Families and households-8

Flashcards based on lecture notes covering family sociology, social policy, and domestic division of labor.

Who believed that the march of progress view is an over exaggeration as women still do a majority of domestic labour?

Ann Oakley

Which sociologist suggested that the nuclear family was a universal institution?

Murdock

Give one reason for the rise in family diversity.

Increased migration (or secularisation)

Which Marxist thinker believed that the nuclear family is a tool of capitalism by enabling the inheritance of wealth?

Engels

Who takes the march of progress view of the roles in the family?

Young and Willmott

What is meant by maternal deprivation?

When a child does not have a mother figure

What is meant by Dependency Culture?

When the population relies on the government for handouts and benefits (associated with Murray).

How do sociologists refer to childhood?

As a social construction

What is the key feminist concept which refers to male dominance?

Patriarchy

What are the two main types of social policy related to families?

Material support (e.g., child benefits) and policies that help parents balance working and family life (e.g., maternity leave).

What was a key aim of Conservative social policy in the 1980s-90s regarding the family?

To strengthen the nuclear family and reduce welfare payments.

Name one policy implemented by the Conservatives in the 1980s-90s influenced by the New Right.

The Married Man's tax allowance.

What was Labour's approach to family policy between 1997-2010?

They favored dual-earning families while still supporting heterosexual, nuclear families.

Give an example of a social policy introduced by Labour between 1997-2010.

Sexuality discrimination laws, civil partnerships, or longer maternity leave.

What were the two main aims influencing family policy during the 2010-present coalition government?

Traditionalists favoring the New Right view and modernists who accept diversity.

Name a significant family policy introduced by the coalition government from 2010 onwards.

Shared parental leave or the Equal Marriage Act (same-sex marriage).

What did the Beverage report of 1942 lead to?

The introduction of the welfare state, including the NHS and housing benefit.

What significant change did the Divorce Reform Act of 1969 introduce?

Divorce no longer required a specific reason or proof.

When did the contraceptive pill become legal for unmarried women?

1967

How did Parsons describe conjugal roles within the family?

As instrumental (male) and expressive (female).

Describe the 'Allowance System' of managing family money.

Men would give wives a set amount for expenses, keeping any excess for themselves.

What is 'Pooling' as a method of managing family finances?

All money goes into a central pot, and there is joint responsibility for expenditure.

What criticisms are often made regarding the 'Allowance System' and men's control over money in families?

Men often gain more from women's unpaid labor, may not provide adequate financial recompense, and money might come with 'strings attached'.

According to Edgell (1980), how are decisions typically made in families?

Very important decisions are taken by men, important decisions jointly, and day-to-day decisions by women.

What did a 1995 survey suggest about decision-making equality in families?

70% of couples claimed equal say, with high-earning women more likely to report equality.

From a feminist perspective, what primarily influences decision-making in families?

Cultural expectations of a patriarchal society and gender role socialization, rather than just money.

What concepts suggest that the change in domestic division of labor has been exaggerated?

The 'triple shift' and 'dual burden' experienced by women.

What did the British Social Attitudes Survey (1992) find regarding the domestic division of labor in dual-career families?

While some household tasks became more equal, women still had major responsibility for domestic tasks.

What was Ann Oakley's critique of men's participation in domestic tasks?

She argued that 'jointly' does not mean 'equally,' and men often frame their participation as 'helping their wives.'

According to Rapoport and Rapoport (1970), how were career women still primarily viewed?

As 'wives and mothers.'

What did Dunne (1999) find about the division of domestic labor in gay and lesbian couples?

They tend to be more equal and symmetrical than heterosexual couples, though unequal earnings could still lead to unequal division.

How has the increase in economically active women and mothers influenced the division of roles?

Men need to be more involved in domestic chores when women work outside the home.

How have secularisation and weakening gender identities contributed to changes in family roles?

There is less pressure to conform to traditional gender roles.

How has the decline in the extended family affected the division of labor within couples?

With fewer family members to help, couples need to be more equal in tasks like childcare.

How have technology and living standards influenced domestic labor?

New technologies like washing machines and dishwashers have reduced the need for some manual domestic tasks.

What is meant by the 'commercialisation of domestic labour'?

The growth of industries where families pay for certain tasks to be completed or hire help like au pairs and nannies, due to dual-earning households.