Key Sociologists of the Family: Topic 1

Question 1

The nuclear family is universal and the best type of family for individuals within the family and society.

Answer 1

Murdock (1949)

Functionalist

Question 2

What are Murdock 4 key functions of the family?

Answer 2

1. Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
2. Reproduction
3. Socialisation
4. Economic

Question 3

Who created & what is the functional fit theory?

Answer 3

Parsons (1951) - Functionalist

The family changed from extended to nuclear with industrialisation (geographic and social mobility, introduction of welfare state).

Question 4

Parsons saw the nuclear family in industrial society having what two functions?

Answer 4

1. The stabilisation of adult personalities
2. Primary socialisation

Question 5

Who believes that in early societies the means of production were communally owned (primitive communism), there was no such thing as marriage and people had many sexual partners.

Answer 5

Engles (1884) - Marxist

Question 6

What came with the development of wealth and ownership of private property according to Engles?

Answer 6

The monogamous nuclear family.

This ensured that wealth was passed down to a legitimate heir and maintained the wealth of the

Question 7

Who believes that the proletariat or working class feel alienation in the workplace.

Answer 7

Zaretsky (1876) - Marxist

Question 8

How does the family maintain false class consciousness according to Zaretsky?

Answer 8

The family is an escape from alienation and exploitation – it is a place where men can feel valued. This maintains false class consciousness as it prevents workers from realising their exploitation or seeking to change it through strikes or protests.

Question 9

Who believes that the family is part of the ideological state apparatus which spreads ruling class ideology?

Answer 9

Althusser (1971) - Marxist

Question 10

What does Althusser think the family encourages children to become & how does this benefit capitalism?

Answer 10

Obedient and subservient to authority as parents exert discipline over their children and teach them to respect adults.

This benefits the capitalist system as it means that the bourgeoisie have compliant, obedient workers who are more productive.

Question 11

Who conducted 40 in-depth interviews with housewives in London?

Answer 11

Oakley (1974) - Liberal feminist

Question 12

What did Oakley find out about women & housework?

Answer 12

Only 15% of husbands had a high level of participation in housework
Only 25% had a high level of participation in childcare.

Question 13

Did Oakley argue for or against the idea that the division of labour in the home was equal.

Answer 13

Against

Question 14

Who & why does she describe women as the takers of shit?

Answer 14

Ansley (1972) - Marxist feminist

The emotional support provided by the wife absorbs the anger and alienation that men experience in a capitalist society. They unconsciously prevent men from directing their anger and frustration at the real cause – which is capitalism.

Question 15

Who’s solution to patriarchy is separatism & what is it?

Answer 15

Greer (2000) - Radical feminist

The creation of female-only households.

Question 16

What do patriarchal societies such as the UK today still expect women to be according to Greer?

Answer 16

To be subservient to their husbands

Question 17

According to Greer how is the role of the mother valued?

Answer 17

Undervalued as the needs of the child are put first.

Question 18

Who believes that the main cause of gender inequality is the biological fact of childbirth?

Answer 18

Fire stone (1970) - Radical feminist

Question 19

How does childbirth cause inequality?

Answer 19

It puts women at a physical disadvantage to men.

Question 20

What is Firestones solution to stopping gender inequality?

Answer 20

We need to develop an artificial womb so that women have the choice to be free from the biological necessity of childbirth, which would free them from the biological disadvantage that they currently face.

Question 21

Who focuses on the meanings people attach to their relationships and the range of personal or intimate relationships that are important to people?

Answer 21

Smart (2007)

Personal Life Perspective

Question 22

Give an example of Smart’s approach?

Answer 22

“Fictive kin” – people who are not related by blood or marriage but are important to you.

Question 23

Who carried out unstructured interviews with parents who had donor-conceived children?

Answer 23

Nordqvist & Smart (2014)

Personal Life Perspective

Question 24

What did Nordqvist & Smart‘s interview reveal?

Answer 24

• Parents emphasized the importance of social relationships over genetic ones.
• Interviews also revealed concerns remained over the donors’ identity and possible donor siblings.
• Lesbian couples had concerns over equality between genetic and non- genetic mothers.

Question 25

Who is & What did Tipper do?

Answer 25

Tipper (2011) - Personal Life Perspective

Tipper conducted research with children and found that they frequently described their pets as “part of their family”

Question 26

Who believed that Family diversity is permanent & what does this mean?

Answer 26

Stacey (1996) - Postmodernist

There is no one dominant family type.

Question 27

What did Stacey find out when they Researched family life in California in the 1980s?

Answer 27

• Dotty and Pam moved away from living in traditional nuclear families because they were unhappy in their marriages, and created alternative family structures.
• Gay and lesbian families develop family forms that best suit their interests.