1. Sociology and the Family by Courtney Howes

2. Introduction A personal view on single parent families.
Sociological perspectives
The media
Supportive organisations
Conclusion

3. Definition of Family According to Vosler ‘A family is a grouping of two or more individuals who define themselves as a family, and who over time assume those obligations to one another that are generally considered an essential component of a family systems.’ (Llewellyn, Mercer and Agu, 2008)

4. My view on single parent families

5. Nuclear family

6. Functionalism
‘The family, which in functionalist terms is usually defined as the nuclear family, is therefore considered in terms of the functions it performs and the relationships it has with the other institutions.’
‘A functionalist approach to lone parenthood would be critical of the institution, seeing it as dysfunctional in some ways’
(Rowlingson, K. and McKay, S. 2001)

7. Post modernism
Post modernism theories of family is that every family is different and they look at the individual rather than the family as a whole.

8. ‘A society which single parent families are valued and treated equally and fairly.’
(Gingerbread, 2015)

9. ‘To end Child Support discrimination against fathers on the basis of their gender. Child support should mean emotional and financial support’
‘To ensure fathers have a legal presumption of 50/50 shared parenting after separation.’

10. Effects of the media
‘Mothers who deny father’s access to the couple’s children after a break-up could be jailed. (Dailymail, 2015)

11. Conclusion Equality Sociological perspectives
Personal values and beliefs
Campaigns
Effects of the media

12. References Gingerbread (2015) Available at:
(accessed on 12 January 2015)
Father s For Justice (2015) Available at:
(accessed on 11 January 2015)
Dailymail (2015) Avaliable at:
jailed.html
(accssed on January )
Llewellyn, A., Mercer, D. and Agu, L. (2008) Sociology for social workers. United Kingdom: Polity Press.
Rowlingson, K. and McKay, S. (2001) Lone Parent Families: Women, Children and the State. United Kingdom: Pearson Education
Cunningham, J. and Cunningham, S. (2008) Sociology and Social Work (Transforming Social Work Practice). United Kingdom: Learning Matters Ltd.