Understanding of the family life in the 21st century. Key term - KINSHIP = system of family relationships between people in a society or cultural group - biologically related or attained status through marriage or adoption (usually about obtaining legal rights) -Most common family is the nuclear family - very much the basis of most theoretical perspectives whether they argue for or against it The Functionalist view on the family: -Nuclear family is functioning for the good of society -Nuclear family helps with social order and stability and an effective economy -People within a nuclear family also benefit through emotional well being/satisfaction George Murdock (1949) (Functionalist): argues that there are 4 main functions to the nuclear family > reproductive, sexual, educational, economic However, he is often criticised for basing his theory of the 1940's American family (the theory is ethnocentric - it only reflects the dominant culture) Functionalists and social change: -Theorists such as Parsons attempted to trace the historical development of families -Parsons looked at social and economic changes associated with the industrial revolution -The extended family were important! Functionalists also argue that the family are a very important form of primary socialisation for children
Marxist theory of the family: -very critical that the nuclear family has evolved to benefit the wider society -nuclear family serves the interest of the ruling class - promotes capitalist ideologies *Fredrich Engels - nuclear family only became popular after the industrial revolution, because ruling class encouraged it in order to protect the property and wealth they had accumulated *Eli Zaretsky (1976) modern nuclear family benefits capitalism in 3 ways: 1)socialisation of children 2)helps workers manage their resentment of the work place 3)major unit of consumption
Feminist theory of the family: -highly critical of functionalists, as they argued nuclear family is harmful to women -nuclear family responsible for patriarchy and inequalities Marxist feminists: -patriarchal oppression central to women's experience -like Marx theory, they see social class relationships main cause of inequality -all labour exploited by the ruling class -gender oppression is part of the working class oppression -domestic labour Radical feminists: -men exploit women -patriarchy existed way before capitalism - its nothing to do with work or class -men control -gender is the primary source of social inequality -nuclear family benefits the heterosexual man -nuclear family is a site of violence Liberal feminists: Oakley (1981) - gender inequality in the family is a product of discrimination by individuals and those who rule institutions - gender role socialisation Difference feminists: -women are not one single, united group, but have a variety of experiences in relation to patriarchy
The family and social policy: The New Right approach to the family: -reflects and transmits a dominant familial ideology -this ideology is transmitted in the media/religious leaders etc -the nuclear family plays a very important role in shaping moral order (socialisation of correct norms and values) -parenting is key (its clearly a policy that reflects the functionalist approach) -New right see the nuclear family under threat and in decline - they suggest its one of the main causes of moral decay in society and it is the reason for crime and anti-social behaviour and welfare dependency -many new right thinkers see the emergence of feminists in the 60's and 70's as the beginning of the attack and threat to nuclear families > policies such as the 1967 abortion act and the 1967 sexual offences act played a threat to the traditional nuclear family values > since 2000, gay rights movements have also played further threat on this family according to the new right thinkers -The 1975 Sex Discrimination Act and the 1970 Equal Pay act have also encouraged threat to the nuclear family, as the new rights say women are going into work and forgetting their natural calling as mothers - new rights argue modern day children are thus being damaged by maternal deprivation -The contraceptive pill being made free in the 60's and 70's has also caused a treat -The 1969 Divorce Reform Act has also caused threat
State policy on the family since 1997: -looking at government policies since 1997 can be useful in evaluating the new right The Labour Government 1997 - 2010: -before 1997 UK government did not have departments or ministers that devoted to the upkeep of families, however Labour changed this by appointing a Minister for Children in 2003 and in 2007 it formed the new department for Children, Schools and Families (became the Department for Education in 2010) led by a secretary of state. -It was argued that Labours election victory in 1997 marked in change in the way the government seen the family - it promoted a change to a more realistic view of the family, moving away from the promotion of nuclear family to a more individualistic view -labour put a stop to the view that single parent families caused a threat, and recognised that family life is rich and diverse -labour also recognised that the breadwinner in he 21st century is not always the man, and thus recognised that most families rely on two incomes -Child Tax Credit 2003 - money paid to the main care giver Criticism of the labour government: New Right argued that labour was constructing a 'nanny state' and that their policies were undermining both marriage an the traditional family
Coalition family policy 2010-2015: -composed of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, with a leader of David Cameron -the coalition argued society should be more family friendly because strong and stable families of all kinds are the bedrock of a strong and stable society The Troubled Families Programme: -in 2011 the government shared anxiety about the quality of family life in the UK, especially so-called broken families, which conservatives blamed the 2011 London riots. -The troubled families programme was identified with 120,000 households who: >are involved in crime and anti-social behaviour >have children who are truant from school >have adults who have never worked >are a high cost to the public purse e.g. claims etc -it was a programme to last three years to reduce crime, get people in to jobs and children into schools and it was showing signs of success. The effect of Coalition economic policy on family policy: -the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 results in the coalition government to implement an economic policy focusing on cutting public spending to help reduce the national debt and increase economic growth -austerity -Critics say this austerity has had a negative impact on family social policy
New Right criticism of Coalition family policy: -failure to deal with family breakdown
Left and right wing in government: Left wing beliefs are usually progressive in nature, they look to the future, aim to support those who cannot support themselves, are idealist and believe in equality (main left wing believers are Labour) Right wing beliefs value tradition, they are about equity, survival of the fittest, and they believe in economic freedom (Main right wing believers are Conservatives and New Rights)
Demographic trends in family life: Population change depends on four demographic factors: birth rate, fertility rate, death rate, migration -Contraception is a huge factor with this topic -Ageing population -Changes in family attitudes -Globalisation -Dual heritage or mixed-race families
Marriage, divorce and family diversity: -marriage is a universal institution practised by most societies -in the UK monogamy is practised (can only be married one person at one time) -Polygyny -religion or culture allows a man to take more than one wife -Patterns in marriage in the UK have declined (trends in marriage rates is important) The debate about marriage: >The New Rights > concerned about the decline in marriage, as marriage is key to society in maintaining social order as it involves attachments and mutual expectations > social stability New Rights argue that marriage is in decline due to government policies particularly welfare state > the welfare state has promoted single parenting due to the benefits they receive, thus people do not need to marry for economic support The New Rights also argue the decline is down to secularisation - decline in religious belief and practice Feminists argue it is down social changes and attitudes
The postmodernist theory of divorce: Beck (1995) > increasing divorce rates are he product of a rapidly changing and postmodern world in which traditional rules and values no longer apply. The postmodern world is characterised by three important social influences: 1) Individualisation 2)Conflict 3)Choice
The New Right and one-parent families: -see them as broken -adults who are selfish and fail to put their children first -children from such families lack self discipline and are emotionally disturbed by the lack of a firm father figure
Domestic labour, power relationships and the family: -conjugal roles -domestic division of labour -decision making in families -men and childcare -emotion work -patriarchal ideology -triple shift -socialisation
The Social Construction of Childhood: Childhood in pre-industrial society: -as soon as children were no long physically dependent on their parents around 7 years old, they were treated as adult -miniature adults -no special treatment in terms of protection and rights Childhood and industrialisation: -working class children found working in factories, mines and mills -children frequently killed or injured at work -children were there to help support parents -19th century - attitudes began to change - Factory Acts -Mass education introduced in 1870 for 5-12 year olds Child-centred 20th century: -child-centred society -children became a priority - 'special people' -the state in the 20th century also interfered with family life massively and the protection of children was key -childhood is a relative experience (not everyone has the same experience - think about gender, ethnicity and social class, global experiences)
Theoretical approaches to childhood: The Conventional approach: -linked to functionalists and new right thinkers -parenting and primary socialisation key >positive social values -control and discipline -two parents from opposing sex - this is the 'right' way Feminism: -females should celebrate sexuality and women could be empowered by their bodies -but this empowerment has been driven by the media and has had a negative effect on young girls -hyper-sexual culture Social action theory: -criticises the conventional approach -focus on how children see and interpret the world and how children's decisions help to shape experiences -criticise new right and functionalists for seeing children as empty and passive -socialisation is a two way process that children contribute within Postmodernism: -status of children may be changing because of new relationships and families -children are now gaining the right to determine their association with parents -all experiences are different so its hard to compare and generalise