AQA Sociology - Families & Households (Paper 2 Exam With Complete Solutions 2024

AQA Sociology - Families & Households (Paper 2 Exam With Complete Solutions 2024 Nuclear Family - correct answer-Two generations of people living together (parents and dependent children) Traditional Extended Family - correct answer-Three or more generations of the same family living together or very close by, with frequent connections between grandparents, cousins etc Attenuated Extended Family - correct answer-Nuclear families that live far away from their extended families but keep in lose contact - eg via phone or email Reconstituted Famillies - correct answer-New step families created when parts of two previous families are brought together by marriage Functionalist Approach - correct answer-Emphasise the positive role of the family. See every institution as essential to the smooth running of society. States that family is inevitable, you can't avoid having some form of family unit, and societies everywhere has them. Stresses importance of nuclear family Murdock (1949) - correct answer-Functionalist who looked at 250 families in different cultures and argued that there was some form of nuclear family in all of them. Stated that family is responsible for 4 main functions: - Sexual: to provide stable sexual satisfaction for adults to control sexual relationships - Reproductive: the creation of the next generation - Economic: pools resources and provides for all it's members - Educational: teaches children the norms and values of society Parsons (1950s) - correct answer-Functionalist who stated the family is responsible for 2 basic and irreducible functions: - Primary Socialisation: process where children learn to accept values and norms. Described as 'factories' where next citizens are produced - Stabilisation of Personalities: emotional relationship between mother and father provides support and security to cope with wider society. Acts as a sanctuary Criticisms of the Functionalist Approach - correct answer-- Idealises the family. Focuses on only the good and doesn't look at any bad bits. Morgan (1975) states alternative households and problems within family relationships are ignored - Neither Murdock nor Parsons looked at class, conflict, or violence in relation to the family - Feminists say the exploitation of women is ignored Marxist Approach - correct answer-View the family as performing essential functions for modern industrial society. Argue that it benefits the minority in power (bourgeoisie) and the economy, while it disadvantages the working class (proletariat). The woman's housewife role means workers are cared for and healthy so are more productive. Unit of Consumption - correct answer-One way marxists view the family. State is has a desire to buy the goods produced by the capitalist industry such as washing machines, cars etc. They buy them for more than they cost to produce, therefore profiting the bourgeoisie Engels (1884) - correct answer-Marxist who suggested family has the economic function of keeping wealth withing the bourgeoisie by passing it on to the next generation as inheritance Zaretsky (1976) - correct answer-States that the family helps capitalism as it is the only place an oppressed worker can have power and control. When the working man gets home, he is the 'king of his own castle'. This relieves frustration about low status, therefore helping to accept oppression and exploitation at work Criticisms of Marxism - correct answer-- Places too much emphasis on how it benefits capitalism, ignores how it benefits individuals in society - Assumes the worker is always male while the woman is always a housewife which is not always true - No explanation as to how families flourish in non-capitalist societies, and there is little research on alternative family structures Feminist Approach - correct answer-States the family serves to maintain patriarchy by supporting and reproducing inequalities between men and women. Argues women are oppressed because they are socialised to depend on men. There are 3 main strands: radical, liberal, and marxist. Marxist Feminism - correct answer-Sees exploitation of women in families as essential to the success of capitalism. Females do housework unpaid which produces and cares for the next generation of workers at no cost to capitalism. Benston (1969) states that if housework were paid minimum wage, it would damage capitalist profits massively Radical Feminism - correct answer-Sees exploitation of women as a result of the domination of men in society. Believes that men will always oppress women. Delphy & Leonard (1992) states that the family is a patriarchal institution where women do most of the work and men get all of the benefits Liberal Feminism - correct answer-Emphasise the cultural norms and values that are reinforced by the family. States the family is only sexist because it supports a sexist mainstream culture. Believe that social change is possible, and they try to put pressure