Families

When was the children’s act? What was it for?

2004: importance of child protection

When was the Welfare State founded? What was it for?

1945 - introduced things like family allowance, highlighting children's dependency and welfare.

When was the Forster Act? What was it for?

1870 - marked the beginning of former schooling.

Introduced a literate workforce that could support the growing industrial economy.

Made school compulsory and the age of leaving increases.

Seen as pupils father than workers.

How did the idea of childhood evolve in the Age of Enlightenment / 18th century?

Philosphers e.g. Jean Jaques-Rousseau and John Locke emphasised understanding the stages of growth of children.

18th/19th c. Advancements in science/medicine reduced child mortality rates.

Specialised paediatric medicine and improved knowledge of child health reinforced it as a distinct, protected phase.

How did the idea of childhood evolve in the 15th and 16th centuries?

Religious children began to view them as vulnerable.

1476: Printing press and rise of literacy in 16th/17th centuries. Learning to read became a milestone and separated kids from adults.

How was childhood viewed in the Middle Ages?

Didn’t exist.

No primary education or laws separating kids from adults.

CHildren often treated as adults from 7 years old.

What is the definition of a vertically extended family?

Classic family with 3 generations who live together or near.

What is the definition of a horizontally extended family?

2 generations who live under the same roof or near by. For example, with the addition of the husband’s brother or wife’s cousin.

One parent and the

What is a nuclear family?

A nuclear family consists of two parents (may or may not be married) and their children, living in one house, functioning as a single household unit.

What is an extended family?

An extended family includes additional relatives beyond the nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, living together or in close proximity.

What is a single-parent family?

A single-parent family is headed by one parent raising one or more children, often due to divorce, separation, or the choice to raise children alone.

What is a blended family?

A blended family is formed when one or both partners in a relationship have children from previous relationships and come together to create a new family unit.

What is a child-free family?

A child-free family is one where the couple chooses not to have children, either by choice or due to circumstances.

What is a same-sex family?

A same-sex family consists of two individuals of the same sex who live together and may or may not have children, often through adoption or previous relationships

What is the definition of a household?

One person living alone or a group of people who are sharing a living space and meals, for example, a nuclear family or students.

What is the functionalst metaphor for society?

Society is a complex organism. Institutions like the family play a crucial role in ensuring cohesion and continuity.

What does Talcott Parsons mean by the ‘functional fit’?

Building on Murdock's work, Parsons (1951) stressed the importance of the nuclear family with his functional fit theory.

Unlike Murdock, Parsons believed that family structures change along with society and that each type of family is created to ‘fit’ society at the time.

Parsons argued the nuclear family was uniquely suited to industrialised societies.

Unlike extended families, they are able to relocate to meet job demands.

This aligned with Parsons’ idea of the ‘functional fit’ between family structure and the needs of society.

What is the functionalist view of the family?

The functionalist view sees the family as a vital social institution that performs essential functions for society, such as socialization of children, emotional support, and the regulation of sexual behavior.

What did George Murdock argue about the family?

George Murdock argued that the family is a universal social structure and identified four essential functions of the family: sexual regulation, reproduction, socialization, and economic support.

What are the four functions of the family according to George Murdock?

1. Sexual regulation: controls sexual behavior within society. 2. Reproduction: provides offspring for society. 3. Socialization: teaches children the norms and values of society. 4. Economic support: provides financial and material support for family members.

What is Talcott Parsons' view on the family?

Talcott Parsons viewed the family as a key institution in modern industrial societies, emphasizing two main functions: the primary socialization of children and the stabilization of adult personalities.

What are the two primary functions of the family according to Talcott Parsons?

1. Primary socialization: the family is responsible for introducing children to societal norms and values. 2. Stabilization of adult personalities: the family provides emotional support for adults, helping them to cope with the stresses of modern life

Who theorised instrumental and expressive roles in the family? What are they?

Talcott Parsons

The father typically fills the instrumental role, focusing on providing economic support and establishing discipline.

The mother takes on the expressive role, providing emotional care and nurturing for family members.

Parsons sees these roles as complementary, creating a balanced and cohesive society/family unit.

What is the warm bath theory?

A metaphor for the family created by Talcott Parsons. Family acts as a refuge from stresses of outside world, like a warm bath provides relaxation. Family provides emotional comfort, especially to the male breadwinner who Parsons saw as facing significant stresses from his work.

What is the Marxist view of the family?

The Marxist view sees the family as a social institution that supports the capitalist system by maintaining class structures and perpetuating the ideology of capitalism, serving the interests of the ruling class.

What did Friedrich Engels argue about the family?

Friedrich Engels argued that the nuclear family developed as a way to ensure the inheritance of private property, transforming the familial structure into a tool for the accumulation of wealth by the bourgeoisie.

How did Engels view women in the family?

Engels believed that women were exploited within the family structure, being reduced to positions of subservience and defined primarily by their relationship to men, serving as instruments of reproduction for the ruling class.

What is the role of the family in upholding capitalist values according to Marxists?

The family reinforces capitalist values by socializing children into accepting the existing social order, promoting conformist behavior, and instilling norms that prioritize wealth accumulation and competition.

What did Eli Zaretsky argue about the family in a capitalist society?

Zaretsky argued that the family serves as a 'comfort zone' for workers, providing emotional support amidst capitalist pressures, but also functions to conceal the true nature of exploitation and inequality in society.

How does Zaretsky view the relationship between the family and the economy?

Zaretsky posited that the family plays a crucial role in the reproduction of labor power, as it nurtures and socialises future workers while also providing a space for workers to rest and recuperate from the demands of capitalism.

What does Zaretsky argue about women in the family?

Zaretsky emphasises womens domestic labour which remains largely unpaid and plays a crucial role in maintaining capitalism.

By chid-rearing, household work, and emotional care, women sustain and reproduce labour power at minimal cost to employers.

What were the factors that affected the outcomes Pryor and Rodgers found in their study on divorce and separation (1998)?

Financial hardship which limits educational achievement.

Family conflict before, during and after the divorce which can contribute to behavioural problems.

What did Bryan Rodgers and Jan Pryor study regarding divorce?

Rodgers and Pryor studied the impacts of divorce on children and families, identifying that children of divorced families can experience emotional and behavioral problems, affecting their well-being.

What were key findings of Rodgers and Pryor's study on divorce?

They found that the effects of divorce on children depend on factors like the quality of parenting post-divorce and the level of parental conflict before and after the separation.

What did Beck and Beck-Gernsheim contribute to the understanding of family dynamics in divorce?

Beck and Beck-Gernsheim examined individualization in modern societies, emphasizing how personal choice and autonomy in relationships can lead to divorce.

What is one impact of divorce on parents?

Divorce can lead to emotional distress, financial strain, and a change in family roles for parents, often resulting in feelings of loss and isolation.

How does divorce affect children according to research?

Children of divorced parents may face academic difficulties, emotional distress, and issues with relationships, but outcomes can vary significantly depending on their circumstances.

What is a wider family impact of divorce?

Divorce can cause strain on extended family relationships, leading to changes in family dynamics, as well as potential divisions and conflicts among relatives.

What challenges do children of divorced families face during family transitions?

Children may struggle with loyalty conflicts between parents, adjustment to new living arrangements, and feelings of instability and insecurity.

What role does parental conflict play in the impact of divorce?

High levels of conflict before and after divorce can exacerbate negative outcomes for children, whereas cooperative parenting can mitigate these effects.

What do Beck and Beck-Gernsheim suggest about modern relationships?

Their work suggests that individual desires and societal expectations shape modern relationships, leading to a higher rate of divorce as personal fulfillment becomes a priority

Name reasons for a rise in divorce.

Legal changes

Changing status of women

Secularisation]

Changing attitudes leading to a decline in stigma

Stresses of capitalism

Increased value of marriage

Men seen as not doing enough

What are the statistics sociologist Peacy gathered on divorce and children?

44% said their child splits their time equally or at least sees sees the other parent weekly.

29% said their child never sees the other parent.

20% said their child hasn’t seen the other parent since separation.

What are the Rapoports’ key beliefs / views on the family?

Argued there isn't one dominant family structure, and suggested Britain is characterised by multiple family forms.

This should be seen as positive as family diversity is a reflection of freedom of choice and an increased acceptance of differences.

The Rapoports theorised ‘5 dimensions of family diversity.’

What are the Rapoports’ 5 dimensions of family diversity?

Organisational: The way family is structured e.g. who looks after thee house.

Social Class: Position in society, can affect things like opportunities available and attitudes towards parenting. E.g. working class families may face different financial pressures than upper class families, influencing how they managed work and family life.

Cohort: Refers to how family patterns change depending on the era with things like attitudes towards cohabitation and divorce.

Life Course: Refers to stage in family life, e.g. an empty nest marriage or a newly wed couple.

What are two arguments that support the statement ‘todays family is centred around the child’?

Shorter Working Week: In the 19th century, the typical working week was between 70-80 hours. Today it’s more like 44 hours, meaning parents have more time to spend with their chilren.

Compulsory Education: Young people are more dependent on their parents for longer periods of time due to longer compulsory education. Children were previously seen as economic assets, but education now makes childhood an extended period.

What are two arguments that disagree with the statement ‘todays family is centred around the child’?

Leisure Technologies: Sociologist Palmer (2007) said techhnologies are harming children as parents use them as alternatives to traditional parenting practices. This results in less quality time with children than they would have for example, reading stories.

Child Abuse: Stats from the NSPCC say that at least one child a week dies from adult cruelty, usually from a parent or step-parent.

What did Michael Rosenfeld study?

He did a survey of over 2,000 heterosexual couples.

What did Michael Rosenfeld’s study of over 2000 heterosexual couples find?

Women initiate 69% of all divorces.

Married women reported lower levels of relationship quality than men.

His results supported the feminist assertion that some women experience marriages as oppressive or uncomfortable.

A similar picture appeared in England and Wales in 2018 where 70% of all divorces granted to one partner were granted to the wife.

What sociological perspective are Duncome and Marsden? What do they say about the family?

Feminists

They say women suffer a ‘triple shifts’ of paid, emotional and house-work.

What sociological perspective are Delphy and Leonard? What do they say about the family?

Radical Feminists (1992).

Men rather than capitalism exploits women. They believe the family maintains men’s dominance over women and children maintaining the patriarchal nature of society.

They say women suffer a dual burden of paid and domestic work.

Men contribute the least and gain the most.

What do feminists generally say about the family?

They are critical of the role of the family in society and it has a negative impact on women.

They believe families actively contribute to the construction of gender differences through primary socialisation processes, for example dressing girls in pink and boys in blue.

What does the term ‘canalisation’ describe?

The way parents channel their children’s interests into toys, games, etc. that are seen as ‘gender appropriate.’ Therefore, through gender socialisation, the family helps reproduce gender inequalities.

What stereotypes are attached to older people?

They enjoy prosperous lives at the expense of deprived younger people.

They’re a burden on younger tax payers and don’t contribute economically.

What is the reality of the stereotypes attached to older people?

Many live in poverty and financially support the family.

Many don’t need care.

What statistics disprove the stereotypes about elderly people?

2005: 31% of grandparents help their grandchildren buy a house.

16% gave financial support.

No more than 25% of people ever need care.

Ages 65-74 are most likely to help with voluntary work outside the home.

What are some statistics on conjugal roles from the institute of public research (2012)?

1 in 10 men that are married do an equal amount of domestic work.

½ of women do over 13hours of housework a week.

Who theorised the symmetrical family - what is their sociological perspective? What is it?

Willmott and Young - Functionalists

Roles and responsibilities outside and inside the home are shared equally, for example economic contributions and childcare. Leisure time is often based around the home, like watching TV.

What is an example of a commune?

Kibbutzim - formed by Jewish settlers in Palestine over shared values of equality and cooperation. Children lived and slept seperately from their parents in ‘children’s houses’ and looked after by the adults on rotation.

Favoured communal living, meals eaten in a communal dining hall.

Since 1990s most now live in nuclear families.

What is a normative age?

The timing of life course transitions, for example the normal age to have children or retire.

What is a children's home?

A children's home is a facility providing care for children who cannot live with their families due to various circumstances, such as abuse, neglect, or family crises. It offers support, shelter, and community for the children.

What is a children's residential home?

A children's residential home is a type of children's home that provides a structured living environment for children who need ongoing support and care, often focusing on therapeutic services and education.

What is a residential care home?

A residential care home is a facility that provides accommodation and personal care for individuals, typically the elderly or those with disabilities, who are unable to live independently but do not require intensive medical care.

What is a secure children's residential home?

A secure children's residential home is a facility designed for children and adolescents who require a high level of supervision and security due to behavioral issues or legal problems. It combines care with security measures.