Families unit

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  • Families
    • different types of families in Britain
      • 2.Extended family
        • Typically three generations of a family that live together or close by.
      • 1.Nuclear family
        • A two generation family containing married or cohabiting parents and their children who live together.
      • 3.Lone parent family
        • A family when one parent lives with their child or children.
      • 4.Gay or lesbian families
        • A homosexual couple living together with their child or children.
      • 5.Reconstituted(step or blended) families
        • a family in which one or both partners have a child/children from a previous relationship living with them
    • different sociological approaches
      • Functionalists
        • The nuclear family performed the essential functions for individuals and society
          • Reproduction- the nuclear family produces the next generation of society
          • Primary socialisation-the agent of socialisation through which young people learn skills needed in life
          • Emotional support- the nuclear family provides for its members well-being.
          • Economic support
      • Marxists
        • Critical of the nuclear family.
        • Supports the capitalist society by supplying future generations of workers.
        • socialises working class children to accept their lower position in an unfair society
        • Recreates inequalities between social classes. The bourgeoisie can provide education and wealth
      • Feminists
        • The nuclear family is based on patriarchy.
        • Family benefits the male more
        • socialisation in families is a gendered process, contributes to the creation of gender differences.
    • changing gender roles in families(since the 1960's)
      • gender roles HAVE changed
        • Young and Willmott (1973) argued that the symmetrical family was more common in Britain and conjugal roles were more equal.
        • Young and Willmott (1973) found that decisions on spending money(a measure of power) were shared more equally.
        • Pahl (1989) found that compared with 30 years ago couples shared more decision on spending as a household.
        • Gatrell (2008) many fathers in dual- worker couples play a bigger role in their children's lives.
        • Reasons for the changes
          • the rise of feminism
          • women's increased participation in full time employment
          • increase in home based leisure activities
      • gender roles HAVE NOT changed (significantly)
        • feminist approaches reject the idea of symmetry. Oakley (1974) found little evidence of symmetry. women in paid employment still responsible for housework.
        • Crompton and Lyonette(2008) men's involvement in housework has increased less than womens involvement in paid work.
        • the gap between women's and men's contributions has only narrowed because women are doing less not because men are doing more.
        • some feminists argue that family life is still patriarchal.
    • changing parent-child relationship
      • less authoritarian. more emphasis on children's rights and freedom than authority and discipline.
        • Pryor and Trindor (2004) middle class families more likely to involve their children in decision making.
      • relationships are more child centred. Average family size is smaller to cater better for the children and give them more attention/time.
      • young people more financially dependant for longer.
    • changing patterns of fertility
      • changing attitudes to family size. in the 19th century a larger family=a larger income. now children are a financial burden.
      • increased participation in education and paid employment gives women more options that just motherhood
      • the availability of effective birth control methods give women more control of their fertility.
    • changing patterns of life expectancy
      • the decrease in infant mortality rates since the early 20th century.
      • welfare state provisions. free healthcare through the national health service
      • improvement in public health regarding sanitation since the 19th and 20th century so fewer people die from waterborne diseases.
      • advances in medicine and surgery
      • improvements in preventative measures such as screening and vaccinations

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