AQA A Level Sociology - Families And Households - Full Cards Exam With Correct Answers 2024

AQA A Level Sociology - Families And Households - Full Cards Exam With Correct Answers 2024 Murdock (1949) - correct answer-Argue that the family is universal in a nuclear family with a heterosexual couple and dependent children. There is a clear division of labour between husband and wife - the husband is the breadwinner who earns for the family and the wife is the housewife who does domestic labour and childcare. He argue that there are 4 essential functions that the family performs. Reproductive function - correct answer-Essential for the survival of society and without reproduction, it would cease to exist Sexual function - correct answer-This creates a powerful emotional bond between husband and wife which encourage fidelity and commitment to family life. It contributes to stability within the family as it sets out the moral rules. Economic function - correct answer-provide economic things which are vital for sustaining children lives for example, shelter, food and protection. Parents take responsibility for their welfare by bringing home an income, . Educational function - correct answer-this is done through primary socialization which is necessary to fit into society. This is by learning norms and values. Culture can be passed from generation to generation. Criticisms of Murdock - correct answer-- the definition of family is a 'product of time' and is ethnocentric (based on view on Western families). - Interprevists argue that he is value-laden where he fails to acknowledge that families are the 'product of culture'. - also very dated and fails to take account of moderns social processes. - largely correct that the family are the fundamental building blocks of society and most sees it as the most important aspect. Parsons (1955) 'Irreducible Functions' theory - correct answer-Argue that in the past, the family was a 'multi-functional' unit where it was the 'jack of all trades'. Now, there are only two 'irreducible functions that the family performs: the primary socialization of children and the stablisation of adult personalities. Parsons (1955) 'Functional-Fit' theory - correct answer-He also argue the type of society will depend on the structure of the family. He argue that the nuclear family is 'functionally-fit' in modern industrial society and the extended family is 'functionally-fit' in the pre-industrial traditional society. There are two reasons behind this. Geographical mobile workforce - correct answer-In the past, people stayed in the same places but in modern society, as businesses and jobs move so does the family. This means that the nuclear family is much easier as it is more small and compact. Social mobile workforce - correct answer-Modern society is now achieved because of rapid technological changes. This means a son can have a higher status than his father which results in tension and conflict. The adult son would move out and start his own nuclear family. Criticisms of Parsons - correct answer-- accused of idealizing the family. - Fails to explore possible differences between different social classes and ethnic minority groups. - His beliefs are 'basic and irreducible' which prevents him from examining alternatives. - He sees socialisation as a one-way process. - sees it as a distinct institution which is separated from aspects of social life. The New Right perspective of the Family - correct answer-They argue that the growth of family diversity are the main causes of family diversity and holds the view that there is only one 'correct type' of family - the nuclear family. They believe that the introduction of the welfare state have led to a dependency culture. Criticisms of the New Right - correct answer-- Exaggerates the decline of the nuclear family. - Feminists argue that gender roles are socially constructed and argues against the argument of divorce being bad. - Most single parents are not welfare scroungers and that it is difficult to work. - Chester argue that most children are in a nuclear family arrangement. Marxist perspective on the Family - correct answer-They argue that society are contributing towards capitalism and maintaining class inequality. This includes the family Inheritance of property - correct answer-Engels argue that in the primitive communison, there was no private property and there was no restrictions on sexual relationship which was called a promiscuous horde. As the capitalist system developed, father needed their legitimate heirs to pass down their wealth and their private property which have created the monogamous nuclear family. Ideological functions - correct answer-Argue that the family performs key ideological functions for capitalism. - Does this by socializing children telling them that hierarchy and inequality are inevitable