CHANGES IN FAMILY STRUCTURE
Some say that industrialisation caused the rise of the nuclear family, and so individuals are not connected to others and people have migrated to wage-paying jobs.
PARSONS
Said nuclear 'fits' modern living because it encourages geographical mobility and social mobility.
Functions of Nuclear Family:
- Socialization of children.
- Stavilization of the adult personality.
HISTORICAL STUDIES OF THE FAMILY AND INDUSTRIALIZATION
Laslett studied population records of households, and said that even in preindustrial Britain, people lived in nuclear families.
Anderson, took the 1851 census, and argued that extended families arose from industrialization to help with housing, care of the unemployed, old, sick etc.
WILLMOTT AND YOUNG
Used historical info and their own social surveys. Said that family had passed through four historical stages:
1 -- Pre-industrial family, worked together on the land. It was a unit of production.
2 -- The Early Industrial Family -- No longer worked together. Following the industrial Revolution, they became wage-earners. The 'mum-centred' extended family provided support in difficult times.
3 -- The symmetrical family - isolated, home-centred, nuclear family. Morw gender equality as females worked.
4 -- The asymmetrical family, only just emerging in the 70's, when these stages described. Work dominated the lives of managing directors (all men in the research) and women took the main responsibility for the home.
There's a relationship between changes in the family and other aspects of social change.
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
Sexual, reproductive and legitimizing - sexuality controlled, children have a responsibility-accepting father.
Socialization - Children learn the societies culture, which is stabilizing.
Economic - Families rarely work together, but do consume together.
Care and welfare - for old, young etc.
Affective - love and companionship, compared to past, there are less children, and people generally live longer.
Functionalist Marxist
Sexual Women oppressed
Reproductive Children future workers
Socialization Children obedient workers
Economic Family produce workers
Consumes products
Care and welfare At no cost to employers
Affective Refuge from work
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY AND THE STATE
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State is seen as a threat to the family:
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State undermines by taking things like childcare, and encourages single mothers to have children without supporting them.
The State supports the family:
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Through law, female property rights, rape protection etc.
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Providing contraception, child benefits etc.
Terminology/extra information
Geographical Mobility = moving.
Social Mobility = changing class.
Stabilization of the adult personality is the positive effect of love and friendship in marriage.
These studies are good examples of using secondary data, which can be used in questions about methods.
Consider family functions and roles as well as structure.
The functions of the family are the ways it meets the needs of society.