Theoretical Perspectives on the Family

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New Right views on nuclear families
Opposed the growth of cohabitation. Families should be heterosexual as children need good role models of each gender
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New Right views on the Welfare state
Traditional nuclear family is threatened by the welfare state. Children from single parent backgrounds become lazy, benefit dependent and criminal
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What did Charles Murray believe about the nuclear family?
It is the best but is threatened by the welfare state. Young women had babies to gain money from the welfare state as men don't have to take responsibility for fatherhood
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Why is the growth of mothers in full-time work unhelpful? (New Right)
They cannot fulfil their expressive role of bringing children up to be good citizens
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What do Feminists say about the family?
Women are oppressed by men in the home as they work without pay in the home
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What are liberal feminists?
They want to change culture and laws to make society more equal- gender socialisation is the cause of inequality
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What are marxist feminists?
Believe the family is the cause of inequality as women are domestic servants for men, mirroring the inequality of capitalist society
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What are radical feminists?
Believe men are the enemy and marriage is a fantasy into which women are drawn in order that men can control their behaviour
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How do men control women? (Feminism)
Through the threat of domestic violence- radical feminists view men as potential rapists
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What is fit thesis? (Functionalism)
The nuclear family has developed to suit the needs of modern industrial society. People aren't relying on wider family networks for survival
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What are the 2 functions the family fulfils according to Parsons? (Functionalism)
Socialisation of children & Stabilisation of adult personality
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What are the 4 functions the family has according to Murdock (Functionalism)
Control of sexual behaviour, Economic support for children, Reproduction of society, Education of family members
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What did Chester say were neo-conventional families?
Dual earning families where both partners work
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What did Eli Zaretsky say about families supoorting capitalism? (Marxism)
The one place that working men feel they have power is in the home as it helps them accept their lack of control in wider society
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What is the purpose of the family according to Marxists?
Socialise children into the norms of society, ensure that women are controlled
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How do Post-Modernists view the family?
People are now choosing family types that suit their individual emotional and social needs rather than following a traditional pattern
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What is individualism? (Post-Modernism)
People choose to act on the basis of what is good for them and not on a sense of what others may expect or think
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What did Weeks (2000) say about families? (Post-Modernism)
Families remain fairly traditional but acceptance of difference is growing and the main cause of change was related to sexual behaviour
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What did Beck say about tradition?
It has less influence and people have choices so are aware of risks and rewards that come from decision making
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

New Right views on the Welfare state

Back

Traditional nuclear family is threatened by the welfare state. Children from single parent backgrounds become lazy, benefit dependent and criminal

Card 3

Front

What did Charles Murray believe about the nuclear family?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Why is the growth of mothers in full-time work unhelpful? (New Right)

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What do Feminists say about the family?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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