Families and Households

Welcome to Families and Households!

Hello! Welcome to your study notes for the Families and Households chapter of AQA Sociology. This is one of the most relatable topics because we all live in some form of a "household." However, in Sociology, we go beyond our own front doors to look at how the family fits into the bigger picture of society. Don't worry if some of the theories seem a bit abstract at first—we will use plenty of everyday examples to make them click!

1. The Family and Social Structure

Sociologists want to know: What is the family for? Is it a "helping hand" for society, or is it a way to keep certain groups in power? We look at this through different theoretical "lenses."

Functionalism: The "Body" Analogy

Functionalists imagine society is like a human body. Just like the heart and lungs work together to keep you alive, the family works with the economy and education to keep society stable. This is a consensus view (everyone agrees on how things should work).

• Murdock: He argued the nuclear family is universal. It performs four essential functions: Sexual, Reproductive, Educational (Socialisation), and Economic.
• Parsons' Functional Fit Theory: He argued that as society changed (from the Industrial Revolution), the family changed too. We moved from Extended Families (living with lots of relatives) to Nuclear Families (just parents and kids) because they are "geographically mobile"—easier to move for jobs!
• The Warm Bath Theory: Parsons said the family acts like a warm bath for the working man, soaking away the stresses of his day so he is ready for work tomorrow.

Marxism and Feminism: The Conflict Views

Marxists and Feminists think Functionalists are too "rosy." They see the family as a place of conflict.

• Marxism: They believe the family serves Capitalism. It teaches children to obey authority so they become submissive workers, and it encourages families to "keep up with the Joneses" (consumerism).
• Feminism: They believe the family serves Patriarchy (male power). Liberal Feminists think things are getting better legally, while Radical Feminists believe the family is the root of women's oppression and should be abolished.

The State and Policy

The government (the State) influences family life through laws. For example:
• The Divorce Reform Act (1969): Made it easier to end unhappy marriages.
• The Adoption and Children Act (2002): Allowed same-sex couples to adopt.
• The New Right view: This group prefers the traditional nuclear family. They often worry that "generous" welfare benefits might encourage "dependency culture."

Quick Takeaway: Functionalists see the family as a positive "building block." Marxists and Feminists see it as a tool for control. State policies can either help or hinder different types of families.

2. Changing Patterns and Family Diversity

The "standard" family isn't the only way people live anymore. We now have Family Diversity.

Marriage and Divorce

Why are fewer people getting married and more getting divorced?
• Secularisation: Religion has less influence, so "living in sin" (cohabitation) is no longer a big deal.
• Changes in the position of women: Women have careers now and don't "need" a husband for financial survival.
• Individualisation: We now focus on our own happiness. If a relationship doesn't make us happy, we leave (Giddens calls this the "Pure Relationship").

Types of Diversity

The Rapoports (1982) identified five types of diversity:
1. Organizational (e.g., who does the housework).
2. Cultural (different ethnic groups have different traditions).
3. Social Class (wealthy vs. working-class families).
4. Life Stage (your family looks different when you are 5 vs. when you are 50).
5. Generational (older people have different views on family than Gen Z).

The Sociology of Personal Life

Smart and May suggest we should stop just looking at "blood and marriage" and look at all relationships that are important to people, like fictive kin (friends who are like aunts/uncles), pets, and memories of dead relatives. Don't worry if this seems tricky—just remember it's about "who we feel close to," not just who we are related to.

Key Takeaway: There is no longer one "right" way to be a family. Choice, secularisation, and women's independence have led to a huge variety of household structures.

3. Gender Roles and Power

Who does the dishes? Who makes the big decisions? This is about Power Relationships.

Domestic Labour (Housework)

• Parsons: Believed in Instrumental Roles (men = breadwinners) and Expressive Roles (women = nurturers). He thought this was "natural."
• Bott: Identified Segregated Conjugal Roles (separate tasks) and Joint Conjugal Roles (shared tasks).
• The Symmetrical Family (Young and Willmott): They argued that families are becoming more equal, with men doing more housework.
• The Feminist Critique (Ann Oakley): She disagrees! She says even if men "help," the Triple Shift (paid work, housework, and emotional work) still falls on women.

Decision Making and Money

Pahl and Vogler found two types of money management:
1. The Allowance System: Men give wives a set amount of money.
2. Pooling: Both partners share a bank account (this is becoming more common).

Did you know? Even in "equal" couples, men often still make the "very important" decisions (like moving house), while women make the "minor" ones (like what brand of soap to buy).

Quick Review Box:
• Dual Burden: Women doing paid work + housework.
• Symmetrical Family: A family where roles are similar/equal.
• Domestic Violence: Sociologists see this not just as "bad individuals" but as a way for men to maintain power in a patriarchal society.

4. The Nature of Childhood

Is "being a child" the same everywhere? Sociologists say no. They say childhood is Socially Constructed (created by society).

How has childhood changed?

• Historical changes: Aries argued that in the Middle Ages, "childhood" didn't exist. Children were just "mini-adults" who worked as soon as they were physically able.
• The Child-Centred Society: Today, the family revolves around the child. We spend more money and time on them than ever before.
• The "Disappearance" of Childhood: Postman argues that TV and the internet are blurring the lines between kids and adults, making childhood disappear.

Is childhood better now?

• March of Progress view: Yes! Kids are protected by laws, have better health, and are loved more.
• Conflict view: No! Some kids are still abused or living in poverty. Palmer calls this Toxic Childhood, where junk food and screens are harming kids' development.

Memory Aid: Think of "Aries" like "Ancient." He studied the past (the Middle Ages) to show childhood is not fixed.

5. Demographics in the UK

This is the "numbers" section. We look at Birth Rates, Death Rates, and Migration.

Birth and Death Rates

• Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1,000 of the population per year. It has generally fallen since 1900. Why? Women's careers, contraception, and the fact that kids are now an "economic liability" (they cost money!) rather than an "asset" (working on farms).
• Death Rate: This has also fallen. Why? Better nutrition, medical improvements (like the NHS and antibiotics), and better public health (clean water).
• Life Expectancy: We are living much longer. This has led to an Ageing Population.

Migration and Globalisation

• Immigration: People moving into a country.
• Emigration: People moving out of a country.
• Globalisation: The world is more connected. This means we have more migrant identities (people who feel like "citizens of the world") and families spread across different countries.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse Birth Rate (total births in a population) with Fertility Rate (the average number of children a woman has). They are related but different!

Final Key Takeaway: The UK population is getting older and more diverse. This puts pressure on the "Sandwich Generation"—middle-aged people who have to look after their kids and their elderly parents at the same time!