A-Level Sociology: Family, Childhood, and Gender Roles Flashcards

Practice flashcards covering family types, sociological perspectives (Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism), changing patterns of marriage, the social construction of childhood, and the impact of life expectancy.

What consists of a nuclear family?

A mother, father, and child(ren).

What is the difference between classic extended and modified extended families?

Classic extended families live together or near each other, while modified extended families live far apart yet stay in touch via the internet or visiting.

Define a beanpole family.

A 4-generational family.

What is the difference between polyandry and polygyny?

Polygyny is having more than one wife at a time, whereas polyandry is having more than one husband at a time.

Which tribe in Uganda was observed by Turnbull in the 1960s as having no emotional stock in family?

The Ik tribe.

What four major characteristics of family did Murdock (1949) identify after studying 250 societies?

Common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction, adults of both sexes in a socially approved relationship, and one or more children.

What are the two irreplaceable functions of the family according to Parsons (1956)?

Primary socialisation for children and the stabilisation of adult personalities.

Describe the 'Warm Bath Theory'.

The family acts as emotional support and a relaxant for workers, specifically the father, who comes home after a long day of work.

What is the 'fit thesis' put forward by Parsons?

The idea that the nuclear family is universal because it fits the needs of industrial society by being geographically and socially mobile.

Why did Anderson (1995) argue that extended families might have grown during urbanization?

Due to lack of government assistance, low literacy rates (literate members helping others find jobs), childcare needs, high death rates, and children contributing to family income.

According to Engels, why did monogamy emerge?

Monogamy emerged with capitalism to keep wealth within the family and guarantee the paternity of children for the passing on of private property.

How does Zaretsky (1976) critique Parsons's stabilization of personality theory?

He argues the family acts as a "ball and chain" for workers, making them subservient to capitalist bosses because they must provide for dependents.

Define 'cultural capital' as used by Bourdieu (1986).

Non-economic resources, such as attitudes and knowledge, that parents pass to children to give them a head-start in education.

Define 'canalization' in the context of gender socialization by Oakley (1972).

Where parents guide their children towards toys and activities that are socially acceptable for their genders.

What is the 'dual burden' or 'double shift' described by Marxist feminists?

The situation where women are exploited both in the workplace and at home through unpaid labour.

How does Ansley (1972) describe the role of wives in the context of capitalist frustration?

Wives act as a 'safety valve' for their husbands' rage, absorbing the frustration the husband cannot express to his boss.

What was Philippe Ariès's (1960) main argument about childhood?

That childhood is a recent social construction; in pre-industrial society, children were treated as "mini-adults" with no distinct status.

What three major features of a child-centred society did Cunningham identify?

Physical and symbolic separation, a distinct culture of childhood, and the acquisition of certain rights.

What are the five dimensions UNICEF uses to measure children's welfare?

Material well-being, health and safety, education, behaviour and risks, and housing and environment.

Define 'age patriarchy'.

The inequalities of power between adults and children, including adult control over children's space, time, behaviour, and bodies.

What is 'social blurring' according to Postman?

The disappearance of the distinction between adults and children, often due to similar media consumption.

What are 'sandwich carers'?

Daughters who must simultaneously take care of both their children (grandchildren) and their elderly parents (grandparents).

What is 'filial piety' in the context of South Asian and African families?

The high amount of respect, attentiveness, and care shown to older people solely due to their age.

According to Jessel et al. (2011), how do Bangladeshi children and grandparents have mutualistic relationships?

Grandparents teach children about cultural heritage and language, while children teach grandparents how to use modern devices like computers.

What did Willmott and Young (1970s) observe about conjugal roles in the UK?

They observed that roles were becoming symmetrical, meaning shared and equal conjugal roles between spouses.