Families and Households Sociologists

Functionalism - G.P. Murdock (1949) - functions of the family

Reproductive, economic, sexual & educational.

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Functionalism - G.P. Murdock (1949) - nuclear family

Claimed it was universal.

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Functionalism - Talcott Parsons (1955) - functional fit

Functional fit theory - family adapts to fit the functional prerequisites (needs) of society.

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Functionalism - Talcott Parsons (1955) - functions of the family

Primary socialisation & stabilisation of adult personalities.

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Functionalism - Talcott Parsons (1955) - warm bath theory

Warm bath theory - immersion in family life relieves the pressures & frustrations from work & society.

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Functionalism - Talcott Parsons (1955) - structural differentiation

The family has lost some of its functions due to structural differentiation (specialist institutions taking over).

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Anti-Functionalism - Laslett (1972)

Industrialisation did not create the family as it existed before this point.

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Anti-Functionalism - Anderson (1971)

Found evidence of the extended family throughout and after industrialisation, disproving Parsons Functional Fit theory.

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Anti-Functionalism - Leach (1967)

Nuclear family life can cause heightened stress rather than relief because families demand too much from each other.

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New Right - Murray (1990)

An increase in lone parenthood leads to a 'culture of dependency', meaning a work-shy 'underclass' depend on welfare from the state rather than being self-reliant.

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New Right - Dennis & Erdos (2000) - Families without Fathers

Absent fathers create children who grow up without discipline or a suitable role model. Boys also grow up without the expectation to provide for a future family.

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Marxism - Engels (1884) - the creation of the family according to marxism

Men needed legitimate heirs to pass down private property, and women required economic security (essentially rendering them 'glorified prostitutes').

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Marxism - Zaretsky (1976) - how the family benefits capitalism

Reproduces future generations of workers, consumes the products of capitalism. socialises children into the ruling class ideology & provides false consciousness.

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Feminism - Oakley (1985) - gender role socialisation

Manipulation (boys/girls handled differently), Canalisation (boys/girls use different toys/games), Verbal Appelations (boys/girls praised/punished for different things), and Differential Activity Exposure (girls imitate mothers, boys imitate fathers)

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Radical Feminism - Millett (1968) - separatism

Separatism of the sexes is the solution to a patriarchal society.

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Radical Feminism - Delphy & Leonard (1992) - how the family benefits men according to radical feminism

The family benefits men as women provide emotional support but rarely receive it back.

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Radical Feminism - Greer (2007) - matrifocal households

Matrifocal households (female-headed) or all-female households are the solution to the patriarchal family.

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Marxist Feminism - Benston (1972) - women exploited by capitalism

Women reproduce the future workforce and commit unpaid domestic labour all to little cost to capitalism.

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Marxist Feminism - Ansley (1972) - women are the 'takers of ****'

Exploitation of male workers leads to frustration being taken out on the wife as a reassertion of masculinity.

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Liberal Feminism - Somerville (2000) - progress to equality

The rise of symmetrical families provides evidence to suggest there is progress, however equality has not yet been reached.

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Liberal Feminism - Wilkinson (1996) - genderquake

Women are beginning to compare the benefits of family life to an education/career.

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Liberal Feminism - Sharpe (1996) - changing priorities of women

Sharpe studied girls' priorities in schools in the 1970s & 1990s and found priorities changed from the family to working towards a career.

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Chester (1985) - the neo-conventional family

An increase in dual-earner families by the 1980s.

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The Rapoports (1982) - 5 types of family diversity

1. Organisational diversity (roles), 2. Cultural diversity, 3. Social class diversity, 4. Life stage diversity, 5. Generational diversity.

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Postmodernism - Cheal (1993)

We live in a volatile, post-modern society in which family structures are fragmented & diverse, so we cannot generalise about families.

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Postmodernism - Giddens (1992) - pure relationship

Relationships are based on confluent love and if either partners' needs are not being met, they are free to leave.

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Postmodernism - Beck (1992) - the negotiated family

Before entering a relationship, partners negotiate to enter on an equal basis to ensure the family works, otherwise people are likely to leave.

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Postmodernism - Stacey (1998) - benefits of post-modernity to women

Greater choice and freedom has benefitted women as they can shape the family to their needs.

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Personal Life - Smart (2014) - fictive kin

Individuals have contrasting ideas as to who they count as family.

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Personal Life - Smart (2007) - web of connectedness

Individuals make choices based on how others may react or be influenced.

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Personal Life - May (2011)

It is more important to study personal life than family life.

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Mitchell and Goody (1997)

Stigma around divorce has reduced since the 1960s.

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Gibson (1994) - secularisation & divorce

The decline of religion has led to widespread liberal attitudes to divorce, rendering it more acceptable to society.

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Fletcher (1966) - functionalist view on divorce

Higher expectations of marriage mean people constantly search for the perfect family, as they place a higher value on marriage. Therefore to find this, divorces will happen.

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Giddens (1992) - individualisation thesis

Individuals put themselves first in a relationship, meaning conflicts of interest lead to divorces more often than not.

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Gibson (1994) - financial implications of marriage

There has been a reduction in marriage tax credits in addition to weddings becoming more expensive. This is putting people off marrying.

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Gibson (2002) - Social Trends Survey on Cohabitation

A survey conducted in 2002 revealed an increase in cohabitation rates.

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Weeks (1999) - same sex relationships

Pre-legalisation of same sex marriage there was an increase in same sex cohabitation. This is due to liberal attitudes towards homosexuality.

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Giddens - 'try before you buy'

People often cohabit before marrying as a 'trial period' to identify if marriage would work.

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Stein (1976) - singlehood satisfaction

Some people are satisfied without a relationship.

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Hall et al (1999) - creative singlehood

Many people choose to live alone.

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Duncan & Phillips (2013)

There is a period of time where people are seeking a partner, which causes singlehood rates to rise.

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MacVarish (2006)

Found that women felt pain and loneliness when living alone.

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Harper (2012)

The education of women has contributed largely to the changes in the position of women.

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McKeown (1976) - living improvements

Higher living standards & conditions have led to reductions in the death rate and increases in life expectancy.

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McKeown (1972) - healthy lifestyles

Reduction in unhealthy habits such as drinking alcohol, smoking, binge eating etc has caused increases in life expectancy and decreases in the death rate.

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Harper (2012) - unhealthy lifestyles

An increase in obesity has replaced smoking/drinking as the main health concern pulling down life expectancy.

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Hirsch (2005) - age pyramids

The traditional age 'pyramid' is being replaced by even-sized blocks.

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Berthoud (2003) - Cultural diversity in Asians

Asian families have significantly different family experiences.

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Berthoud (2003) - Cultural diversity in Afro-carribeans

Afro-carribean families have significantly different family experiences.

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Platt (2009) - inter-ethnic families

Afro-carribean individuals are more likely to inter racially marry.

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Ali (2002) - dual heritage children

The rate of dual-heritage children has increased significantly with immigration rates.

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Parsons (1955) - separate conjugal roles

Separate conjugal roles are in place as biological differences mean women are naturally suited to the nurturing role.

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Bott (1957) - two types of conjugal roles

Segregated conjugal roles (separate roles) and Joint conjugal roles (symmetrical roles).

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Willmott and Young (1973) - march of progress

They see family life as gradually improving for all its members as roles are becoming more equal.

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Oakley (1974) - rejection of Willmott and Young

Oakley found that only 15% of husbands had a high participation in housework, meaning roles are nowhere near equal in families.

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Boutlon (1983)

20% of husbands had a major role in childcare.

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Dunne (1999) - same sex relationship equality

Same sex couples are more likely to achieve equality.

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Dennis & Erdos (2000) - role of fathers

40% of fathers lose touch with their children completely within 2 years of marital breakdown.

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Edgell (1980)

Women had sole responsibility for decisions only in relatively unimportant areas.

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Pahl (2008)

Couples are now more likely to have some independence in financial matters.

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Dobash & Dobash (1979) - three explanations for domestic violence against women

1. History/tradition. 2. Patriarchy. 3. Iideological preparation.

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Elliott (1996) - three criticisms of feminist views

1. Do not take into account same sex relationships. 2. Most men against domestic violence. 3. Does not take into account violence against men.

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Wagg (1992)

Childhood is socially constructed. There is no single fixed childhood.

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Aries (1962)

Children were seen as 'miniature adults' in medieval times.

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Pollock (1983) - criticism of Aries

Aries used a limited set of sources

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Punch (2001)

Once children are 5 in Bolivia, they are expected to take on work responsibilities in the home and community.

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Malinowski (1957)

In the Trobriand Islands, children started having sex at a very young age. Boys: 10-12, girls: 6-8.

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Phillips (1997)

The media is more influential on children as an agent of socialisation than parents.

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Williams (1990)

The media has helped with the transition from children being producers to consumers.

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Pugh (2002)

Children consume various products as compensation for a lack of attention from parents.

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Eevans & Chandler (2006)

The buying and receiving of goods has become a way to measure love.

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Postman (1994) - disappearance of childhood

The distinction between adults and children is disappearing at a dazzling speed.

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Palmer (2006) - toxic childhood

Technological and cultural changes in the past 25 years have damaged children.

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Fletcher - health policies

Health policies mean the family can help each other recover from illness quickly.

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Drew - gender regimes

Some countries have 'familistic' (traditional) and 'individualistic' (equality based) gender regimes.

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Donzelot (1977) - policing the family

Social policies are ways of the state controlling the family.

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Families and Households Sociologists

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