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Families and Households Flashcards

An overview of functionalist, Marxist, feminist, and New Right perspectives on families, key concepts, and recent legal changes in the UK.

25 cards~9 min
Families and Households Flashcards — Qwi
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1What do functionalists see as the family's main contribution to society?
Answer

Maintaining social order and stability

Functionalists argue the family provides essential functions that keep society cohesive.
2Families provide {{food, shelter, and basic needs}}.
Answer

food, shelter, and basic needs

3The New Right supports diverse family forms over the nuclear family.
Answer

False

They view the nuclear family as essential.
4How do functionalist and Marxist views of the family's role differ?
Answer

Functionalist → transmits social norms | Marxist → reproduces class/patriarchal inequality

5What is Parsons' 'functional fit' theory?
Answer

Family forms adapt to societal needs

He argued families change (e.g., from extended to nuclear) to suit economic and social demands.
6Fertility rate = average number of children per {{woman}}.
Answer

woman

7The UK birth rate has been steadily increasing since the 1960s.
Answer

False

It has been declining.
8What is the main difference in domestic labour between traditional and dual‑earner families?
Answer

Traditional → clear gender split | Dual‑earner → women still do most chores

Despite both partners working, women usually bear the bulk of housework.
9Who coined 'emotional labour' and what does it describe?
Answer

Arlie Hochschild; women's invisible emotional work

It refers to managing family emotions and mental health.
10Divorce Reform Act (1969) allowed divorce on grounds of {{irretrievable breakdown}}.
Answer

irretrievable breakdown

11The Same‑Sex Marriage Act was passed in 2004.
Answer

False

It was enacted in 2013.
12How do liberal and radical feminists differ in their view of the family?
Answer

Liberal → gradual improvement | Radical → patriarchal oppression

Liberals focus on legal reforms; radicals emphasize structural male dominance.
13What does Beck's 'risk society' concept explain about childbearing?
Answer

People delay or avoid children due to perceived risks

In a risk society, families are cautious about financial and social uncertainties.
14Giddens' {{pure relationships}} are formed for emotional satisfaction.
Answer

pure relationships

15Murray claimed the underclass results from people’s desire to work.
Answer

False

He linked it to welfare dependency.
16What distinguishes a neo‑conventional family from a traditional nuclear family?
Answer

Same structure | Dual‑earner modern roles

Both are nuclear, but neo‑conventional includes both partners working.
17What defines a beanpole family?
Answer

Few children per generation, strong intergenerational links

They are tall and thin in structure due to lower fertility.
18LATs stand for {{Living Apart Together}}.
Answer

Living Apart Together

19Section 28 promoted LGBTQ visibility in schools.
Answer

False

It banned promotion of homosexuality.
20How do functionalist and New Right perspectives differ on social policy?
Answer

Functionalist → supportive of families | New Right → critiques welfare, promotes marriage

Functionalists see policies as aiding family functions; New Right sees them as undermining the nuclear family.
21What does 'age patriarchy' refer to?
Answer

Adult domination over children

It describes how adults control children's time, space, and bodies.
22Beck described modern life as a {{risk society}}.
Answer

risk society

23Most lone‑parent families are headed by men.
Answer

False

90% are headed by women.
24How does the current role of cohabitation differ from traditional marriage?
Answer

Cohabitation → common pre‑marriage or alternative | Marriage → historically primary union

Cohabitation is now often seen as a normal step before or instead of marriage.
25What is the 'dual burden' in gender role studies?
Answer

Women do paid work plus most housework

It describes the combination of employment and domestic responsibilities for women.

Introduction to Families and Households

Families are the basic unit of society, providing essential resources such as food, shelter, and basic needs. Sociologists study families from several theoretical angles, each highlighting different functions and problems.

Functionalist Perspective

Functionalists view the family as a stabilising force that maintains social order. They argue that families perform vital functions that keep society cohesive, including the transmission of social norms and the provision of emotional support.

  • Main contribution: Maintaining social order and stability.
  • Functional fit (Parsons): Family forms adapt to societal needs, shifting from extended to nuclear structures when economic and social demands change.
  • Policy view: Social policies should support families, helping them fulfil their stabilising role.

Functionalist vs. Marxist Views

While functionalists emphasise harmony, Marxists focus on exploitation. Marxist theory sees the family as a site where class and patriarchal inequalities are reproduced, contrasting with the functionalist view that families transmit shared norms.

Marxist Perspective

Marxists argue that families perpetuate class divisions and gender oppression. They see the household as a micro‑cosm of broader economic exploitation, where the labour of women and children benefits the capitalist system.

Feminist Perspectives

Feminist scholars split into liberal and radical camps. Liberals seek gradual legal reforms to improve family conditions, whereas radicals view the family as an institution of patriarchal oppression that must be fundamentally restructured.

  • Liberal feminists: Emphasise legal changes, such as equal parental leave.
  • Radical feminists: Highlight the deep‑seated male dominance embedded in family structures.

Key Concepts in Gender Studies

  • Emotional labour (Arlie Hochschild): The invisible work women perform to manage family emotions and mental health.
  • Dual burden: Women combine paid employment with the majority of housework, even in dual‑earner families.
  • Traditional vs. dual‑earner families: Traditional families show a clear gender split in chores, while dual‑earner families still see women doing most domestic tasks.

New Right Perspective

The New Right champions the nuclear family as the optimal social unit. They criticize welfare policies that they believe undermine marriage and promote family breakdown.

  • Policy stance: Promote marriage, reduce welfare dependence, and view the nuclear family as essential.
  • Contrast with functionalists: Functionalists see policies as supportive of families; New Right sees them as harmful to the nuclear model.

Contemporary Family Forms

Modern societies exhibit a variety of family arrangements beyond the traditional nuclear model.

  • Neo‑conventional families: Nuclear structure with both partners working, reflecting modern employment patterns.
  • Beanpole families: Few children per generation, creating tall, thin family trees with strong intergenerational links.
  • Living Apart Together (LAT): Couples maintain separate households while sustaining a romantic relationship.
  • Cohabitation: Frequently used as a step before marriage or as an alternative to marriage, reflecting changing social norms.

Demographic Indicators

Understanding fertility and birth trends helps illustrate family change.

  • Fertility rate: Average number of children per woman.
  • UK birth rate: Has been declining since the 1960s, contrary to the belief that it is rising.
  • Lone‑parent families: Predominantly headed by women (about 90%).

Legal Milestones in the UK

Recent legislation has reshaped family rights and definitions.

  • Divorce Reform Act (1969): Introduced "irretrievable breakdown" as a ground for divorce.
  • Same‑Sex Marriage Act: Enacted in 2013, not 2004.
  • Section 28: Banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools, opposing LGBTQ visibility.

Risk Society and Childbearing

Ulrich Beck’s concept of the "risk society" explains contemporary attitudes toward reproduction. In a world perceived as uncertain, many postpone or avoid having children due to financial and social risks.

Giddens’ Pure Relationships

Anthony Giddens describes "pure relationships" as ties formed primarily for emotional satisfaction, reflecting a shift from traditional, duty‑based marriages to love‑based unions.

Conclusion

Families remain a dynamic institution, shaped by economic forces, cultural values, and policy decisions. By examining functionalist, Marxist, feminist, and New Right perspectives, we gain a comprehensive understanding of how families contribute to social stability, reproduce inequality, and adapt to modern risks.