AS SCLY1
Unit Information, log and tracker
(www.goffssociology.wordpress.com)
Families & Households
What you need to know for this topic:
 The family, social structure and social
change
 The functions of the family
 Power and control in the family
 Marriage, divorce and family diversity
 Demographic trends and family life
 The nature of childhood
 The family and social policy
 Exam practice (especially
words and evaluation)
command
For more information go to: www.goffssociology.wordpress.com
Unit Topic Areas
Topic
The family,
social structure
and social change
The functions of
the family
Content
We will study how
definitions of the
family have changed
over the last
centaury, especially
the effect of
industrialisation.
We will study what
the family is for,
especially its role in
society and how it
functions. This will
cover all the key
sociological
perspectives.
Reading
Moore, S. et. al.
(2008) Sociology AS
for AQA
Understood?

(Hammersmith: Harper
Collins Publishers) – pp.
72 - 78
Moore, S. et. al.
(2008) – Sociology AS
for AQA - pp. 79 - 85
Newbold, C. et. al.
(2008) – AQA
Sociology (AS)
(Cheltenham: Nelson
Thornes) – pp. 59 – 65
Webb, et. al. (2008)

AS Level Sociology
(AQA) (Brentwood:
Napier Press) –pp. 38 45
Moore, S. et. al.
(2008) – Sociology AS
for AQA - pp. 108 113
Newbold, C. et. al.
(2008) – AQA
Sociology (As) – pp. 81
– 84
Power and control
in the family
You will study
domestic labour and
gender roles within
families. This will
include the impact of
paid work, domestic
violence and power
relationships.
Marriage, divorce
and family
diversity
We will study
changing attitudes to
marriage, divorce and
cohabitation as well
as the impact on
families and
households.
Moore, S. et. al.
(2008) – Sociology AS
for AQA - pp. 100 107
Newbold, C. et. al.
(2008) – AQA
Sociology (As) – pp. 68
– 71

Demographic
trends and family
life
We will learn about
changes in the birth,
death, fertility and
infant mortality rates
as well as increases in
life expectancy and
migration to and from
the UK.
Moore, S. et. al.
(2008) – Sociology AS
for AQA - pp. 54 - 58
Newbold, C. et. al.
(2008) – AQA
Sociology (As) – pp. 92
– 99
Webb, et. al. (2008)

The nature of
childhood
We will study what
childhood actually is,
whether it is socially
constructed and
whether it changes
between time and
place. You will also

AS Level Sociology
(AQA) –pp. 46 - 54
Moore, S. et. al.
(2008) – Sociology AS
for AQA - pp. 114 119
Newbold, C. et. al.
(2008) – AQA
Sociology (As) – pp. 73
– 79

The family and
social policy
Exam Practice
compare ‘March of
Progress’ views versus
‘conflict’ views of
childhood and debate
its disappearance.
You will study what a
social policy is and
their impact on the
family. Alongside
examples of social
policies, you will study
what each sociological
perspective thinks of
them.
Lesson on how to
respond to exam
‘command words’,
evaluation techniques
and general exam
practice.
Webb, et. al. (2008)
AS Level Sociology
(AQA) –pp. 28 – 37
Moore, S. et. al.
(2008) – Sociology AS
for AQA – 72 - 78
Newbold, C. et. al.
(2008) – AQA
Sociology (AS) – pp.
64- 65
Webb, et. al. (2008)

AS Level Sociology
(AQA) –pp. 80 - 87
Moore, S. et. al.
(2008) – Sociology AS
for AQA – 42 – 78
Webb, et. al. (2008)

AS Level Sociology
(AQA) –pp. 88 - 89
Unit Reflection Audit
Topic
Exam
confident?
The family,
social structure
and social
change

The functions
of the family

Power and
control in the
family

Areas for revision improvement
Marriage,
divorce and
family diversity

Demographic
trends and
family life

The nature of
childhood

The family and
social policy

Exam Practice

What did you enjoy about this unit?
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
What didn’t you enjoy?
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Sociological Perspectives on the Family
For each perspective you must be able to say:
AO1: What they believe?
AO1: How does this apply to the family?
AO2: What are the strengths of these views with regard the family?
AO2: How has this view been criticised by other theory’s/writers?
Functionalist Theory on the Family
What do they believe?
How does their theory apply to the family?
 Society is like the human body
 The family is a system within the ‘body’
 Systems in the body works together for the
 Through socialisation children learn the
benefit of the whole
‘rules’ (Norms & Values) of their society
 Each system is reliant on each other
 This ensures that society continues in its
 Each system has shared rules (Norms &
harmonious state.
Values) so they are always in harmony with
 So the family is an important system
the other systems
within society – it is a building block for
 There is ‘consensus’ between all systems
society
 This consensus is started with primary
socialisation in the family and then reinforced
by every system in the body – education,
church, media etc
What are the strengths of these views with
How has this view been criticised by other
regard the family?
theory’s/writers?
 Family performs essential functions for
• Assumes the family is harmonious and
society and its members
ignore conflict and exploitation like child
 Murdock = 4 functions
abuse and women’s oppression
 Parsons = 2 functions
• Assumes the nuclear family is universally
 Parsons = the family is ‘functionally fit’ – it
the norm and ignores family diversity
fits the needs of the society it is in.
• Criticised by Marxists who see the
 Preindustrial society = extended family
conflict in society
 Industrial society = nuclear family
• Feminist criticise it for being oppressive
to women – serves the needs of men
• Functionally fit idea of parsons has been
disproved as there is evidence of nuclear
family’s in preindustrial times –( Willmott
& Young – Lasslett) – often did not live
long enough to see grandchildren
• Extended families in industrial times
(Anderson) – poverty meant that this was
the best type of family for mutual support
Key players:
What do they say?
Murdock: family => 4 essential functions for society
1.Sexual; 2. Reproduction; 3. Socialisation; 4.
Parsons: family => 2 essential functions for society
Economic
Parsons: Warm bath theory
1.Primary socialisation; 2.stabalisation of adults
Family is somewhere that the working man can
relax and be themselves – take out their
Parsons: Functionally fit
frustrations in safe environment rather than at
work
Nuclear = Industrial society => geographically
mobile
=> socially mobile
Loss of function with industrialisation- family no
longer provide education and health care, the
state does.
Marxist Perspective on the Family
What do they believe?
• Society based on capitalism
• Conflict between ruling class and working class
• Society is based on inequality between these
classes
• All systems in society, education, church,
media, sate help maintain the class inequality
• The working class have developed a false
class consciousness=>they believe that it is
right that they work for the ruling class
• Revolution => when working class realise they
are being exploited they will revolt
What are the strengths of these views with
regard the family?
 Explains the inequality in society
 Explains how working class accept this
inequality
 Explains how capitalism evolved through the
building up of wealth and need to pass on
wealth to your own family
Key players:
Karl Marx: one of the founding fathers of sociology
Engles:
How does their theory apply to the family?
Family performs important functions for
capitalism
• Passing on wealth=>make sure it’s your son
• Ideological function=>justifies ruling class
position of power & working class
acceptance
• Unit of consumption =>family buy the
products it makes for more than they are
paid to produce it thus make more profits
for Ruling class
How has this view been criticised by other
theory’s/writers?
 Assumes the nuclear family is dominant &
ignores growing family diversity
 Feminists criticise it for ignoring the
exploitation of women – family serves men
not capitalism
 Functionalist say Marxists ignore the
benefits the family brings its member in
mutual support and intimacy
 Functionalist argue that we live in
consensus not conflict
 There has not been a revolution
What do they say?
Developed theory of society – conflict theory
Based on inequality – those that have rule those
that have not.
Maintain their position of power through ideology
– the views of the dominant class being accepted
by the subordinate class.
Working class have a false class consciousness –
will be a revolution one they realise their
exploitation
In primitive society no restrictions on sexual
relationships – as wealth was accumulated so rich
men needed to ensure paternity => monogamy was
essential
Feminist Perspective on the Family
All have a common belief that we live in a Patriarchal society - All Seek equality for women
Liberal Feminism
What do they believe?
How does their theory apply to the family?
• Gaining equality through campaigning
 Has brought greater equality in the family
 Women’s vote, Sex Discrimination Act, Equal Pay
Act
 Similar view to ‘march of progress’ view – things
are getting better
What are the strengths of these views with
How has this view been criticised by other
regard the family?
theory’s/writers?
 Campaigning has brought the family closer to • Changes in law do not mean changes in attitude
equality
• Marxist & Radical feminist criticise view for
 Shared roles in the family with men doing
ignoring the underlying cause of inequality and
more
oppression
 Attitudes to how boys and girls are socialised
is changing
Marxist Feminism
What do they believe?
How does their theory apply to the family?
 See capitalism as the source of women’s
 Reproducing the next labour force
oppression
 Absorbing men’s anger
 Women perform vital functions for
 Reserve army of cheap labour
capitalism
What are the strengths of these views with
How has this view been criticised by other
regard the family?
theory’s/writers?
 Highlights women’s exploitation by
• Ignores modern day life where the woman can be
capitalism
the breadwinner
 Dual burden/triple shift/reserve army of
• women were oppressed before capitalism so no
labour
guarantee that abolition of capitalism will mean
end of oppression

Key players:
Fran Ansley –“women are takers of shit”
What do they say?
They deal with their husband’s anger and
frustrations from work. She believes that women are
oppressed - dual or triple burden. However women
are working as well as having children her research
does not acknowledge this
Radical Feminism
What do they believe?
How does their theory apply to the family?
 Key division in society is between men &
 Believe that patriarchy leads to the subordination
women
of women and children in the home and in wider
society.
 Rape and sexual assault => male power

 Want to abolish the family, women can live
without men
What are the strengths of these views with
How has this view been criticised by other
regard the family?
theory’s/writers?
 Highlights how women are subjected to male
• Ignores fact that some women like to live with
dominance
men and like being mothers
 Highlight the power men have over women
• Liberal feminist criticise for not seeing how
 Shows how this power is exerted
women’s lives have improved, better jobs, access
to divorce, control over fertility, choice about
marriage
Key players:
What do they say?
Germaine Greer: ‘sleeping with the enemy’
 ‘political lesbianism’=>create all female
households to end male oppression
Difference Feminism
What do they believe?
How does their theory apply to the family?
 Women are different and experience
 Many Black families see the family as positive
oppression differently depending on class or
 It acts as a support in the face of racial
ethnicity
oppression
What are the strengths of these views with
How has this view been criticised by other
regard the family?
theory’s/writers?
 Acknowledge that women have different
• Despite differences women do share many of
experiences
the same experience, compared to men they face
 We therefore cannot generalise about
a greater risk of domestic violence, sexual
women’s experiences
assault, low pay, living in poverty, exploitation

See patriarchy as source of women’s
oppression
Men benefit from the family
Key Scholars/Thinkers to Name Drop in Essays
Along with the above people, litter your essays with arguments from these
people.
George P. Murdock
Talcott Parsons
Charles Murray
Jenny Summerville
Shulamith Firestone
Fran Ainsley
Ann Oakley
Alice Cooper
David Cooper
Fredrich Engels
Eli Zaretsky
Robert and Rhona
Rappoport
Robert Chester
Elizabeth Bott
Wilmot & Young
Sue Sharpe
Philipe Aries
Edward Shorter
Samantha Punch
Diana Gittins
Neil Postman
Iona and Peter Opie
Dobash and Dobash
N.L. Trenter
Thomas McKeown
Ellis Cashmore
Jacques Denzelot
O’Sullivan and
Jewkes
Barbara Ehrenreich
Christopher Lasch
W. Russell Neuman
Glossary of Key Words, Terms and Concepts
Age: The biological basis for age groups, age describes the journey between birth and
death in years.
Age Patriarchy: a concept put forward by Diana Gittins that men not only dominate
women within the household, but children as well. This can lead to abuse and age
inequality.
Ascribed Status: a social position fixed by birth, a position that cannot be changed
by one’s own efforts
Authority: The possession of power which is seen as legitimate by those whom it is
wielded.
Beanpole Family: Term used to describe the modern day family where people have
fewer children, but are at the same time living longer, family trees are becoming
longer and thinner - sometimes extending to four generations.
Birth Rate: The ratio of total live births to total population in a specified community
or area over a specified period of time. The birth rate is often expressed as the
number of live births per 1,000 of the population per year.
Cereal-packet family: Term associated with Edmund Leach to describe the romantic
image of the traditional two-parent family featured on the back of corn flake packets
in the 1960s.
Child centeredness: A family in which much activity and emotional energy is focused
on the children, rather than adult desires.
Confluent Love: Active and causal love rather than ‘forever’ notions of romantic love.
Cohabitation: A situation where a couple lives together as man and wife without being
legally married.
Commercialisation of Childhood: Where children are targeted as a key consumer
group by big business.
Companionate: Term used to describe the jointness of couples, not only in terms of
the tasks they perform, but equally in their leisure activities too.
Conflict: theories that see social groups in conflict with each other. For example,
Marxists see conflict between the working and middle classes and Feminists see
conflict between men and women.
Conjugal Roles: The roles played between husband and wife within a marriage with
particular reference to the domestic division of labour. Elizabeth Bott argues that
there are two types’ segregated and joint roles.
Civil Partnership Act 2004: Gave same-sex couples rights and responsibilities
identical to civil marriage. Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as
married opposite-sex couples, the same exemption as married couples on inheritance
tax, social security and pension benefits, and also the ability to get parental
responsibility for a partner's children.
'Dark-side' of the family: Term used to challenge the romantic view of the family
by perspectives such as feminists and Radical Psychiatrists. They highlight the extent
of conflict and violence in families.
Death (Mortality) Rate: The number of deaths per thousand of the population per
year.
Dependency ratio: The ratio within the population of those under 15 and over 65 to
those between those years, i.e. of working age.
Divorce: The legal termination of a marriage.
Divorce Rate: A statistical measure of the number of divorces, usually expressed as
the number of divorces in any one year per 1000 married couples in the population.
Divorce Reform Act, 1971: Introduced the concept of 'no-fault' divorce. There was
a significant growth in divorce after this Act became effective in 1971.
Divorce Reform Act, 1984: The amount of time before application for divorce can
be made was reduced.
Dual Burden: Is when a women has the responsibly of unpaid work and paid work
Empty-shell marriage: Term given to marriage where love and romance have longgone and couples stay together either because divorce is not an option (say for
religious reasons) or they simply cannot make the effort to separate.
Expressive Role: Term associated with Dunscombe and Marsden literally means the
housewife providing the warmth, security and emotional nurturing support.
Extended Family: Is one where the nuclear family has been added to, or extended,
either vertically (i.e. with grandparents, parent and children) or horizontally (i.e. with
two or more brothers/sisters living with their respective spouses and children).
False Consciousness: Used by Marxists to mean ways of thinking which are the
product not of real material conditions the thinker inhabits, but of the ideological
forces of other groups.
Family: Two or more generations of people tied together through blood, marriage or
adoption. Anthony Giddens adds how adult members are assumed to have a
responsibility for caring for children.
Family diversity: A term used to describe the differing forms of family organisation
typical of modern Britain
'Family paths': Term associated with Jon Bernardes to illustrate the highly varied
and individual experiences people have within families according to age, gender, etc.
Fertility rate: Is the average number of children women will have between the ages
of 15 and 44.
'fit', Thesis: Another name for evolutionary theory suggesting that the family
changed from extended to nuclear to provide a functional fit to the new industrial
society that benefited from smaller more mobile families.
Gender: Used by sociologists to describe the cultural and social attributes of men
and women, which are manifested in appropriate masculinity and femininity.
Gender Division of Labour: Husbands and wives have different roles/tasks.
Household: A group of people not necessarily related who share accommodation (or
meals, chores, bills etc), or one person living alone.
Hierarchy: A central concept of stratification, signifying the ordering of social
positions in a structure of superiority and inferiority. Most hierarchies can be
depicted as a triangle, with fewer superior positions at the top of the hierarchy than
subordinate positions at the bottom.
Joint Conjugal Roles: Husband and wife share roles, tasks and/or leisure;
Individualisation: Phrase coined by David Popenoe which suggests that we place an
emphasis on self-fulfilment rather than collective goals.
Infant Mortality Rate: The number of deaths in a population of infants under one
years of age per thousand births.
Lone parent families: Families consisting of a dependent child or children living with
one parent, usually the mother (9/10).
March of progress theory: Collective name for social theorists, usually of the
functionalist perspective, who see the family evolving and adapting in a progressive
way to fit the changing needs of wider society.
Marriage: A legal contract between two people of opposing sexes offering rights and
obligations under law.
Marriage Rate: Is the number of marriages occurring among the population of a given
area per year, per 1,000 total population.
Matriarchy: a family where the female dominates. In some societies matriarchy
means that family linage is passed down through the female lines. Matriarchy could be
seen as the opposite of patriarchy too.
Matrifocal: a family centred on the female. The female runs the household and
combines both the ‘expressive’ and ‘instrumental’ roles.
Net Migration: the difference between the numbers emigrating and those
immigrating.
Neo Conventional Family: According to Chester this family has partners who both
work and may not be married. However, it is more symmetrical and happier.
Patriarchy: A form of society in which males are the rulers and leaders and exercise
power, both at the level of society as a whole and within individual households.
Primary Socialisation: Instilling basic skills and values in young children.
Reconstituted Family: Such as step-family.
Secularisation: As the process in which religious thinking, practices and organisations
lose their social significance.
Segregated Gender Roles: Husband and wife have a clear-cut division of labour.
Serial Monogamy: Having several marriage partners/long term relationships over the
course of one’s life, one at a time.
Social norms: the things that are considered ‘normal’ or acceptable in society.
Social Construction: Created by society and/or by social attitudes.
Stabilisation of the adult personality: According to Parsons the family plays a key
role in supporting its members emotionally.
Structurally isolated: The idea that the nuclear family is not obligated to or is
independent of the extended family.
Symmetrical Family: Term coined by Willmott and Young that indicates that roles
are shared more or less evenly within the family, even though they may be gender
segregated.
Triple Shift: This is paid work, housework and the emotional role.
Urbanisation: The growth of cities, or the movement of population off the land into
towns.
Source: All definitions taken from ‘The Complete A-Z Sociology Handbook by Tony
Lawson and Joan Garrod or from AQA Mark Schemes.
Recommended Books
Moore, S. et. al. (2008) – Sociology AS for AQA (Hammersmith:
HaperCollinsPublishing)
Newbold, C. et. al. (2008) – AQA Sociology (AS) (Cheltenham: Nelson
Thornes)
Webb, et. al. (2008) AS Level Sociology (AQA) (Brentwood: Napier Press)
P.T.O
Possible Essay Question
Section B: Families and Households
Total for this section: 60 marks
Read Items 2A and 2B below and answer questions 0 6 to 1 0 that follow.
Item 2A
Marriage patterns are undergoing a number of changes. For example, the
number of marriages is declining while the number of remarriages is rising. This
has led to a pattern of relationships described as serial monogamy.
Furthermore, couples are marrying later and cohabitation is rising. For some
couples, cohabitation is replacing marriage while, for others, cohabitation is a
prelude to marriage.
Item 2B
For functionalist sociologists, the family fulfils a number of important functions
for individuals and for society, such as the socialisation of children and the
stabilisation of adult personalities.
However, some sociologists suggest that, in today’s society, these functions are
being taken over by other institutions and the family is losing its importance.
For example, nurseries and playgroups have an increasingly important role in the
socialisation of young children whose parents are working full-time. Also, family
life is much less stable than it was in the past and this undermines the
traditional functions of the family.
0 6 Explain what is meant by ‘serial monogamy’ (Item 2A).
(2 marks)
0 7 Suggest two reasons why there has been an increase in cohabitation (Item
2A).
(4 marks)
0 8 Identify three ways in which childhood may not be a positive experience for
some children.
(6 marks)
0 9 Examine the reasons for, and the consequences of, the fall in the death
rate since 1900.
(24 marks)
1 0 Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the view that, in today’s
society, the family is losing its functions.
(24 marks)
Exam tips:

Make sure you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding (what you
actually know) by selective application of what a question requires you to
explain. Don’t go off on tangents or waffle.

Show off your analytical skills by discussing different points of view,
even if you don’t agree with them! It is important to weigh up the merits
as well as the flaws of all view points when demonstrating your evaluative
skills.

The examiners are also looking for strong synoptic skills, which not only
show that you can identify differing viewpoints and perspectives, but also
recognise how these viewpoints came about, who holds them and why they
conflict with other perspectives in terms of different peoples/groups
desired sociological outcomes. Also, you need to illustrate the importance
these views/perspectives had or still have the study of the sociology of
the media as a whole.
“Our Lives begin to
end when we become
silent about the
things that matter.”
Martin Luther King Jr. – Baptist Minister, civil rights and Nobel Peace Laureate
leader who was shot dead in 1967. He has a PhD in SOCIOLOGY!