Sociological Theories of the Family and Childhood

Functionalism

Consensus view emphasizing family's beneficial societal roles.

Murdock's Universal Nuclear Family

Family type consisting of parents and children worldwide.

Four Essential Functions of Family

Sexual, Reproduction, Socialisation, Economic roles identified by Murdock.

Sexual Function

Controls adult relationships, ensuring social acceptability.

Reproductive Function

Biologically produces next generation for societal survival.

Socialisation Function

Teaches norms and values to integrate youth into society.

Economic Function

Meets members' economic needs, providing food and shelter.

Parsons' Warm Bath Theory

Family provides emotional security, reducing societal conflict.

Stabilisation of Adult Personalities

Emotional support within marriage, mitigating stress from work.

Instrumental Role

Male role as breadwinner and family disciplinarian.

Expressive Role

Female role as emotional caregiver and homemaker.

Critique of Functionalism

Downplays conflict, ignores oppression and family diversity.

Deterministic Criticism

Assumes automatic adoption of societal norms and values.

Parsons' Best Fit Theory

Family structure adapts to societal needs over time.

Structural Differentiation

Functions like economic support shift to other institutions.

Marxism

Conflict view seeing family as capitalism's tool.

Inheritance of Wealth

Ensures wealth remains within families, supporting capitalism.

Cushioning Effect

Family provides comfort from capitalist society's stresses.

Zaretsky's Perspective

Family allows men to feel control, preventing revolution.

Unit of Consumption

Families targeted by advertisers to drive product sales.

Ruling Class Ideology

Family socialises children into acceptance of social hierarchy.

Reserve Labour Force

Women serve as a flexible workforce in capitalism.

Family Diversity

Variety of family structures beyond nuclear family.

Determinism

Belief that family roles shape capitalism's maintenance.

Negative View of Family

Focus on family dysfunction, ignoring positive aspects.

Nuclear Family

Traditional family structure consisting of two parents and children.

Social Construction

Concept that societal norms shape family definitions.

Dark Side of Family

Negative aspects like domestic violence within families.

Conflict View

Perspective that family structures perpetuate social inequalities.

Liberal Feminism

Advocates gradual equality through legal and social changes.

Radical Feminism

Believes patriarchy must be abolished for women's liberation.

Political Lesbianism

Advocacy for same-sex relationships to challenge patriarchy.

Matrilocal Households

All-female households sharing parental responsibilities.

Marxist Feminism

Views family as a capitalist tool oppressing women.

Takers of ****

Ansley's term for women absorbing men's frustrations.

Intersectional Feminism

Focus on diverse experiences of women across identities.

Dual Burden

Women balancing paid work and domestic responsibilities.

Triple Shift

Women providing paid work, domestic labor, and emotional support.

Domestic Division of Labour

Distribution of household tasks among family members.

March of Progress

View that family roles are evolving towards equality.

Time Use Survey

Research showing women's disproportionate housework hours.

Decision Making in Family

Unequal power dynamics in family decision processes.

Bittman and Pixley

Sociologists linking inequality to divorce rates.

Dunne's Study

Research indicating equal labor in same-sex couples.

Elston and Drew Surveys

Findings showing persistent domestic inequalities.

Unequal Decision Making

Wives often defer to husbands for important choices.

Impact of Children

Mother's career affected by decision to have children.

Unpaid Labour Benefits

Men gain more from women's unpaid household work.

Financial Control

Men control finances through allowance systems.

Sacrifice in Low-Income Families

Women prioritize family needs over their own.

Allowance System

Men typically earn more in pooled finances.

Pooling System

Shared finances where both partners contribute.

Increasing Equal Say

Higher-earning women report more decision-making equality.

Patriarchal Society

Societal structure favoring male authority and control.

Domestic Violence Statistics

Men are primary perpetrators of domestic violence.

Crisis of Masculinity

Challenges to male authority linked to domestic violence.

Marxist-Feminist View

Male frustration at work leads to power assertion at home.

Symmetrical Family

Egalitarian marriage with shared roles and leisure.

Privatised Nuclear Family

Nuclear family replaces extended family with segregated roles.

Economic Activity Impact

Working women contribute to more equal family dynamics.

Personal Life Perspective

Family defined by personal meanings beyond blood ties.

Fictive Kin

Significant relationships beyond biological family connections.

Chosen Families

Relationships formed by choice, especially in LGBTQ communities.

Individualisation Thesis

Traditional roles diminished, allowing personal family choices.

Disembedded Individuals

People free from traditional social structures.

Social Relationships Importance

Social ties valued over genetic connections in families.

Pure Relationships

Relationships based on mutual fulfillment and choice.

Confluent Love

Love that is contingent on partners' needs.

Divorce-Extended Family

Family structure including ex-partners and their connections.

Connectedness Thesis

Relationships and histories shape individual choices.

Social Construction of Childhood

Childhood defined by societal norms, not biology.

Cultural Relativity

Childhood experiences vary significantly across cultures.

Historical Relativity

Childhood concepts have evolved over historical periods.

Mini-Adults

Children viewed as small adults in pre-industrial societies.

March of Progress View

Children's status has improved in modern societies.

Economic Burden

Children seen as financial liabilities rather than assets.

Infant Mortality Rates

Declining rates leading to fewer children per family.

Childhood Rights

Children's entitlement to happiness and protection.

Separateness of Childhood

Distinct life stage marked by societal separation.

Sensible Analytical Approach

Different childhood stages vary in social construction.

Influence of Children

Children can impact family decisions and dynamics.

Cunningham's Argument

Modern childhood emerged needing protection and separation.

Benedict's Argument

Childhood varies significantly across different cultures.

Aries' Study

Historical paintings reveal past views of childhood.

Tikopia Tribe Study

Children hold more responsibilities in some cultures.

Intra-Cultural Differences

Variations in childhood experiences based on class and ethnicity.

Smart's Thesis

Individuals are influenced by their relational networks.

Vanessa May's Critique

Idealized individualism overlooks diversity in experiences.

Cultural Expectations

Shifted to view childhood as special and protected.

Legal Changes

Restrictions on child labour and compulsory education.

Children's Rights

UN outlines fundamental rights for children.

The Children Act

Focuses on children's well-being and rights.

Minister for Children

UK role overseeing children's protection and welfare.

Child-Centeredness

Families invest more in fewer children.

Intra-Child Conflict

Experiences vary by gender, ethnicity, and class.

Adult Control

Adults regulate resources, space, time, and bodies.

Child Liberationist View

Argues childhood is oppressive under adult control.

Dark Side of Childhood

Child abuse remains a significant societal issue.

Disappearing Childhood Thesis

Postman claims childhood is vanishing due to technology.

Toxic Childhood Thesis

Palmer argues modern changes harm children's development.