SociologyExchange.co.uk Shared Resource

REVISION GUIDEFAMILIES

AND HOUSEHOLDS

CONTENTS

Section 1Key issues in the study of family

Section 21

Couples

Section 3Childhood

Section 4Perspectives on the family

Section 5Demography

Section 6Changing family patterns

Section 7Family diversity and life course

Section 8Families and Social policy

Section 1Key issues in the study of family

Key issues Page number

Revised

Do men and women share housework and childcare equally?

Do men and women have an equal say in family decisions and do they get an equal share of the household income?Why does domestic violence occur and who commits it?How is childhood socially constructed?Is the position of children better today than it was?What is the future of childhood likely to be?

2

What is the Functionalist view of the family?What is the Feminist view of the family?What is the Marxist view of the family?What are the strengths and weaknesses of these perspectives on the family?What are the main population trends in the UK since 1900?Why have these changes in Birth, Death and Migration happened?What are the consequences of these changes?What are the main changes in partnerships: marriage, divorce, cohabitation, civil partnership, one person households and extended family households?What are the main changes in childbearing, childrearing, births outside marriage, lone parent families and step families?What are the different reasons for these changes?How has this impacted on family diversity?What do different groups of sociologists think about increasing diversity in families?What is the difference between modernist and post-modern views of the family?Which sociologists offer the most convincing explanation of family diversity?How do government policies affect family life?What do different sociological perspectives believe about how much control government should have over family life?How useful are these perspectives in understanding the relationship between family and government social policy?

Section 2

KEY STUDIES – Domestic division of labour

Are roles shared equally?

NO: Functionalists believe that roles are not equal and that this is for

biological reasons. Men are best at the instrumental role Women are best at the expressive role New Right sociologists agree with the Functionalist perspective These segregated conjugal roles are beneficial for individuals

and society as a whole.

YES:

March of progress sociologists believe that roles are now more similar.

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This type of family there are joint conjugal roles is called the symmetrical family

Support for this comes from the fact that women go work, men do some housework, couples spend leisure time together.

The reasons for these changes: Improvement in position of women Geographical mobility New technology Higher standards of living.

NO: Feminists disagree with the March of progress and

Functionalists Things are not equal and this is due to patriarchal society Evidence shows that although men are doing some housework

women are still doing the vast majority There are differences between the tasks that men and women tend

to do. Although women are going to work, their jobs are more likely to be

low status.

What impact has paid work had on roles between couples?

March of progress sociologists believe that as the number of women in work has increased, housework is becoming more equally shared out.

However not true for all women. The better paid a woman is in proportion to her partner, the more equally the housework will be shared.

Most women earn significantly less than their partners therefore many disagree that housework is more equally shared out.

Many argue that due to the commercialisation of housework, there is no longer such a burden on women or men to do as much housework.

Critics challenge the above view since many families do not earn enough to afford the labour saving devices and therefore do not benefit from these advances.

Feminists believe that women working has had a negative effect on roles between couples – it has meant that women are taking on extra work.

Women have the dual burden of paid work and unpaid domestic work.

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Other Feminists have gone further to state that women are working a triple shift: domestic work, paid work and emotion work.

Feminists support their claim that this division in roles is not biological by referring to lesbian couples who have far more equal relationships.

This supports their claim that gender division in couples is learned (part of a gender script) rather than biological.

In terms of making decisions and sharing resources, research shows that men make the majority of the major decisions and women get the least resources.

Many link this to the fact that men tend to earn the most in the family.

There tends to be greater equality in households where women also work full time.

Feminists argue that this inequality is not just about money but is also due to patriarchal society.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is not just the work of a few disturbed individuals

Domestic violence can include: emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse and is carried out by a member of the family or a close friend who is viewed as family.

The majority of violence is by men against women and is more common among working class families.

It is important to note that the patterns above are based on official statistics which may be unreliable since many do not report abuse. Real figures may be much higher.

Also police attitudes may effect prosecution as they have been seen to be unwilling to get involved in family life.

Feminists believe that the reason domestic violence is usually men against women is due to patriarchal society.

Men are dominant in society and one way to maintain this is to ensure that women are subservient through violence or the threat of violence

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Many challenge this explanation since not all victims are women and because not all men are violent.

They also fail to explain why domestic violence is most common among working class families.

Marxists argue that domestic violence can be explained due to stress linked to financial problems.

This stress can lead to couples having more frequent and severe arguments which are more likely to end in violence.

Feminists feel that this explanation does not explain why women are the main victims of domestic violence.

NAME EXPLANATIONDOMESTIC DIVISION OF LABOUR

Talcott Parsons1955

Elizabeth Bott1957

Young and Willmott

1973

Anne Oakley1974

6

Mary Boulton1983

THE IMPACT OF PAID WORK

Man-Yee Kan2001

Jonathan Gershuny

1994

Oriel Sullivan2000

Rosemary Crompton

1997

Silver 1987 and Schor 1993

Kate Smith1996

Lydia Morris1990

Gregson and Lowes1994

David Morgan1997

Duncombe and 7

Marsden1995

Gillian Dunne1999

RESOURCES AND DECISION MAKING IN HOUSEHOLDS

Barrett and McIntosh

1991

Hilary Graham1984

Pahl and Vogler1993

Irene Hardill1997

Stephen Edgell1980

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

British Crime Survey2007

Catriona Mirrlees Black

1999

Kathryn Coleman

2007

Dobash and Dobash

1979

8

Stephanie Yearnshire

1997

David Cheal1991

Millet and Firestone

1970

Robertson Elliot1996

Richard Wilkinson

1996

Quick Check Questions

1. According to Parsons, which role do men perform – the expressive or instrumental?2. Complete the sentence: Symmetrical families involve………………conjugal roles3. Gershuny believes that men are more likely to do domestic labour if their wives

are: working full time/ working part time or not working?4. Give two examples of the commercialisation of housework5. Explain what is meant by gender scripts6. Name one Sociologist whose findings indicate that family resources are not shared

equally.7. What reason does Edgell give for why men have more power to influence family

decision making?

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8. Suggest two reasons why domestic violence is not simply the behaviour of a few psychologically disturbed individuals

9. Identify two other groups apart from women who are at risk of domestic violence.

Short answer exam questions

(a)Explain what is meant by the ‘dual burden’ (2 marks)(b) Identify three features of the symmetrical family (6 marks)(c) Explain what is meant by ‘segregated conjugal’ roles (2 marks)(d) Explain what is meant by the ‘patriarchal’ family (2 marks)(e)Suggest three reasons why husbands may be more likely to take the more

important decisions (6 marks)

Essay questions

Examine the factors affecting the domestic division of labour and power relations between couples. (24 marks)

Examine the ways in which feminist sociologists have contributed to our understanding of family roles and relationships. (24 marks)

Assess the view that marriage remains a patriarchal institution. (24 marks)

Section 3Childhood

What is childhood? Sociologists agree that childhood is a social construct there is

no fixed definition. In modern western society childhood is a separate stage from 0-

12 marked out by different laws, rights and responsibilities than adults.

In many societies children are expected to go out to work, are allowed to take greater risks and are not expected to be obedient.

In the past childhood has been viewed differently for example in the middle ages childhood was shorter. Children were expected to go out to work, were judged under the same laws as adults and were not viewed as special or precious in the way they often are today.

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Why has it changed? Laws have changed to protect children eg from work. Children are expected to go to school Families are having less children Child health is better Agencies such as social services have been set up to protect

children.

Is it better?YES:

March of progress argue that all the changes mean that children have a better quality of life.

They are better protected, have a better quality of life and a higher status in society. Society has become more child centred.

NO: Conflict Sociologists such as Marxists and Feminists argue that it is

not better for all children. There are inequalities among children including class, ethnic and

gender differences regarding their treatment and protection. There are also inequalities between children and adults – adults have far

more control and power than children. Many now argue that childhood is disappearing and becoming blurred

with adults due to globalisation and media

Key Studies – Childhood

NAME EXPLANATIONWhat is childhood?

Jane Pilcher1995

Ruth Benedict1934

Samantha Punch2001

Bronislow Malinowski1957

Philippe Aries

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1960

Edward Shorter1975

Linda Pollack1983

Has childhood improved?

YES:

Aries and shorter see above

NO:

Mayer Hillman1993

Ghazali Bhatti1999

Caroline Woodroffe2001

Firestone 1979 and Holt 1974

Dianna Gittins1998

Neil Postman1994

12

Iona Opie1993

Margo and Dixon2006

Sarah Womack 2007

Quick check questions

1. Explain what is meant by the social construction of childhood2. State two ways that Ruth Benedict sees childhood in non-industrial

societies as different to the west.3. State an example of parental neglect in the Middle Ages given by

Edward Shorter.4. Why are children less of an economic asset to their parents than they

were in the past?5. Give an example of class difference between children.6. What is age patriarchy?7. Why does Neil Postman believe that childhood is disappearing?8. What is meant by the globalisation of western childhood?

Short answer exam questions:

1. Identify two reasons for changes in the position of children since industrialisation, (4 marks)

2. Suggest two ways in which the distinction between childhood and adulthood is becoming blurred (4 marks)

3. Explain what is meant by ‘child centred society’. (2 marks)

Essay Questions:1. Examine the reasons for changes in the position of children in the

family and society. (24 marks)2. Assess the Sociological explanations of changes in the status of

childhood. (24 marks)

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Section 4The functions Of The Family

Functionalism

Functionalism is a consensus perspective and believes that society works on the basis that everyone agrees on the norms and values in society.

They compare society to a human body – all parts working to sustain the whole.

Family is like an organ in the body – it helps society to run smoothly.

Functionalists believe that the Nuclear family is the best at meeting the needs of the individuals in the family and society as a whole.

It meets the individuals economic, sexual, reproductive needs as well as the needs of the children.

It meets the needs of industrialised society as society has become more geographically and socially mobile – achievement is no longer ascribed as in pre-industrial society but is now achieved.

Key Criticisms:

Marxists argue that nuclear family helps to maintain the unfair capitalist system

Feminists believe that nuclear family helps maintain the unfair patriarchal system

Others criticise: The belief that the extended family was the main type in pre-

industrial society. The belief that the nuclear family came into existence due to

industrialisation The belief that extended family is no longer really important.

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Marxism

Marxism is a conflict perspective and challenges the functionalist view that society benefits everyone.

Marxists believe that there is conflict between those who have economic power – the bourgeoisie and those who do not – the proletariat.

Marxists believe that the bourgeoisie use institutions such as family, education and religion to help maintain this unfair capitalist system.

The family fulfills the following functions according to Marxists:

1. Inheritance of property: The nuclear family helps to maintain the capitalist society as property that is owned (mainly by men) is passed down the generations this means that those who have power can pass it on to the next generation. Women are needed in this process to produce children so that power can be passed on.

2. Ideological Functions: The family helps to pass on norms and values through socialisation. Families teach children the importance of obedience, hard work and so on. This helps to maintain the capitalist system as the next generation are taught to accept it.

3. A unit of consumption: The nuclear family encourages people’s ability to buy more and more. Families are encourages though advertising to keep up with each other, children hassle parents for the latest toys and clothes. This pressure encourages people to work harder to earn more, to spend more and so to support the capitalist system.

Key criticisms:

They have ignored the fact that there are other types of family Feminists argue that they have ignored gender inequality Functionalists believe that they ignore the benefits of family.

Feminism

Feminism is a conflict perspective so like Marxists they agree that society is based on inequality. However they differ from Marxists as

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they believe that the inequality is between men and women not rich and poor.

They believe that society is patriarchal. There are four main types: Liberal, Marxist and Radical feminists.

Liberal Feminists: They focus on campaigning for equal rights for women They believe that things are getting better for women due to changes in the

laws about pay etc. Women are going out to work, men are helping more with housework and childcare.

They also believe that children are being socialised more equally and are being given equal opportunities in education and resources. However more change needs to be made.

Other feminists disagree and feel that the whole structure of society and family needs to be changed.

Marxist Feminists: Women are oppressed in society due to capitalism. Within the family women are expected to produce children, be the outlet for

male frustration and work for free by doing domestic chores. They want a revolution in society and the family to be replaced by a fairer

system.

Radical Feminists: Men are the enemy, family and marriage help maintain the patriarchal society. Family and society should be overturned and women should live separately

from men.

Liberal feminists believe that this is too extreme and that they are ignoring the improvements that have happened to the position of women in society.

Difference Feminists: They argue that we should recognise that women from different social,

economic and ethnic backgrounds all face different challenges and should not be lumped together.

For example black women also face the challenge of racism towards their familie

Key studies: Perspectives

Sociologist Explanation

Functionalism

George Peter Murdock

194916

Talcott Parsons1955

Young and Willmott

1973

Michael Anderson1980

Marxism

Karl Marx19th century

Friedrich Engels1891

17

Eli Zaretski1976

Feminism

Germaine Greer2000

Jenny Somerville2000

Key Questions

Quick check questions:

1. What is meant by ascribed status2. Explain the difference between geographical and social mobility3. According to Young and Willmott why did the nuclear family become the

dominant family type in modern society? 4. According to Anderson why did working class people maintain extended

family ties during the early industrial period?5. What is meant by patriarchal ideology?6. According to Marxists how does family perform an ideological function?7. Explain the difference between Marxist and radical feminism8. Suggest two ways in which women have gained more equality in the last

40 years.

Short answer exam questions:

Identify three features of the symmetrical family. (6 marks) Suggest three functions that the nuclear family might perform. (6 marks) Explain what is meant by the ‘patriarchal’ family. (2 marks) Identify two criticisms made of the radical feminist view of the family. (4 marks) Identify two reasons for ‘the rise of the nuclear family’. (4 marks)

Essay Questions: Assess the view that marriage remains a patriarchal institution. (24 marks)

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Examine the ways in which feminist sociologists have contributed to our understanding of family roles and relationships. (24 marks)

Assess the functionalist contribution to our understanding of the family. (24 marks)

Section 5DEMOGRAPHY

Births

What are the main patterns? There has been an overall decline in the birth rate since 1900 This has fluctuated – baby booms after both wars There has been an overall decline in fertility rates since 1900 The lowest was 1.63 in 2001. Currently it is 1.84. The highest was

2.95 in 1964 Women are having children later More women are choosing not to have children

Why have these changes happened? Changes in the position of women Decline in infant mortality rate Children are an economic liability Society is more child-centred

What are the effects of these changes? Women can go out to work as they can afford the childcare for 1

or 2 children The dependency ratio is lower, however will increase in the

future if we continue to have fewer children. Governments may put less money into children’s services if there

a fewer of them.

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Deaths

What are the main patterns? The death rate overall has deceased since the 1900. It was 19 in

1900 and is now 10. It has fluctuated- eg it rose during the war. Life expectancy has increased. In 1900 average life expectancy

was 50 for men, 57 for women. In 2008 it is 77 for men and 81 for women.

There are class differences – men doing manual work are three times more likely to die before they are 65 than men in professional jobs.

People living in Scotland have a lower life expectancy that those living in the South.

With lower fertility rates and longer life expectancy the average age in Britain is now 39.6, this is up from 34.1 in 1971. By 2031 it is predicted to be 42.6

Why has this happened? The population has developed more immunity to infectious

diseases Improved nutrition Improved health care Improved public and environmental health Decline in dangerous manual jobs Better education about prevention of illness

What are the effects of this? There will be a higher dependency ratio as a greater proportion

of the population will be children or elderly and so unable to work. There will be more people living alone Many blame the elderly for being too dependant, however as with

childhood old age is a socially constructed idea. In other societies old people are respected and have a higher

status due to their life experience.

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Migration

Immigration: moving into an area or societyEmigration: Moving out of an area or societyNet Migration: the difference between people moving in and out.

What are the main patterns? Majority of population growth in the UK was due to natural

increase as more people left the UK than moved in. Until WW2 majority of immigrants were Irish. Not many were non-

white During 1950’s the main immigrant group was Aro-carribean. During the 1960’s and 1970’s the main immigrant group was

Asian In 2001 minority ethnic groups accounted for 7.9%. Net migration has increased – at its highest since 1991. Immigrants and Emigrants tend to be young Many people emigrating from the UK are older people retiring to

warmer countries. In the future half of the population increases will be due to

immigration as women are having fewer children. Internal Migration has also changed: during industrialisation

people moved to factory towns in the North away from rural areas.

More recently the financial sector which is mainly in the South and South East has led many to move south.

Increasingly better transport links have led more and more people to move out of cities and to more rural areas.

What are the reasons for these patterns? People often migrate for economic reasons Others have migrated due to religious, political or racial

persecution. Due to labor shortages e.g. during the 1960’s and 1970’s policies

were made to encourage people with certain skills to migrate.

What are the effects of these changes? Immigrants tend to be of working age so reduce the dependency

ration Immigrants are likely to have more children so may

counterbalance the above point. However children reduce the average age of the population and

increase the amount of people reaching working age in the future.

Key Studies: Demography

Name Explanation21

Birth

Brass and Kabir1978

Deaths

N.L Tranter1996

Thomas Mckeown1972

Donald Hirsch2005

Peter Townsend1981

Key Questions

Quick check questions:1. Identify two public health measures that helped to produce the decline in

death rate.2. Suggest two reasons for the decline in birth rate in the 20th century.3. Suggest two reasons for the class differences in infant mortality rate.4. What is the link between population trends in the UK and the increase in

married working women?5. Suggest two reasons for the decline in maternal mortality.6. Suggest three reasons for why women are having children later in life.

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7. What is the typical effect of immigration on fertility rates?8. Identify two possible effects migration may have on the dependency

ratio.

Short answer exam questions: Identify three changes in patterns of child-bearing since the 1900. (6

marks) Explain the difference between birth rate and fertility rate. (4 marks) Explain the difference between net migration and natural change. (4

marks) Explain the difference between the infant mortality rate and the death

rate. (4 marks) Identify two demographic changes in the UK since the 1900 (4 marks)

Essay questions:

Examine the main trends in births and deaths in the UK since 1900. (24)

Section 6Changing Family Patterns

Divorce

What are the main trends? The divorce rate has increased since the 1960’s It is currently 6 times higher than in 1961 40% of marriages will end in divorce 7/10 petitions for divorce are from women Couples who have a child before marriage, co-habit before

marriage, marry young or have already been married are more likely to divorce.

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What are the reasons for these trends? Changes in the law Changing social attitudes Secularization Rising expectations of marriage Changes in the position of women.

What does this tell us about society? The New Right: That society is going into decline and getting less

stable. Feminists: women are gaining more control of their lives and no longer

have to put up with unhappy marriages. Postmodernists: That people have more choices and there is more

family diversity. Functionalists: Although there are high rates of divorce, the fact that so

many re-marry shows that marriage is still important to people. Interactionists: For some divorce is a positive move leading to greater

happiness for the family, for others it is a very sad event. It cannot be generalized.

Partnerships

What are the main changes in marriage? Fewer people are getting married There are more re-marriages People are marrying later People are less likely to get married in a church.

Why? People feel that marriage is less important. Secularisation Cohabitation is acceptable Women have more freedom and choice Fear of divorce

Cohabitation: Cohabiting families are the fastest growing family type in the UK The number of cohabiting couples has doubled since 1986

Why? Society is more accepting of sex outside marriage Young people are more likely to cohabit Women don’t need the financial security of marriage People who are not religious are more likely to cohabit.

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o Many see cohabitation as a step on the way to marriageo Others see it as an alternative to marriage

Same sex relationships Same sex relationships have increased as they are socially acceptable This is reflected in changes in the law that have attempted to give equal rights. Civil partnerships give similar rights to heterosexual married couples. Many gay couple have rejected the inflexibility of civil partnerships and want to

be recognised as different to heterosexual married couples.

One person households: They have increased mainly due to more people getting divorced and less

people getting married. There is also an increase in people choosing not to live with the partners.

Parents and children

What are the main patterns? One in four children are born outside marriage Women have children later Women are having fewer children More women are choosing not to have children There are more lone parent families Women head 90% of single parent families There are more stepfamilies

Why? Less stigma attached to not getting married Women have more options Higher divorce rate Increase in re-marriages

What is the impact of these changes? New right sociologists believe that state policies are encouraging

single parent families to stay on benefits Others disagree as single parent families are more likely to live in

poverty

Ethnic differences: Black African and Black Caribbean have a higher proportion of single

parent families This can be traced back to times of slavery Others attribute it to more the importance placed on independence. Asian families tend to be larger More likely to live with extended family Have a lower divorce rate.

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Extended family: While there are less extended families living together, extended

family still plays an important role. Despite often living in different cities, extended family often still

provides important emotional and financial support.

Key Studies

Name ExplanationDivorce

Mitchell and Goody1997

Ronald Fletcher1966

Graham Crowe2001

Arlie Hochschild

1997

Jessie Bernard1976

Partnerships

Robert Chester1985

Ernestina Caost2006

26

Shelton and John1993

Jefrey Weeks1999

Kath Weston1992

David Cheal2002

Duncan and Philips2008

Parents and Children

Ellis Cashmere1985

Charles Murray1984

Kate Smith1998

Heidi Safia Mirza1997

Roger Ballard1982

Nickie Charles2005

27

Finch and Mason1993

Key Questions

Quick check questions:1. Identify three changes in family patterns where decline in stigma may be

partly responsible for the changes2. True of false? There are now more re-marriages than first marriages.3. What is the sole ground for divorce in the UK today?4. Explain what is meant by secularization?5. Identify two changes in patterns of childbearing in recent years.6. Suggest two reasons why lone parent families tend to be poorer than

couple families.7. Suggest two reasons why Asian households tend to be larger than the

national average size.

Short answer exam questions:

Suggest two reasons for “differences in the proportion of lone-parent families. (4 marks)

Suggest two ways in which marriage and cohabitation are becoming increasingly similar (4 marks)

Suggest three reasons why lone-parent families are usually headed by women. (6 marks)

Identify two reasons for the increase in the divorce rate apart from changes in divorce law (6 marks)

Identify two reasons why there are more lone-parent families now. (4 marks)

Essay questions: Assess sociological explanations of the increase in the number of divorces since the

1960s. (24 marks) Examine changes in the patterns of childbearing and childrearing in the UK since the

1970’s (24 marks)

Section 7Family diversity and the life course

Modernism and the Nuclear family

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The New Right

They are a political perspective based on Functionalism Like Functionalism they see the Nuclear family as the best type. They are conservative and anti-feminist. They oppose family diversity and see increases in divorce, cohabitation,

same sex relationships, singe parent families and step families as the cause of increases in crime rates and poor educational achievement.

Lone parent families are unnatural and not good for children Women should not go out to work Policies and laws should work to encourage the nuclear family. Eg cutting

benefits to make it more difficult to be a single parent.

Criticisms:

Feminists: Roles are not biologically fixed and the nuclear family is a negative patriarchal institution.

Others argue that there is no evidence that single parent families want to be dependant or that they produce more delinquent children.

Has family diversity increased?NO:Chester argues that it has not since most people spend most of their time in nuclear style families – he calls this the neo-conventional familyYESThe Rapoports argue that there is an increase in family diversity, they identify 5 types: Organisational, cultural, class, life stage and generational diversity.Unlike the New Right the Rapoports see increased diversity a positive change.

Postmodernity and the life course

Modernist Sociologists such as Functionalists, Feminists, Marxists and New Right see society as a structure – we are controlled by society.Postmodern and Social action sociologists are more interested in how individuals give meaning to society and, believe that we control ourselves and shape society around us.

Postmodern sociologists favour life course analysis as a way of understanding family diversity. This involves unstructured interviews in order to get at the truth rather than just scratching the surface with statistics.

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Many postmodernists believe that the boundaries between family and close friends is becoming blurred

Postmodernists believe that family is even more diverse than the Rapoports thought

This is seen as positive as people have greater choice, but can also been seen as more risky as greater choice means less stability.

Some argue that family diversity has led to more equality between men and women

There are more opportunities to negotiate roles which make it possible for the needs of individuals to be met.

This has occurred due to greater choice and also rapid social change – geographical and social mobility, secularision and changing attitudes.

Women have benefited most from greater diversity,

Key Studies

Name Explanation

Harry Benson2006

Robert Chester

1985

30

Rhona and Robert

Rapoport1982

Tamara Hareven

1978

David Morgan

David Cheal1993

Anthony Giddens

1992

Ulrich Beck1992

Beck and Beck

31

Gernsheim1995

Jeffrey Weeks 2000

Key Questions

Quick check questions:1. True or false? The new right favour greater welfare spending to meet the

needs of lone parent families.2. True or false? In Chester’s view, the only important change in the family

has been a move from the dominance of the conventional nuclear family to the neo-conventional family.

3. Complete the list of Rapoport and Rapoport’s five types of family diversity: cultural, class…..

4. True or false? Functionalism is a modernist perspective?5. Identify two factors that Gidden’s believes have led to greater choice and

more equal relationships between men and women.6. Why do Beck and Beck-Gernsheim see the negotiated family as less

stable than the patriarchal family?7. What does Stacey mean by the divorce extended family?

Short exam questions:

Explain what is meant by the neo-conventional family (2 marks) Explain the difference between the expressive and instrumental roles (4

marks) Identify three types of family diversity described by the Rapoports. (6

marks)

Essay questions:Assess sociological explanations of the nature and extent of family diversity today. (24)

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Section 8Families and social policy

A comparative view of family policy

Laws and policies can have a huge impact on family life and structure.The comparative view looks at how this has happened in different countries:

In Russia it was believed that the family would diappear due to changes in the law. This did not happen due to the war.

In China there is a one child policy which encourages families to have no more than one child. Policies such as higher taxes for second children help this.

In Nazi Germany blond haired blue eyed children were favoured, whilst many disabled people and gay people were sterilized.

Perspectives on family and policy

Functionalists:The state should be involved in family life as the laws etc help family to perform its roles effectively

The New Right: Policy should encourage the nuclear family and discourage any other types.

New Labour:Although they believe that the nuclear family should be encouraged they also want to ensure that all have equal opportunities regardless of their family background.

Feminism:They believe that the nuclear family is patriarchal and so laws supporting this structure are also patriarchal, and favour men over women.

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MarxismMarxists believe that social policies only benefit the ruling classes.

Name Explanation

Ronald Fletcher1966

Charles Murray1984

Hilary Land1978

Edmund Leach1967

Diana Leonard1978

Eileen Drew1995

Donzelot1977

34

Key Questions

Quick check questions:1. True or false? Functionalists see social policy as benefiting men at the

expense of women.2. Why do the New Right see welfare benefits as a ‘perverse incentive’?3. Identify one social policy that may reinforce gender roles4. Explain the difference between familistic and individualistic gender

regimes5. Which of the two gender regimes would feminists favour?6. True or false? Marxism and functionalism are both consensus views of the

family and social policy.

Short answer exam questions: Suggest two social problems that family often gets the blame for (4

marks) Suggest two ways in which professionals police and regulate families (4

marks) Identify one similarity and one difference between New Labour and New

Right views on family policy. (4 marks)

Essay questions: Examine the ways in which laws and social policies effect family life. (24) Assess the extent to which social policies on the family serve to maintain

patriarchy. (24)

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