socio- families

• what is family and household

  • functionalist-Murdock- a social group characterised by common residence, economic co operation and reproduction. it includes adults of both sexes, at least two whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, owned or adopted, of the sexual cohabiting couple
  • broader definition- group of people related by kinship ties, relation of blood, marriage, civil partnership or adoption
  • today definition - household is different from a family and can include individuals living alone, does not have to be related to be family
• role of the family - modern family - 1900-1970s

  • family structure - nuclear
  • roles- traditional, expressive and instrumental roles
  • relationships-stability:formal,distant,based on women's economic dependence on men, empty shell marriage
  • role of extended family-less important, nuclear family's more socially mobile, family wage
  • how are children perceived- separate, increasingly valued, closer relationship between parent and children
  • role of the state- structural differentiation
  • role of religion-shaping attitude towards relationship and family life
• role of family - postmodern family -1980 - today (1)

  • family structure-diverse, any type
  • roles- negotiated, dual worker families, dual burden, gender scripts, egalitarian
  • relationships-instability and choice:closer and deeper, confluent love (Giddens), greater individualism
  • role of extended family-grandparents live longer and playing more roles in their grandchildren lives as both parents are likely to work
• role of family - postmodern family - 1980 - today (2)

  • how are children perceived-different views, child-centred society/children at greater risk, children and parents share leisure time
  • role of the state-increasing involvement of the state, to a different degrees (according to specific political party in power)
  • role of religion- secularisation
• functionalism - Durkheim

  • family plays an important role in creating value consensus
  • family is central to the process of integrating individuals into society so it functions positively
  • family is also developing social solidarity and a collective conscience
• functionalism - parsons (1951)overtime family has become more specialised ,resulting to carrying 2 main roles
• functionalism - parsons (1951)

  • overtime family has become more specialised, resulting to carrying 2 main role

  1.primary socialisation

  2.stabilisation of adult personalities

  • they claim different roles within family are biological roles of the man and women having children
• functionalism - criticism

  • ignoring problems like domestic violence, abuse and conflict
  • no longer applicable to contemporary society
  • feminist- assumptions made with women being 'naturally' predisposed to taking the caring, housewife role
• The New Right

  • nuclear family and traditional, conservative values are very important
  • if the nuclear family breaks down, children will not be adequately socialised.
  • children need 2 parents to be brought up successfully and is against single mothers
  • lack of strong male role model will lead boys into delinquency and antisocial behaviour
  • state should not be responsible for supporting family with benefits
• criticism of the new right

  • feminist- conservative values are oppressing women
  • state benefits are important and necessary
  • alternative to the nuclear family can be preferable and beneficial, not just adequate
• the new right - Marxist

  • family maintains capitalist society
  • women in capitalist society are commodities (owned by men like property)
  • Friedrich Engels - wealth of capitalism is passed through the male line to the son. wealth is kept withing families
  • Zaretsky - family supporting capitalism by providing unpaid labour, reproducing a labour force and being a unit of consumption
  • ^family cushions the pressure of capitalism, alowing people to express their frusteration with capitalism in non threatening ways , this will reduce the chance of w/c to unite and challenge inequality
• Feminism

  • they all claim - family life is more beneficial to men than women, family is central in the process of gendered socialisation
  • unfair proportion of the mundane and repetitive housework, and taking responsibility for the emotional well being of family members
  • women have little control or power in decision making, money etc.
  • it is inevitable that women will experience abuse and exploitation in the family
• Marxist feminist

  • women are both oppressed by patriarchy and capitalist ideology
  • oppress women for the benefit of men
  • capitalism families, require women to be source of unpaid domestic work to ensure men can go to work
  • women are expected to provide outlets for frustration and anger their husband experience at work to prevent them rebelling against their employers
  • Sivia Federici - many women are forced into productive and reproductive labour, resulting in a 'double day'
• Radical Feminists

  • Christine Delphy and Diana Leonard - inequalities in home are the result of how relationships in family allow men to control women
  • men benefit from women taking responsibility for the mundane and repetitive tasks
  • suggesting subordination and oppression while they cater the needs of their husband- emotionally,sexually, physically - anad spend their time raising children at whateer cost to their own paid work or interests
  • major changes are needed in society to improve the position of women
• Difference feminism

  • Linda Nicholson (1997) and Cheshire Calhoun (1997) - criticised other feminist for not considering that women have different household life experiences
  • its wrong to claim all women are exploited in the same way in all type of families
  • factors like- social class, race , sexual orientation, family structure
• liberal feminists

  • Ann Oakley - equality between gender is slowly occurring through shift in attitudes along with legal changes
  • very important for women to be socialised and educated so they have the right and freedom to choose a career, a family role or both
• Foucault - theory perspectives

  • argues family is to be understood in which the state can observe and control individuals through regular surveillance of family life
  • family is not always successfully controlled through states, E.G. many examples of the state not intervening in child neglect cases
• Life course analysis - theory perspective

  • family should be understood by understanding the meaning behind practices and decisions
  • criticism - ignores the influence of structural forces in shaping people's decision-making process