Sociological approaches to the family

You need to state and explain the various theoretical approaches to the family; such as the functionalist, feminist and New Right perspectives. Theory The importance of the family Functionalist The function of the family is to socialise children, which in turn benefits both childrenand society. Feminist The purpose of the family is to reinforce the dominant position of men within a patriarchal society. New Right The role of the family is to teach children the difference between right and wrong, and to provide a sense of morality more widely known as ‘family values.’ Divorce and the decline of the family Divorce has become more commonplace since the 1970s. This is due to several factors; Feminism has altered the perception of what a wife might expect from a marriage Women have become more financially independent of their husbands Religious values have become less important The process of gaining a divorce has been made easier You also need to be aware of the consequences of such changes upon family members and the structure of families. One example would be the growing number of reconstituted (or blended) families. Another issue to consider is the decline of the nuclear family. This is due to several factors; A greater acceptance within society of other types of family. For example cohabitation is no longer described as “living in sin.” Women are now more wiling to consider alternatives to raising children within the nuclear family, which is partly due to the impact of feminism Divorce is more socially acceptable than in previous generations There is a greater willingness amongst many people to accept alternatives to the family (e.g. to live in a commune, or work on a kibbutz) You also need to consider the rights of parents and children. For example children’s rights derive from laws designed to protect them from harm, such as preventing parents from using excessive force when disciplining their child. Children also have more material goods than in previous generations, but their freedom is restricted by parents due to the fear of “stranger danger.” This is more notable for girls.

Family - diversity

Diversity There are several types of family within UK society. These include; Nuclear Single – parent Gay / lesbian Extended Reconstituted (or blended) Alternatives to family life include single-person households, communes and living in a kibbutz. For the examination, you will need to describe the different types of family, understand their significance and consider their pros and cons. For example the nuclear family consists of a married couple with children. It is the most common type of family, although sociologists argue that it is under threat. As with all types of family, there are both positives and negatives to consider. POSITIVES NEGATIVES The New Right argues that the nuclear family is ideally suited to teaching a child moral decency. Feminists argue that the wife is exploited in a nuclear family. By staying at home she becomes little more than an unpaid servant and carer. Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is the one best suited to the wider needs of society (i.e. one person goes out to work, the other stays at home and looks after the children). As with all types of family, the nuclear family can consist of emotional blackmail and verbal / sexual abuse. This is sometimes called the ‘dark side of the family.’

What is Sociology?

Sociology is the “study of human society.” For the examination, you need to know a number of concepts and terms used in the subject. There are three main areas you need to consider; Social structures (e.g. the family, education, social stratification, etc.) Social systems (e.g. culture and identity, agents of social control, etc.) Social issues (e.g. the causes of crime, the impact of unemployment, etc.) As you might expect of a social science, there are several explanations as to how we can best understand human society. The main theoretical perspectives covered in GCSE Sociology are; Functionalism Marxism Feminism The New Right Functionalism Functionalists believe that society can best be compared to a living organ, in which institutions and people all have a function to play with society. For example, the function of the family is to socialise children. Functionalist theorists include Talcott Parsons and Emile Durkheim. Marxism Marxists believe that a capitalist society is characterised by a class conflict between the bourgeoisie (the owners of capital) and the proletariat (the working-class). In a capitalist economic system such as the UK, the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat. Marxist theorists include Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx. Feminism Feminists argue that society is dominated by men. In this patriarchal society men discriminate against women in order to prevent males and females gaining equal rights. There are various strands of belief within feminism; such as radical feminism, liberal feminism and Marxist feminism. Feminist theorists include Germaine Greer and Ann Oakley. The New Right Sociologists who take a New Right perspective believe that traditional roles within society have been undermined by the permissive values of the 1960s and 1970s. They argue that the nuclear family is the bedrock of society, and that the welfare state creates a dependency culture. New Right theorists include Charles Murray and Sir Keith Joseph.