PAPER 2 SOCIO

Functional prerequisites

Functional prerequisites

The things that any institution, such as a family, must perform if it is to continue to function successfully.

Privatized nuclear family

structure that is home-focused, child-centered and built on emotional relationships between adults and children

household

this is the residential unit of people living together in one home (dwelling); the term is often used more specifically for when the people are not related to each other

monogamy

having a single sexual or marriage partner at any given time

marriage

union between two people, recognized by law

polygamy

having more than one sexual or marriage partner at the same time

polygyny

when one man is married to a number of women

polyandry

when one woman is married to a number of men

Nuclear family

a family consisting of a mother, a father and their dependent children

Primary socialization

teaching and learning process normally first carried out within the family

Kinship network

family relationships, based on biology closeness or law, that form unique (distinctive) patterns (grandparents, parents, grandchildren) and networks. Members of kinship groups may feel a special bond with, and responsibility for other kin

domestic labor

work done within the home, often performed by women.

dual burden (double shift)

The idea that women perform "two shifts"; one inside the home as domestic laborers and one outside the home as paid employees.

Triple shift (Duncombe and Marsden)

Where a female double-shift refers to women's roles as domestic and paid laborers, a third element of female responsibility is the emotional work they do; investing time and effort in the psychological well-being of family members.

serial monogamy

situation where an individual may be involved in a sequence of sexually exclusive relationships

cohabitation

a relationship where two people who are not married to each other live together as if they were married

empty shell marriage

where the couple are married in name only, living in the same home but as separate individuals

Living Apart Together (LAT) (roseneil)

couples who are married/ in a long-term relationship but do not live together

reconstituted family

AKA step-family, this involved the break-up of one family and its reassembly as a new family through marriage/cohabitation

extended family

family structure containing more than the parents + children of nuclear structures

matrifocal family

a family that is centered on the mother, with the father playing a minor role

patrifocal family

family centered on the father

modified extended family

contemporary form of extended family

• family members maintain contact but rarely live close to one another

family of choice

a chosen, family-like relationship with others or a social network

family diversity

expression of the range of family types in a society, from nuclear through extended and reconstituted to single- parent families

beanpole family

intergenerational, vertically extended family structure with very weak intra-generational links. This structure develops in societies with low/declining birth rates and increasing life expectancies

symmetrical family

relationship in which family roles are shared equally within the home

conjugal roles

male/female roles played within the home. Joint conjugal roles involve adults within the family sharing domestic duties. Separated conjugal roles involve a clear separation between family roles

patriarchal family

father/eldest man is head of the family and excerises authority

matriarchal family

mother/eldest woman is head of the family and exercises authority

Postmodern family

idea that in postmodernity the focus of family members is on individual self-development

dysfunctional

the idea that something is not performing its function correctly and that it may be actively harmful to the individual and or society

domestic violence

any form of physical/verbal abuse towards family members within the home

new man

a man who combines the provider (breadwinner) role with a greater share of domestic labour and childcare

instrumental and expressive roles

instrumental: involved dealing with people in an objective, unemotional way, based on what they can do for us and what we can do for them

expressive: involve dealing with people on the basis of love and affection

social construction

behavior that is culturally, rather than naturally produced. sociologists believe that behavior is socially constructed because it varies both historically and across different societies

ageing population

an increase in the average age of a population due to rising life expectancy and or falling birth rates

dependency ratio

the relationship between the economically inactive section of a population and those who are economically active.

high ratio= more elderly people who depend on younger people to maintain things

divorce

the legal termination of a marriage

irretrievable breakdown of marriage

the ending of a marriage relationship for reasons other than death

confluent love

love being contingent; it is given in return for something else

pivot generation or sandwich generation

the generation of people, usually in middle age, who care for their dependent children and their ageing parents at the same time

murdocks definition of the family

social group characterized by the common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction

• includes adults of both sexes who are socially acceptable

• believed the nuclear family is found in all societies

4 characteristics of family

1. common residence

2. economic co-operation

3. adults of both sexes at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship

4. one or more children, own or adopted

family vs household

family: associated with kin

household: residential unit of people living together who are not necessarily related

murdocks 4 functional prerequisites

1. sexual-stable relationships provided by family for adults and controls members sexual habits

2. reproduction- provide members to replace those who die

3. socialization- teaches children norms/values of society

4. economic- resources for all fam mems to share

giddens def of family

people linked by kin connections where adults take responsibility for childcare

Parsons core functions of modern family

1. primary socialization: families are factories whose product is the development of human personalities

2. stabilization of adult personalities: adult fam members provide physical/emotional support for each other

fletchers functions performed by the family

core functions:

• procreation

• regulation of sexual behavior

• provision of a home

  • physical and emotional

peripheral functions - wider social structure

• consumption of goods/services

• basic education

• health care

• recreation

loss of functions debate

Parsons belief about the nuclear family

• functionalist idea that the multi-functional extended family of the pre-industrial era lost functions after industrial rev

• as industrialization/urbanization increases→ families become the dominant family structure

  • ppl had to be mobile and away from rural areas to towns for work

neo-functionalist

focuses more on the processes involved in linking families to society

criticisms of functionalist view of family

1. outdated and not apply to all societies

2. based on middle class white americans

3. exaggerated positive aspects and down play negatives

family is related to capitalism how - marxist

1. ideological control - families spread ideas favorable to capitalism and ruling class

2. economically - families produce future workers

3. politically - helps maintain political order needed for companies to function profitably

Engels said how the monogamous nuclear family answered concerns of capitalists how

gave men greateer contorl over women

• revealed doubts of the paternity of children

• allowed a man to be sure we had legit children with clear right to inherit wealth

marxist views of the family are different then functionalists how

• acknowledges different social classes

• recognizes families as consumers by companies to maximize profit

• families can socialize their kids to recognize the oppressive nature of capitalism

eli zaretsky beliefs

• socialization involved passing on the ruling-class ideology

• encourages acceptance of capitalism and ruling class rights through beliefs about competition, work ethic, and obeying authority

• fams are targets for advertisers

althusser’s beliefs of fam

• ISA: children learn norms, values, beliefs, that support economic/political situation

• have consumption roles

3 types of capitalism according to neo-marxism

-cultural: some cultures have more leverage to prepare children to enter work

-social: fams provide networks for other families to be successful

-symbolic: characteristics that children develop

criticisms of marxist view of family

• zaretsky believed the family was a refuge from the world of work in a capitalist society

• Z. neglected the dark side of family

how are women oppressed by family life

• family=prison→ locks women into narrow range of service roles/responsibilities

• female roles/responsibilities allow men to exercise power through ‘free’ family services

liberal feminism

• situation of women can be improved by changes (new laws/way of life)

• equality in opportunity

• men & women are free to choose their roles and how they r performed

• promote patriarchal and realistic ways of creating a gender balance within the family

• criticisms

  • not recognizing the patriarchy is still in society

  • ignores social class

  • rad fems believe patriarchy is still in society roots

radical feminism

• believe society is patriarchal and family, religion, and politics

• blame men for everything wrong

• women are forced to depend on men

• abandon the patriarchal family or develop matriarchal family structures

• criticisms

  • lib fems have shown legal changes are successful

  • not realistic for all women

  • ignores social class

  • focuses on negative

marxist feminism

• men have always works long hours because women do domestic work

• dual burden/triple shift

• women increasingly suffer from 2 forms of economic exploitation

  • patriarchal as unpaid domestic laborers whose work benefits men

  • capitalist as paid employees that support the ruling class

Bruegl’s concept of ‘reserve army of labor’

women called into work when there is a shortage of labor and forced back into the family when there is a surplus

carol gilligan’s beliefs

even if women by nature are more nurturing than men, or more concerned with relationships, the effects of these differences depend on how we value them

criticisms of feminist

• outdated because of economic/social changes

• focus too much on the nuclear family

divorce reform act of 1969

• allowed divorce to become easier

• “no fault” divorces

• allowed women to easily leave abusive relationships

• increased blended/reconstituted families/ single parents

paternity act

• divided leave into two 26-week periods but only 12 weeks were protected → 2010 male employees could get paternity leave

• more security knowing you have a job

• more time to socialize kids

• increase nuclear family

The employment protection act

• at first only some women were eligible for it because they had to be employed for a long period of time → male employees could have paternity leave

• more security knowing you have a job

• more time to socialize kids

• increase nuclear family

the civil partnership act

• gave same-sex couples the right and responsibilities that civil marriages received

  • got same tax benefits

• decrease nuclear family

• increase same-sex families

the marriage (same-sex couples) act

• allowed same-sex couples to enter a marriage on the same basis as heterosexual couples

• decrease nuclear family

• increase same-sex families

the adoption act

• allows unmarried and same sex couples to adopt children like married couples could

• increase nuclear family

• increase same sex family

the child benefits act

• provided incentives to have kids (tax-benefits)

• increase nuclear family

• increase birth rate

changes to income support for lone parents

• government supplements to help support low income families

• changes to make it more difficult to obtain benefits

• increases stability

• increases nuclear family

equal pay act

• prohibited any less favorable treatment between men and women in terms of pay and conditions of employment

sex discrimination act

• protected men and women from discrimination on the grounds of sex or marital status

functionalism on social policy

• help families perform functions better and make life better

• act in interest of society

  criticisms

  • assumes all members of the family benefit equally from social policies

  • assumes there is progress bc of the policies

  • ignores conflict

  • focuses on men

  • focus on pos not neg

Marxism on social policy

• form of power and control over families

• social policies oppresses types of families

• policing of families

  criticisms

  • fails to identify who benefits clearly

  • focuses on neg

  • doesn’t recognize the new

the new right on social policy

• in favor of traditional nuclear family based on heterosexual couples with distinct roles for men and women

• doesn’t support anything that supports the nuclear family

  criticisms

  • fems think they work to subordinate women

  • cutting benefit may drive ppl into poverty

  • doesn’t recognize the requirement to maintain nuclear family

liberal fem on social policy

• focus on legislative change

• good

• want equal rights

  criticisms

  • radical fems don’t think law change is enough

  • patriarchy can’t be changed

  • marxists think it ignores social class

radical fems on social policy

• believe patriarchy is actually reinforced through social policy

• dual burden and triple shift

  criticisms

  • lib fems have show legal changes are successful

  • ignores those that chose to stay at home

  • ignores social class

  • focuses on neg

  • victimizes women

reasons for the increase in cohabitation, marriage, and divorce

• changing role of women

  • women have become more independent and have more equal rights → no longer need financial support of marriage → also feel less trapped in marriage

• secularisation

  • reduction of religious influence in society has led to divorce and cohabit. becoming more acceptable

• social changes

  • changing expectations of marriage have meant that people are more likely to leave marriage that doesn’t fit expectations

• legal changes

  • divorce reform act 1969, same-sex marriage act

• economic reasons

  • more economically independent now

• postmodern reasons

  • giddens → quest for more perfect relationships; if they aren’t then they leave

• changes in the family

  • roles of family have become more equal → higher expectations of what marriage should be

Smart and Stevens main reasons for upward trends in cohabitation

• changing attitudes toward marriage

  • no interest → uncertainty about suitable partners

• “Test run”

  • cohabit before marriage to see if partners can settle down + interact successfully

• Easier to leave a cohabiting relationship than marriage

• philosophical resistance to marriage bc of feminist ideas

  • some believe cohabitation leads to equal relationships

romantic love vs confluent

romantic

• unconditional love given to a partner

• can fall out of love and nothing will keep marriage together

confluent

• love is contingent

• marry for status

julia brannen

beanpole families: intergenerational, vertically extended family structure with very weak intra-generational links. This structure develops in societies with low/declining birth rates and increasing life expectancies

willmott and young

stratified diffusion: conjugal roles in the upper class moved towards greater equality, changes come down through class structure. Societies pass through different stages of industrialization. gender roles causally meet

Annette Lareau

says parents with different classes interact with their kids in different ways

dale et al

found differences between ethnic groups in relation to female paid employment, family roles, and employment

berthoud

found features of Afro-Caribbean families in the UK were low rates of marriage and high rates of single parents

Rapoport’s 5 family diversity

Cultural diversity: differences between cultural/ethnic groups in terms of attitude and lifestyle

Life course diversity: differences which result from the stage of life of the family life cycle

Organizational diversity: variations in family structure, household type, and diff in division of labor in the home

Generational diversity: individuals refer to those born in the same year → shared experience of historical events which could influence family life

Social class diversity: diff between middle and working class families in relation to child-rearing and adult relations

causes of family diversity

changes in law

• divorce reform act 1969→ irretrievable breakdown of marriage options

changes in social attitudes

• greater social acceptance and single-parent and same-sex families

changing role of women

• women are less likely to enter a relationship that limits their ability to work and develop a career

secularisation

• religious beliefs about marriage changing and the meaning

globalization/immigration

• customs/traditions have less influence than they once did

life expectancy

• more active lifestyles and healthcare/welfare services has changed the fam structure

New Right views on family

• likes the nuclear family because it

  • provides social, economic, and psychological stability

  • successful primary socialization

  • moral cures→ caring for fam members, taking responsibility for behaviors, unconditional economic cooperation

• believes there is a decline because

  • legislation of abortion

  • contraceptive pills are more available

  • equal pay legislation took women away from home

  • divorce reform act

• criticisms

  • based on an idealized view of the white middle-class family

  • “one size fits all”

  • family is no longer appropriate

  • divorce laws will trap ppl in abusive relations

Patricia Morgan - new right

• argues against cohabitation and says it is

  • unstable

  • sexual behavior is like that of single ppl

  • cohabits with children are more likely to divorce

  • more likely to be cruel/abusive

postmodernism views on family

• Fam is whatever people want it to be

• globalization→ customs and traditions have less influence than they once did and more is becoming socially acceptable → makes people question traditional ways of thinking

• Elkins different forms of family

  • traditional/nuclear

  • two-parent working

  • single parent

  • blended/reconstituted

  • test tube baby

  • surrogate mother

  • co-parent

• strengths

  • recognizes the different ways of living

  • breaks away from the narrow focus

• criticisms

  • exaggerate extent of changes

  • most people live in conventional families

  • less diversity in developed countries

  • fixed gender roles r strong

ann oakley

the role of housewife is a social construction

• proving gender roles could not be “natural”

gershuny et al

• women of all age, ethnicities, class do more domestic labor then men

• men spend more time in the work force

kan

levels of housework that women did were slightly reduced by paid employment

ramos

domestic labor is more likely to be equally distributed when the male is unemployed and the partner works full time

morgan’s three ‘family economies’

political economy: how money is received/controlled/managed

moral economy: value & norms relating to the conjugal roles and responsibilities of different family members

emotional economy: interpersonal relationships and effective power

pilcher - cultural beliefs

older people thought about gender roles, responsibilities, and relationships in traditional ways