using parish records he found that in pre-industrial times the nuclear family was actually the most popular
Why does Zaretsky think that the family is a prop for capitalism? 
It relieves alienation of the exploited worker.
It produces future generation of workers.
It is a unit of consumption.
Reduces the bargaining power of the proletariat
What does Sommerville argue?
Women are still disadvantaged in families but progress has been made in some ways e.g women have more choice as to whether they get married or not. However, she still campaigns for better childcare and more flexibility in jobs.
What does Germaine Greer argue? 
Marriage is a patriarchal institution where women remain subservient to their husbands. She suggests 'political lesbianism' and 'separatism'.
What is political lesbianism?
The idea that sexuality is a choice- it is about rejecting heterosexuality and men
What does Benston believe?
Women are used by men and capitalism to produce cheap labour. They make up a 'reserve army of labour
What is a reserve army of labour?
they come into the workplace int times of economic growth but are the first to be let go when the economy shrinks again
What do difference feminists believe?
Not all women are equally exploited. They emphasis the difference between women in terms of ethnicity, social class or age
What does Nicholson believe?
Women are better off outside the traditional nuclear family. All family types and households should be socially accepted as they suit women in different circumstances.
How are women oppressed within the family? 
Domestic division of labour.
Segregated conjugal roles.
Dual burden.
Triple shift.
Gender role socialisation.
Domestic violence
Who believe that inadequate socialisation leads to 'latch-key kids'
The New Right
What do New Right theorists believe about lone-parent families?
They cannot socialise children correctly.
Creates an underclass which becomes reliant on the Welfare state.
Creates 'latch-key kids'
Leaves boys without a male role model- this can lead to delinquency
According to Benston, why is marriage preferable to cohabitation?
She believes that couples are more stable if married due to the commitment to eachother.
What are some criticisms of the new right view of the family?
There is no evidence to say that children from lone parent families are any more delinquent than other children.
Feminists would say that is wrongly assumes fixed biological roles.
Some people choose not to marry out of poverty, not because they don't want to
What is the personal life view of the family?
Families should be looked at on a case to case basis and what works for one family may or may not work for another
What does the personal life perspective believe that we are controlled by?
External forces
What do Nordqvist and Smart study?
Donor-conceived children