Family Lecture Review

Flashcards about Family Diversity, Gender Roles, Childhood, Functions of the Family, Family & Social Policy, and Demographic Changes & the Family

What is the nuclear family?

A family structure consisting of a heterosexual married couple and their dependent children. This is often seen as the traditional family model.

According to the Rapoports, what are the five types of family diversity?

According to the Rapoports, family diversity can be categorised into five types: organisational (variations in family structure), cultural (differences in norms and values), life-stage (families change over time), generational (different experiences across generations), and class-based (impact of socio-economic status).

According to Giddens, what are relationships now based on?

Giddens argues that relationships are now based on individual choice and the emotional satisfaction derived from the partnership, rather than traditional obligations or societal expectations.

According to Murray and the New Right, what does the welfare state encourage?

Murray and the New Right argue that the welfare state encourages single-parent families, which they believe leads to moral decline and over-reliance on state support.

According to Chester, what is the most common aspiration?

Chester suggests that the most common aspiration is the 'neo-conventional' nuclear family, where both parents are earners, and they are either married or cohabiting.

What is the definition of traditional family roles?

Traditional family roles involve assigning women to domestic responsibilities such as housework and childcare, while men are primarily responsible for earning income.

According to Willmott & Young, what type of families are on the rise?

Willmott & Young suggest that symmetrical families, where roles are more equal, are becoming more common, especially among younger couples and in households where both partners work.

According to Oakley, is there symmetry within dual-worker households?

Oakley argues that even in dual-worker households, there is little evidence of true symmetry, with women still performing the majority of housework.

According to Duncombe & Marsden, what shift do women face?

Duncombe & Marsden argue that women often face the triple shift of paid work, housework, and emotional labour, which involves managing the emotions and well-being of family members.

According to Dunne, who tends to share tasks most equally?

Dunne's research indicates that lesbian couples tend to share tasks more equally because they are not constrained by traditional gender roles or societal expectations.

What is a child-centred society?

A society that prioritises the well-being, protection, and value of children, often reflected in policies and cultural norms.

According to Aries, how were children treated in the Middle Ages?

Aries argued that in the Middle Ages, the concept of childhood as a distinct life stage did not exist, and children were treated as miniature adults.

According to Pilcher, how is modern childhood defined?

Pilcher argues that modern childhood is defined by its separateness from adulthood, with children living lives largely distinct from those of adults.

According to Donzelot, surveillance of parenting shows what?

Donzelot's work suggests that the level of surveillance and intervention in parenting reflects the importance society places on child welfare.

According to Palmer, childhood in the UK is becoming what?

Palmer argues that childhood in the UK is becoming 'toxic' due to factors like screen addiction, unhealthy food, and excessive testing, which negatively impact children's mental and physical health.

According to Hillman, how does childhood vary?

Hillman's research indicates that boys are often given more freedom and independence, while girls face more restrictions and supervision.

According to Feminists how do families reproduce male dominance?

Feminist perspectives suggest that families contribute to male dominance through the unequal distribution of housework and childcare responsibilities, as well as the control men exert over women.

According to Delphy & Leonard, how do men benefit from families?

Delphy & Leonard argue that men benefit most from family relationships because women perform unpaid work and provide emotional support, while men maintain greater control and power.

According to Dobash & Dobash, the family what?

Dobash & Dobash's research highlights that the family can be a site of domestic violence and is not always a safe space for women.

According to Stacey, what does greater freedom allow people to do?

Stacey argues that greater individual freedom allows people to choose family forms that suit their needs, such as divorce-extended families, reflecting changing societal norms.

According to Giddens, what do people seek?

Giddens argues that people seek 'pure relationships' based on mutual choice and equality, rather than being driven by tradition or societal expectations.

What are social policies?

Social policies are laws and government actions that impact family life, covering areas such as education, welfare, and marriage rights.

According to Functionalism, how do policies help families function effectively?

Functionalist perspectives view policies like the NHS, compulsory education, and child benefits as supporting the family's ability to care for its members effectively.

According to Murray, what do welfare policies encourage?

Murray argues that welfare policies, such as benefits for single mothers, encourage dependency and promote lone-parenthood, leading to the creation of an 'underclass.'

According to Land, what is assumed about social policies?

Land suggests that social policies assume the nuclear family model is the best and, by supporting it, reinforce its dominance, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy where the state encourages conformity.

What do Legalisation of civil partnerships and same-sex marriage reflect?

Legalising civil partnerships (2005) and same-sex marriage (2014), as well as granting adoption rights, indicate a growing acceptance of diverse family structures.

What are demographic changes?

Demographic changes encompass declining birth rates, increasing life expectancy, and rising levels of migration.

According to Sue Sharpe, what do girls' priorities show about career and independence?

Sue Sharpe's research indicates that girls' priorities have shifted from marriage and family towards careers and independence, reflecting changing societal values.

According to Philipson (marxist ) how are the elderly viewed?

Elderly people are seen as a burden to capitalism once they are no longer economically productive, which increases economic strain within the home.

According to Fletcher ( a functionalist ), why are divorces rising?

Fletcher argues that rising divorce rates indicate that people place a higher value on relationships and have increasing expectations; when these expectations are not met, they choose to divorce and potentially remarry.

According to Berthoud, how do caribbean and south asian families differ?

Berthoud notes that Caribbean families often have a higher prevalence of single-parent households and value kinship networks, whereas South Asian families typically emphasize extended family structures and arranged marriages.