Family revision ppt (extras)

Marriage, divorce and cohabitation Conjugal roles debate Diversity Social policy Social construction of childhood Development of the family Demography Marriage, divorce and cohabitation

Conjugal Roles Debate Typical Questions Focus: The extent to which couples have become more equal – especially in terms of housework and power in the family home. Typical Questions Explain what is meant by the ‘dual burden’ (Item 2A). (2 marks) Explain the difference between the expressive role and the instrumental role (Item 2A).(4 marks) Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the contribution of feminist sociologists to an understanding of family roles and relationships. (24 marks) Examine the factors that have affected the domestic division of labour and power between couples (24 marks) back next

What you need to consider… Power inside relationships takes different forms: Housework Childcare Decision making Hours worked (at work/in home) Emotion work Domestic violence back next

What you need to consider... Functionalists stress a ‘march of progress’ (and greater symmetry). Feminists stress patriarchy and how women still do most housework. Be aware of different studies and factors that may have led to greater equality OR helped to maintain inequality. back next

What you need to consider… Domestic Violence Hidden/dark side of family Hard to research Declining since 1996 Why happen? Radical feminism – patriarchy/women seen as property/control by men/masculinity + macho New Right – ‘dysfunctional families’, unstable Giddens – emotional intensity, strong emotions in isolated family unit – depend on each other too much back

Marriage, Divorce, Cohabitation Focus: What are the trends in these areas of family life? What has caused the increase/decrease? The effects of these Typical Questions Suggest three reasons for the increase in the divorce rate since 1969. (6 marks) Suggest two reasons for the decline in the number of first marriages over the past 40 years or so, apart from those referred to in Item 2A. (4 marks) Suggest two reasons why there has been an increase in cohabitation (Item 2A). (4 marks) Examine the reasons for changes in the patterns of marriage and cohabitation in the last 40 years or so. (24 marks) Examine the reasons for changes in the divorce rate since 1969. (24 marks) back next

What you need to consider.. The decline in marriage rate: Why are less people marrying? The rise in divorce rate: Why are more people divorcing? The rise in cohabitation: Why has there been an increase in cohabitation? back next

What you need to consider.. Measuring marital breakdown: Rise in divorce Separation Empty shell marriages Divorce: Which groups are most likely to get divorced (and why)? What are the consequences of divorce? back next

What you need to consider.. Reasons for increase in divorce? Value of marriage Conflict between spouses Opportunity to escape marriage (includes ease of divorce) back

Social Policy Typical Questions Focus: How policies have affected the family. Consider how policies have supported or undermined the nuclear family. Typical Questions Suggest two ways, apart from those mentioned in Item 2A, in which government policies and/or laws may shape the experiences of children today. (4 marks) Examine the ways in which government policies and laws may affect the nature and extent of family diversity. (24 marks) Examine the ways in which social policies and laws may influence families and households. (24 marks) back next

What you need to consider… Policies – government intervening in family life (education, taxation, housing, welfare) Cross-curricular examples China (1 child policy) Soviet Union (abolish family) Nazi Germany (increase birth rate) back next

What you need to consider… Theories on family & policy New Right Pro-nuclear family Anti-single parent family Welfare cutbacks Feminism Anti-nuclear family Women need to escape patriarchal oppression Gender regimes back next

Pro-nuclear Anti-nuclear Child benefit paid to mothers (assumption) School hours (assume) that one parent will be at home in the afternoon (this makes it hard for dual earner families) Limited state provision of care for elderly (and encouraging families to look after them) Housing policies (Fox & Harding, 1996) assume that nuclear families get priority over lone-parent families Child support policies have emphasised the importance of absent fathers to pay for children Gradual liberalisation of divorce laws Recognition of gay/lesbian relationships State funding for childcare Domestic violence treated more seriously by police and authorities Also look at the policies of different parties: New Right (1979-1997) New Labour (1997-2010) Coalition (2010 – present) back

Demography Typical Questions Focus: What changes in the population have happened? What has caused these? What are their consequences for family life? Typical Questions Identify three reasons why the birth rate has fallen since 1900. (6 marks) Explain what is meant by ‘net migration’ (Item 2A). (2 marks) Suggest two reasons why people may migrate to the United Kingdom, apart from that referred to in Item 2A. (4 marks) Suggest two ways in which the position of children could be said to have improved over the last one hundred years. (4 marks) Explain the difference between the ‘birth rate’ and the ‘fertility rate’ (4 marks) Suggest two reasons why women might delay having children. (4 marks) Suggest three effects on society of an ageing population. (6 marks) back next

What you need to consider… Birth rate (and factors affecting this decline) Fertility rate (and why fewer births) Reasons: Changes in gender roles (careers etc) Equal opportunities Contraception Cohabitation Dual-earner families Falling infant mortality rate Children as economic burden Changing attitudes (child centred family with less children) Individualization (personal choice) back next

What you need to consider… Effects of changes in fertility: Changes in dependency ratio Effect on public services (closing schools,etc) Changing gender roles – more focus on careers for women De-stabilizing families – no need to stay together ‘for the kids’ back next

What you need to consider… Death rate (why falling?) Life expectancy (why increasing?) Reasons: Developments in medicine Better nutrition Improved living standards (better housing, etc) Welfare benefits and health services Improved environment Improved working conditions back next

What you need to consider… Migration (and why increasing?) Reasons: Legislation and border control Globalisation Push/pull factors Employment Fleeing war/oppression/disaster etc back next

What you need to consider… Ageing population (why increasing?) Reasons: Falling death rate Falling birth rate Effects of ageing population: Dependency ratio Pressure on families (+ extended family) Government spending/welfare Poverty (for the elderly) Prejudice against elderly Disengagement/isolation back

Development of the family Focus: How has the family changed in structure over time? What has led to the rise of the nuclear family? Is kinship dead? Typical Questions Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the view that the growth of family diversity has led to the decline of the traditional nuclear family. (24 marks) back next

What you need to consider… Parson’s View Extended to nuclear Impact of industrialisation Isolated nuclear family Geographic & social mobility Laslett’s View Nuclear family before industrial revolution Only 10% kin Late marriage/early death Anderson’s View Industrialisation led to growth of extended family back next

What you need to consider… Willmott & Young Stage 1 – Preindustrial – Nuclear Stage 2 – Industrial – Extended Stage 3 – 1960s – Nuclear Reasons for rise of stage 3: Rising wages Welfare state Geographic mobility/transport Slum clearance/new housing estates Home leisure Bethnal Green London Stronger conjugal bond SYMMETRICAL FAMILY back next

What you need to consider… Kinship still important since 1980s: McGlone (kinship and support – childcare, financial, advice, emotional)..mainly middle class Willmott – ‘dispersed extended family’ Brannen – ‘beanpole family’ KINSHIP STILL IMPORTANT! back next

What you need to consider… Modernity & Postmodernity Modernity = rational action = instrumental (rather than by tradition)…less predictable Postmodernity = decline in rationality Identity is less fixed – uncertainty – pluralism back next

What you need to consider… Modernity & Postmodernity Giddens – plastic sexuality/confluent love/self as a project Beck et al – individualization/choice and conflict Stacey – heterosexual norm being replaced by a diverse form – no set form back

Social Construction of Childhood Focus: How has the experience of childhood changed? What factors have led to the rise of childhood? Is childhood a positive of negative experience? Typical Questions Examine different sociological views on changes in the experience of childhood in the past 50 years or so. (24 marks) Suggest two ways in which childhood has become .a specially protected and privileged time of life. (4 marks) Suggest two ways in which the position of children could be said to have improved over the last one hundred years. (4 marks) Suggest two ways in which the position of children could be said to have improved over the last one hundred years. (4 marks) Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the view that the modern family has become more child-centred. (24 marks) Explain what is meant by the ‘social construction’ of childhood.(2 marks) back next

What you need to consider… Childhood is ‘socially defined’ (changes between cultures and over time) It is a social role – learned through socialisation Aries – small adults/working in medieval times back next

What you need to consider… Childhood emerged because.. Aries – attitudes changed: ‘fragile creatures of God’ –needed safeguarding Removed from work Expansion of education Family became child-centred Development of specialist services Separate leisure interests back next

What you need to consider… Childhood emerged because.. Shorter - Linked to development of ‘motherhood’ role: Increase in romantic love (child was special) Idea of children born good New ideas about how to ‘raise children’ The idea of ‘the good mother’ back next

What you need to consider… Other explanations for development of childhood: Postman – technology/communications – printing press and schooling Jencks – growth of idea of children born good and needing guidance (birth of education) Changing laws – factory acts banning children Donzelot – children’s services and protection Less children born – family child centred – treated special/protection back next

What you need to consider… The rise of childhood views children as being protected and the family becoming more valued. Some see childhood as ‘disappearing’- Postman: Mass media – access to adult culture/lifestyle Blurring of childhood/adulthood – clothing, decline of youth culture Children and consumption (marketing at children) Opie – childhood is not disappearing back next

What you need to consider… Childhood as a negative experience: Experience of divorce/family breakdown Isolated families and hidden abuse Greater surveillance and control (Donzelot) Toxic Childhood (Palmer) Consumerism – pressure to ‘fit in’ back

Family Diversity Typical Questions Focus: The extent to which there is no longer a typical family in the UK. What types of diversity are there and what has caused them to increase? Typical Questions Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the view that the growth of family diversity has led to the decline of the traditional nuclear family. (24 marks) Identify three ways in which greater ethnic diversity has contributed to family diversity (Item 2A). (6 marks) Examine the extent of, and reasons for, family and household diversity in Britain today. (24 marks) Could form part of the answer.. back next

What you need to consider… Nuclear family as norm Cereal packet image Rise of diversity Rapoports nuclear not norm different types of diversity (organisational, cultural, class, life cycle, cohort) back next

What you need to consider… Other forms of diversity: Reconstituted families Lone parents Living alone/singletons Childless couples Dual earner families Apartners Gay/lesbian households back next

What you need to consider… Reasons for increase in diversity: Contraceptive pill Equal opportunities/women’s careers Immigration Divorce easier Changing social attitudes/decline in stigma Decline of religion Expansion of welfare state New reproductive technologies (IVF) Allen & Crowe back next

What you need to consider… Single parent families Why increased? Increase of divorce Rise in births outside marriage Changing social attitudes Effects of single parent families Chance of living in poverty Children doing less well in education Children lack discipline/role models New Right agenda back next

What you need to consider… Ethnic diversity Why increased? Immigration Afro Caribbean Families Asian Families Lone parent High rate of single (never married) Matrifocal Why? Tradition of absent fathers Polygamy (Africa) Poverty Extended Low cohabitation Low single parenthood High marriage rate Low divorce rate Traditional/culture & family Male ‘breadwinner’ expectation back next

What you need to consider… BUT…nuclear family is still important: Robert Chester Neo-conventional family Statistically most of life in nuclear family Most people still marry Most children raised by natural parents Most people live in a household headed by married couple Most people stay married back Back to start