Families & Households

Question 1

What did Talcott Parsons argue about the nuclear family?

Answer 1

Functionalist who argued the nuclear family performs two key functions: primary socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities. Also proposed instrumental and expressive roles.

Question 2

What did Friedrich Engels argue about the nuclear family?

Answer 2

Marxist who argued the nuclear family emerged to enable inheritance of private property, reinforcing class inequality.

Question 3

What concept did Eli Zaretsky introduce regarding the family?

Answer 3

Marxist who said the family offers an “illusion of a haven” but actually supports capitalism by reproducing labour and ideologies.

Question 4

What is Ann Oakley’s criticism of traditional gender roles?

Answer 4

Feminist who criticised traditional gender roles and found that housework is unpaid labour, not shared equally in the family.

Question 5

What is the ‘triple shift’ identified by Duncombe and Marsden?

Answer 5

Women do paid work, housework, and emotional work, carrying the greatest burden in family life.

Question 6

What concept did Ulrich Beck introduce about modern relationships?

Answer 6

Postmodernist who argued that we live in a risk society with negotiated families, where relationships are based on choice rather than tradition.

Question 7

What does the Personal Life Perspective, developed by Carol Smart, focus on?

Answer 7

Argued we should study family in terms of personal meanings and non-traditional bonds (e.g. donor families).