Roles & Functions of the Family (AQA A Level Sociology): Flashcards

Parsons argued that the nuclear family was left with the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities.

Parsons described the family as a 'warm bath', a space where adults, particularly men, relieve the stress of work.

Laslett found that nuclear families were already common before industrialisation, challenging Parsons' historical account.

False.

Anderson's study of Preston in 1851 found that extended families were still dominant; grandparents provided childcare while parents worked.

Fletcher argued that the family still performs vital functions, such as education, health and welfare, just with support from the state.

Interpretivists argue that Parsons sees children as passive recipients of socialisation rather than active participants in shaping family life.

The New Right sees the married, heterosexual nuclear family as the ideal family and the cornerstone of society.

The New Right sees gender roles as biologically determined, with men as providers and women as caregivers.

The New Right argues that welfare benefits reward lone-parent households and discourage marriage.

False.

The New Right opposes the 'nanny state', arguing that the government interferes too much in family structure, health choices and parenting.

Murray argued that welfare dependency contributes to a 'deviant underclass' involved in crime and poor parenting.

The New Right blames family breakdown for poor outcomes for children, especially boys raised without a father.

False.

The New Right argues that the expansion of children's rights undermines parental authority and weakens the family unit.

The New Right criticises the Labour government (1997-2010) because it argues that Labour policies undermined the nuclear family, e.g. by supporting same-sex relationships and encouraging mothers to work.

The New Right criticises the Equal Pay Act for disrupting traditional family roles and promoting dual-earner households.

One family policy shaped by the New Right is the Child Support Agency (1993), which aimed to ensure absent fathers contribute financially.

Abbott and Wallace argue that the New Right overstates how much social policy harms families, as most policies, such as maternity leave, support families.

Bernardes (1997) argues that the New Right promotes a narrow, unrealistic view of family life.

True.

Critics argue that children from diverse families can do well when supported properly.

The New Right's ideal excludes lone-parent, reconstituted and same-sex families, who may struggle under policies designed for traditional families.

Engels argued that the monogamous nuclear family developed so that wealth could be passed to biological heirs, preserving ruling-class privilege.

Engels described the rise of the monogamous family as the 'world historical defeat of the female sex'.

False.

Marxists believe that once capitalism is overthrown and private property is abolished, the patriarchal nuclear family will no longer be needed.

Zaretsky argued that the family offers a safe haven from the alienation of work, but gives workers only an illusion of comfort.

True.

This function relies heavily on the exploitation of women's domestic labour.

A unit of consumption is the role of the family in buying goods, which boosts profits for capitalist businesses.

Children use pester power to influence family spending decisions, pressuring parents to buy the latest goods.

Evans and Chandler found that children without branded goods faced bullying.

Althusser sees the family as an Ideological State Apparatus (ISA) that socialises children into capitalist values such as obedience and respect for authority.

Critics argue that the Marxist view is too negative, ignoring the emotional support and stability families provide.

Critics say Engels' theory is outdated because it is based on historical speculation; e.g. nuclear families still exist in communist societies.

False.

Marxists assume all families support capitalism in the same way; e.g. lone-parent families may lack the resources to consume heavily.

Feminists argue that Marxists focus too much on class and ignore how the family serves male dominance.

Functionalists argue that the family performs vital functions for society and the individual, not just for capitalism.

Feminists reject the functionalist view that the family benefits everyone equally, arguing that it reinforces patriarchy.

Liberal feminists share the march of progress view, believing society is gradually improving, though full equality has not yet been achieved.

Somerville argued that women's increased freedom to work has led to more egalitarian families, with men sharing childcare and domestic roles.

False.

Girls prioritised love, marriage and children in 1976, but by her 1994 revisit they prioritised education and careers.

Liberal feminism is criticised as too optimistic because it underestimates structural patriarchy and assumes legal changes alone will bring equality.

Marxist feminists reject Parsons' view that men and women play equal but different roles in the family.

Women's unpaid domestic labour benefits capitalism by reproducing the future labour force, maintaining current workers and absorbing male frustration.

Ansley argued that men take out frustration on their wives because they are alienated and powerless at work, so they use domestic violence to regain power and control at home.

Marxist feminism is criticised for ignoring family diversity because the male breadwinner/female housewife model is outdated, as many families are now dual-earner households.

True.

Some radical feminists advocate separatism, living apart from men, though critics see it as unrealistic.

Delphy and Leonard argue that the family exploits women through unpaid domestic and sexual labour, within a hierarchy with men at the top.

Millett saw gender role socialisation in the family as the primary source of patriarchal ideology.

Radical feminists believe that to dismantle patriarchy, the family must be abolished.

Difference feminists argue that women in Black or Asian communities facing racism may experience the family as a source of support and protection.

Difference feminism highlights varied family structures, such as matrifocal families in some Caribbean communities.

True.

Critics argue that it ignores common challenges faced by most women, such as domestic violence and the gender pay gap.

Structural theories adopt a top-down and overly generalised view of family life.

False.

Structural theories are overly deterministic: they portray individuals as passively shaped by structures such as capitalism or patriarchy.

Structural theories assume the nuclear family is the norm, ignoring diversity such as lone-parent households, stepfamilies and chosen families.

Structural theories neglect the emotional significance people attach to their relationships.

Smart suggests replacing the term 'family' with 'personal life' because 'family' carries assumptions about what is 'ideal' or 'normal', while 'personal life' is neutral, flexible and inclusive.

The personal life perspective takes a bottom-up approach, focusing on the meanings, experiences and emotions individuals attach to relationships.

Fictive kin are people treated as family without blood or legal ties, e.g. calling a parent's friend 'auntie'.

Mason and Tipper found that children define family by who cares for and supports them, rather than by genetics.

False.

Nordqvist and Smart found that emotional investment is valued over biological links; a non-genetic mother can be seen as the 'real' mum.

Tipper showed that pets can be treated as family members.

Allan and Crow noted that life paths are now less linear, with individuals experiencing multiple relationship stages.

False.

The perspective is not naively positive: it recognises that close relationships can be harmful, e.g. in abusive households.

The perspective is criticised as too inclusive because defining family too broadly risks losing its distinct meaning.

May argued that late modernists focus too much on white, middle-class couples, ignoring the economic and cultural constraints on choice.

Critics argue that the personal life perspective fails to address how patriarchy, capitalism or racism shape family choices.

Social policy is a government strategy to tackle social issues, such as poverty, unemployment, child abuse, domestic violence and homelessness.

According to Drew (1995), familistic gender regimes, e.g. Greece and Spain, mean that women rely on family and traditional roles are reinforced, as there is little state childcare.

False.

Couples received rewards for compliance but penalties for having extra children.

The Child Support Agency (1993) enforced financial responsibility from absent parents.

Fletcher argued that modern policies allow families to perform their functions more efficiently.

Donzelot sees social policies as tools for the state to monitor and regulate poorer families under the guise of care.

Murray argued that over-generous benefits create a 'dependency culture', where people rely on the state rather than working.

False.

Abbott and Wallace argued that cutting benefits can drive poor families into deeper poverty, not independence.

Leonard argued that longer maternity than paternity leave and child benefit paid to mothers reinforce the idea that women are responsible for childcare.

Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 banned local authorities from 'promoting' homosexuality.

Marxists argue that free healthcare and education ensure a fit, educated labour force for capitalism.

New Labour accepted diversity by introducing civil partnerships and adoption rights for unmarried couples.

False.

Liberal feminists argue that policies such as the Equal Pay Act (1970), the Sex Discrimination Act (1975) and 30 hours free childcare have improved women's position.

Foucault saw professionals, such as doctors, teachers and social workers, as agents that 'police' family behaviour.