families and households

separated conjugal roles

 husband is breadwinner and the wife is homemaker, with leisure spent separately

joint conjugal roles

 husband and wife each perform both roles and spend their leisure time toge

symetrical family

 nuclear family, joint conjugal roles

who talks about the ‘new man’

connell work on hegemonic masculinity (dominant form of masculinity) contrasts with new forms of masculinity such as the ‘new man’ who is more emotionally expressive, sensitive and involved in domestic work

whats the domestic division of labour

the way male and female roles are divided up in the home

how do segregated conjugal roles link to functionalism

parsons argues this type of set up is ideal for industrial society

who suggests industrialization has helped create changes in society regarding roles within relationships

Willmott and Young

how do they suggest industrialisation has impacted

improved status of women: female centered policys, women work so men take their share in housework

weaker gender identities: much more choice over gender identities, gender differences becoming less severe thus weakening gender divisions in the home.

what does gershuny argue

trend towards equality uses the increase in the paid employment of women as evidence.

roles are gradually becoming more equal, tasks still tended to be divided along gender roles

whats the triple shift of labour

hoschild

women take on paid work, unpaid work( domestic work) and emotial work (comforting when upset, organising birthdays)

who talks about resources and decision making in the house

edgell

women were primarily responsible for decisions in ‘relatively unimportant’ areas ie. Decorating, Children’s Clothes, Food Shopping

men therefore rake responsibility in important areas

who givs a reason as to why domestic violence happens

dobash and dobash

when did dobash and dobash find domestic violence happens

set off by what husbands see as a challenge to their authority.

marriage legitimates violence by creating an unequal relationship whereby women become dependant on their husband

what do feminists think of dobash and dobashs argument

 Firestone (1970) & Millett (1970), agree with Dobash & Dobash marriage is linked to domestic violence   (the oppression of women).

why do sociologists argue that childhood is a social construction

each society or culture have different definitions of what childhood is and should be

what is Waggs argument

There is no single universal childhood, experienced by all’

who talks about how childhood has improved since middle ages

aries

why does he argue childhood has improved

in the middle ages children were viewed as economic assets

kids now have compulsory education,

rise of consumerism,

laws to protect

smaller families

who argues about childcenteredness vs consumerism

marxists

children's stores like hamleys or disney are examples of bourgeoisie consumerism – parents pressurized to spend on children to “keep up with the Jones", not of child-centeredness 

why do some sociologists argue children’s position has gotten worse

rising cost of raising children, lone parent families

who talks about toxic childhood theory

sue palmer

what is toxic childhood theory

combination of tech overloads, educational pressure and a rise in processed foods has created an environment that can be detrimental to children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

who argues childhood is disappearing

postman

why is childhood ‘disappearing’

children grow up very quickly and experience things only available to adults in the past

due to a shift from print and literacy to culture to visual culture, lack of literature is no longer a barrier to the adult world – children can access it watching TV/social media

what do functionalists think about families and households

family is a vital institution within society ensuring society’s survival and keep it functioning

who talks about 4 functions of the family

murdock

what are murdocks four functions of the family

sexual: regulates sexual behaviour, socially acceptable

reproduction: keeps society evolving

economic cooperation: provides shelter food

socialisation: teaches norms of society

who talks about functions of the family

parsons

why does parsosn argue the nuclear family is the best

families internalise societys culture into children

what is the organic analogy

functionalists compare society to a living organism, where the family is one "organ" that performs vital functions for the survival of the whole.

critisisms of functionalist theories of the family

old fashioned idea of family

ignores destructive side to family

what is engles view on the family

The Nuclear Family was set up so that wealth could legally be passed on to Children – money could stay within the Family.

Women become ‘Glorified Prostitutes’ producers of heirs in exchange for economic security.

who is very critical of parsons theory of the nuclear family

zaretsky

nuclear families functions are ideological and benefit the capitalist ruling class, rather than society as a whole.

what is zaretskys three functions of the family that benefit capitalism

socialisation of children: follow blind obediance, respect for authority, teaching to passivley accepting ruling class

stabalizes adult personslity: the family produces docile workers, the fsmily encourages workers to focus on their kids, putting up with bad conditions

unit of consumption: capitalism thrives on consumerism, and families are a major target for capitalist markets.

critisms of marxist perspective

focus heavily on the nuclear family, don’t address diversity of family structures now

functionalists argue that marxists ignore the positive aspects of family life

what are the three types of feminism

liberal: society is improving

marxists: society is based on class conflict

radical: only way to have an equal society is by having one without men

what do liberal feminists think of families and households

women’s oppression in the family gradually overcome through changing people’s attitudes and changing the law - eg Sex discrimination act 1975.

similar view of the family to that of ‘march of progress’ theorists, such as Wilmott & Young

what do marxist feminists think of the family

 main causes of “women’s oppression” in the family isn’t men, but capitalism

based upon class conflict and the role that women play in society, not about male dominated societies. 

triple shift: hochschild

what do radical feminists think about the family

men oppress women and exploit them, men can’t be feminists, you can’t trust them

nuclear family supports patriarchal society, men are head of house and women are controlled by domestic work

critisms of feminist theories

too deterministic: women do have ‘choices’, some enjoy becoming housewives or pursuing a career, they arent forced to do either

around 65% of divorces are initiated by women, showing that women can and do leave ‘oppressive’ or unsatisfactory relationships.

what is the personal life perspective about

emotional and symbolic meanings people attach to relationships matters more than biological or legal connections

hat does the PLP say about the traditional family

broadens the definition of family, pets, close friends who are considered family, non blood ties

what is demography

study of populations and their characteristics

trends in birth rates

decline

why is birth rate declining

more access to contraception

changing role of women

what are the impacts for declining birth rates

smaller families

ageing population

trends in death rates

declined

reason for declining death rates

improved medical care

better nuitrition

trends in life expectancy

increased

impacts for increased life expectancy

family structure: more multigenerational households

economic strain: more people dependent than working

trends in migration

increased

reason for migration

economic opportunities: better jobs and living standards.

political factors: refugees fleeing war or persecution.

impacts of migration

greater ethnic and cultural diversity in society.

migration can offset low birth rates and support the workforce.

effects on demographic changes on the family

beanpole families: fewer siblings and cousins, child parent grandparent and great grandparent

smaller families: declining birth rates mean more nuclear and childless families.

what factors explain the changes on marriage divorce and cohabitation

changing gender roles

social policy’s

economic factors

postmodernism

what are marriage trends

decrease

marrying later

less church weddings

what are cohabitation trends

increased

more likely to separate than married couples

what are divorce trends

increase since 1960

explanations for increased family diversity

social policy’s

economic factors

divorce

changing gender roles

is nuclear family in decline

yes but it’s still the main type of family