Families and Households 4

What does functional fit mean?

Type of family that works best for society

Who argued that the traditional nuclear family is a functional fit for society?

Parsons

What is a geographically mobile workforce?

Families can move where work is

What is a socially mobile workforce?

Status is achieved through hard work

What does Parsons argue as the functions of the family?

• Primary socialisation

• Stabilisation of adult personalities

What is primary socialisation?

Families introducing their children to norms and values

What is the stabilisation of adult peronalities?

Family provides relief from stresses of everyday life

What roles do the children need according to Parsons?

• Instrumental

• Expressive

Who is the instrumental parent and what do they do?

Dad - discipline, earning income

Who is the expressive parent and what do they do?

Mum - nurturing, emotional needs

What is the neo-conventional family?

Move from traditional to what is now accepted

Who argues the neo-conventional family?

Chester

What does Chester argue about people and the nuclear family?

Nuclear still what people strive for and people will be a part of it in their life cycle

What does Murray argue about lone parent families?

Cause inadequate socialisation

What does Melanie Phillips argue about boys?

Fatherless boys were to blame for the 2011 riots

What does Melanie Phillips argue about girls?

Welfare state encourages pregnancy to access benefits

What are the 5 types of diversity that explain differences in family structure according to the Rapoports?

• Cultural

• Generational

• Life course

• Organisational

• Class

What is cultural diversity?

Different cultures have different dominating family structures

What is life course diversity?

People’s family structure changes in their life

What is generational diversity?

Generations have different attitudes

What is organisational diversity?

Some families have different gender roles

What is class diversity?

There are class differences in family structure

What is fragmented?

Division of society into groups that lack integration - people can pick and mix identities

What does Stacey argue?

Divorce extended family

What is the divorce extended family?

Family whose members connect by divorce rather than marriage

What was Stacey’s study?

Silicon Valley - women reject housewife role, returning to education and divorcing their husbands

Who created the Individualisation Thesis

Giddens and Beck

What did Giddens and Beck argue?

We have become disembedded from traditional family structures and have more freedom

What does Giddens argue?

• Equality

• Pure relationship

Why have genders become more equal according to Giddens?

• Contraception

• Women have gained independence

What is plastic sexuality?

View of what sex is is now flexible due to contraception

What is a pure relationship?

Staying in a relationship as long as it serves both partner’s needs

What does Beck argue?

Risk society

What is risk society?

Tradition has less influence so we are more aware of risks

What is the negotiated family according to Beck?

Don’t conform to tradition and enter the relationship on an equal basis, negotiating decisions

What is a criticism of Individualisation Thesis?

People make decisions in a social context