Families and Households Glossary

Couples

Domestic Division of Labour: the way jobs and roles are shared between men and women in the home
Instrumental role: Achieving success at work and being able to provide financially for the family
Expressive Role: The primary socialisation of children and meeting the family's needs
Segregated Conjugal Roles: The couple have separate roles
Joint Conjugal Roles: The couple share tasks between them
Symmetrical families: The roles of husband and wife are similar
Dual Burden: Women have paid work and housework (unpaid work)
Triple Shift: Women perform emotional work as well as paid and unpaid work

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence: An incident(s) of controlling, coactive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those who are partners or family members
Private Sphere: A section of life in which an individual enjoys a degree of authority unhampered by inventions from governmental or their institutions
Oppression: Unjust treatment or exercise of authority

Childhood

Golden Age: Childhood is a special and sacred period
Cross-Cultural Differences: Children have varied experiences across the world
Socially Constructed: Childhood is just an idea that society defined by itself
Pester Power: Children are seen as having a large economic influence over their parent's spending
Cynicism: Children are beyond their years
Acting Down: Children are patronised by adults
Helicopter Parents: Parents monitor their child's grades, hobbies, sports and friends

Theories and Functions of the Family

Functionalism: a consensus approach
Marxism: a class conflict approach
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