1. Unit 1 revision

2. Topics
Studying society (Research)
Education
Family

3. General tips Only answer one 12 mark question family/education.
Smaller mark questions just write a word/phrase/sentence.
12 mark questions: SPaG. Write in paragraphs.
Use key terms, studies and theories.
Structure:
Introduction (define key terms)
Part 1 (one argument)
Part 2 (counter argument)
Conclusion (how far do Sociologists agree)

4. Family Defining “family” Difficult-range of definitions
People related by blood or marriage (ignores different family types)
Mum, dad, children (ignores single parents etc)
Families embraces a range of types.
Defining household
One of more people living together (can be family or non-family)
Family diversity
This means different types of family. Over your life course (during your lifetime) your family type can change.
Types of family
You must be able to define:
nuclear, extended, lone-parent, same sex, reconstituted, beanpole

5. Family Gender roles 2 arguments Yes they have changed:
Young and Willmott: symmetrical family, conjugal roles more equal. Decisions more equal.
Gatrell: fathers in dual worker families playing more of a role in the child’s life
Reasons for changes: rise in feminism, women’s participation in employment.
No, things have not changed that much:
Feminists reject the view of symmetry and argue the family still benefits men
Oakley found in 1974 women still did most housework
Crompton and Lyonette in 2008 found men’s attitudes to housework had changed but women still do most tasks

6. Family Parent-child relationship Less authoritarian More child-centred
Young people are more financially dependent on parents
Moved from an economic asset to an economic liability

7. Family Fertility rates
Average number of babies a woman will have in her fertile years.
Fewer (making families smaller)
Reasons:
Changing attitudes to women
Later marriage
Availability of effective contraception
Women’s increased participation in work

8. Family Life expectancy
Average number of years a newborn baby is expected to live.
Increased
Reasons:
Public health improvement
Welfare state provisions (NHS)
Preventative measures (immunisation)
Education about diet
Decline in IMR
IMR
Number of babies die per 1000 before 1st birthday-decline (similar reasons to life expectancy)

9. Family Ageing population
Result of declining fertility rate and increasing life expectancy
Effects:
Cost on taxpayer/society
More beanpole families
More one person households
Inter-generational support

10. Family Marriage and cohabitation
Marriage declined (reasons: secularisation, less stigma to remaining unmarried, increase in divorce)
People getting married later (reasons: changing role of women)
Births outside of marriage increased (reasons: less stigma, increase in cohabitation)

11. Family Divorce Increased but recently fell Reasons for increase:
Less stigma
Changes in law (cheaper and easier)
Changing position of women (no longer financially dependent)
Secularisation
Media emphasis on romance
Consequences: increase in reconstituted family (different expectations of behaviour, financial implications but can be supportive), lose contact with dads (custody), financial implications, conflict, loss of emotional support.

12. Family Perspectives Functionalism Positive functions: P.E.E.R
Primary socialisation
Economic support
Emotional support
Reproduction

13. Family Perspectives New Right Nuclear family is the most beneficial
Won’t provide adequate socialisation
Family values are declining and this has put the family in crisis (Jewson)

14. Family Perspectives Marxism Benefit rich
Socialises next generation into capitalist values (hierarchy)
Inheritance (keeps rich rich, poor poor)

15. Family Perspectives Feminism Benefit men Patriarchal
Unpaid domestic labour
Domestic violence (1/4)
Radical feminist solution: political lesbianism or separatism