AQA A-Level Sociology: Families and Households

Introduction

• Disclaimer: Presenter is a student, not a professional, doing this for personal revision.
• Exam Context: Families and Households is an optional topic in Paper 2, consisting of 3 questions (2 x 10 marks, 1 x 20 marks), totaling 40 marks.

Sociological Perspectives and Theories

Functionalism

• Murdoch's Definition of Family: Social group with adults of both sexes, economic cooperation, reproduction, and at least one child.
• Nuclear Family: Claimed to be universal; functions include Sexual, Educational, Economic support, and Reproduction (acronym: SEA).
• Critiques: Functions can be met outside the family (e.g., through NHS, welfare state); overlooks domestic abuse and diversity of family types.

Parsons on Family

• Functional Fit Theory: Family roles adapt to societal needs.
• Functions: Primary socialization of children, stabilization of adult personalities (warm bath theory).
• Gender Roles: Instrumental (men) vs. Expressive (women) roles.
• Critiques: Corporal punishment, changes in law empowering women, men’s capability in child-rearing.

New Right

• Beliefs: Nuclear family and traditional values; men as breadwinners.
• Critiques: Overemphasizes nuclear family, ignores diversity and empowerment of single-parent families.

Feminism

• Family as Patriarchal: Beneficial to men, socializes children into gender roles (canalization, verbal appellation).
• Types of Feminism:
  • Liberal: Focus on equal rights through legislation.
  • Marxist: Women’s oppression due to capitalism.
  • Radical: Family as patriarchal; separatism.
  • Difference: Varied experiences based on class, ethnicity.

Marxism

• Family as Ideological State Apparatus: Maintains capitalist society.
• Commodification of Women: Women’s roles as unpaid labor.
• Critiques: Overlooks gender inequality, benefits of family.

Post-Structuralism and Postmodernism

• Surveillance and Control: Family monitored by state (health visits, education professionals).
• Choice in Family Structures: Increasing diversity, individual agency in family creation.

Division of Labor

• Conjugal Roles: Separated (traditional) vs. Joint (modern, shared roles).
• March of Progress: Movement towards symmetrical family structure.
• Critiques: Women still do more domestic work and emotion work (triple shift).

Marriage and Divorce

• Trends: Decline in marriage rates, changes in marriage patterns due to higher expectations, secularization, increased divorce rates.
• Cohabitation: Increasing as a trial for marriage.
• Theoretical Perspectives: New Right, Functionalists, Marxists, Feminists on marriage and its societal impacts.

Family Diversity

• Modernism vs. Postmodernism: Shift from predictable life paths to varied family structures in postmodern society.
• Types of Families: Diversity in family types beyond nuclear family.
• Giddens and Beck: Family diversity and negotiated family types.

Social Policy

• Impact on Family Life: Direct and indirect policies affecting family dynamics.
• Theoretical Views: Functionalists view policy as supportive, New Right sees it as protective of nuclear family, feminists critique patriarchal enforcement.

Childhood

• Social Construct: Childhood varies across cultures and time.
• Postman: Argues childhood is disappearing due to exposure to adult content.
• Critiques: Varied experiences based on gender, ethnicity, class.

Family Demographics

• Population Trends: Growth influenced by migration, birth and death rates.
• Aging Population: Impacts of increased older population on society.

Migration

• Changes Over Time: Shifts in immigration patterns influenced by globalization, border controls, push and pull factors.
• Cultural Diversity: Varied family structures among different ethnic groups.

Conclusion: Recap of key topics; presenter thanks viewers and plans for future content on related sociology topics.