GCSE Sociology : Families (Paper 1)

• Feminist view of the family


  Similar to Marxists, feminists take a critical view of the family. They believe it oppresses women, focusing on unequal division of labor and domestic violence issues. They view gender inequality as something society creates, not as a natural or inevitable occurrence.
• Four main types of feminism explored


  • Liberal feminism
  • Marxist feminism
  • Radical feminism
  • Difference feminism
• Liberal feminism


  Concerned with campaigning against sexual discrimination and supporting equal rights, opportunities, equal pay and equality in the workplace for women. Believe women's oppression is gradually improving by changing attitudes and changes in sexual discrimination laws. Adopt the philosophy of Young and Wilmot's 'March of Progress' view of the family.
• Liberal feminists


  • Betty Friedan
  • National Organization of Women
• Marxist feminism


  Believe the cause of women's oppression in the family is capitalism, not men. Women's unpaid domestic labor supports capitalism by reproducing the labor force, socializing the next generation of workers, and absorbing their husband's frustration from alienation and exploitation at work. The only resolution is the abolishment of the family in a socialist revolution.
• Radical feminism


  Believe all societies are founded on patriarchy, with men as the enemy and source of women's oppression and exploitation. The family and marriage are key institutions where men benefit from women's unpaid labor and sexual services, and dominate women through domestic and sexual violence. The only way to achieve change is through separatism - women organizing to live independently of men.
• Radical feminists


  • Germaine Greer
  • Jermaine Greer
• Difference feminism


  Opposed to generalizing women's experiences, as there are vastly differing family experiences based on factors like sexuality, race, and class. Argues that by focusing solely on the family as the source of oppression, other forms of oppression like racial oppression are overlooked.
• Almost all feminists agree that gender is socially constructed, meaning gender roles are learned rather than biologically determined, and the family is the most significant institution where we are socialized into appropriate roles and norms of behavior.
• Feminists view the family as subservient to the needs of men, thus promoting patriarchal control over women.
• Feminist theories are criticized for overlooking family diversity and an individual's ability to choose their family structure.
• Family life has changed over time due to changes in society such as industrialisation, urbanisation and globalisation
• Families are also responsible for passing on cultural values to future generations
• The family is the most important social institution as it provides us with our first experiences of relationships, love and care
• Primary schools


  The first level of formal education typically for children aged between 4 and 11 years old, focused on providing children with a basic education in subjects such as Reading, Writing, Maths and Science, and preparing them for Secondary School
• Secondary schools


  The next level of formal education typically for children aged between 11 and 18 years old, focused on providing students with a more advanced education in a wide range of subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Languages, Humanities and the Arts, and providing students with more specialized education in preparation for specific careers or further education
• State schools


  Funded by the government and free to attend, they follow the national curriculum and are subject to government inspection and regulation
• Private schools


  Not funded by the government and typically more expensive to attend, they have more autonomy over the curriculum and are not subject to the same regulations as state schools, some have a religious or philosophical orientation and some have a selective admission process
• Homeschooling


  When a child is educated at home, typically by their parent or a tutor, rather than attending a traditional school, can be done for a variety of reasons including religious beliefs, dissatisfaction with the traditional school system or a desire for a more personalized education, typically follows a curriculum but can also be more flexible and for more self-directed learning
• Deschooling


  A philosophy of education that emphasizes the importance of self-directed learning and the rejection of traditional schooling, often associated with the unschooling movement which advocates for allowing children to learn in a more natural and organic way without the constraints of traditional schools
• Functions of education


  • Serving the needs of the economy by providing individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to be productive members of society
  • Facilitating social mobility by providing individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life
  • Fostering social cohesion by promoting a sense of shared identity, common values and mutual understanding among individuals
• Functionalist perspective on education


  Education is a beneficial institution that prepares individuals for the demands of the wider society and serves to maintain social order
• Functionalist views on education


  • Socialization of children - education transmits society's norms and values to create a value consensus
  • Skills for work - education provides the essential skills individuals need to be successful in society
  • Meritocracy - education is a means of achieving meritocracy where individuals are rewarded based on their abilities and achievements
  • Transmission of universalistic values - education acts as a bridge between the family and society, transmitting the same values to all
• Feminist perspective on education


  Education perpetuates gender disparities but can also empower women and challenge these inequalities
• Feminist views on education


  • Gender stereotyping - traditional educational content often reinforces gender roles and stereotypes
  • Empowerment - increased educational opportunities for women have played a part in challenging gender inequalities
• Marxist perspective on education

  Education is a tool used by the capitalist class to perpetuate their dominance and serve their interests
• Marxist views on education


  • Hidden curriculum - schools teach students to obey authority and accept hierarchy, preparing them to be docile and obedient workers
  • Myth of meritocracy - education is not actually meritocratic, as social class has a bigger impact on educational success than individual effort
  • Reproduction of inequality - the educational system helps reproduce class inequalities for future generations
• Correspondence principle


  The idea that the education system corresponds to the needs of the economy and society
• Functionalists argue the education system corresponds to the needs of society by providing individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to function in their roles, and to the needs of the economy by providing the workforce with necessary skills and knowledge
• Marxists perceive the education system as inherently biased, serving the interests of the capitalist class and perpetuating class differences and capitalist ideologies
• Feminists view education as a gendered institution that has historically favored men but is also evolving to empower women
• Marxists perceive education as inherently biased, favoring the interests of the capitalist elite
• Functionalist perspective


  • Argues that the education system serves important societal functions such as socialization and the transmission of culture
  • Believes the education system corresponds to the needs of society by providing individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to function in their roles
  • Argues the education system corresponds to the needs of the economy by providing the workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge
• Marxist perspective


  • More of a conflict perspective
  • Argues the education system reproduces social inequality by providing some individuals with opportunities for success while denying those opportunities to others
  • Argues the education system corresponds to the needs of the economy by providing a compliant and docile workforce, but this does not serve the interests of all social classes equally
• Feminist perspective


  • Argues the education system reinforces patriarchal gender norms and reproduces gender inequality by providing girls and boys with different opportunities and expectations
  • Argues the education system corresponds to the needs of the economy by providing a gender segregated workforce and does not truly correspond to the needs of women
• Children from lower income families are more likely to have lower educational achievement than those from higher income families
• This is because children from lower income families often lack access to resources such as books, computers, and educational opportunities necessary for academic success
• They also tend to have less support from parents and caregivers who may have less education themselves and may not be able to provide the same level of support for their children's education
• Students from more affluent backgrounds tend to achieve higher grades, stay in education longer, and are more likely to attend university
• Children receiving free school meals, often used as an indicator of lower socioeconomic status, are less likely to achieve five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C or 9 to 4 compared to their more affluent peers