Access To Humanities And Social Science Sociology Essay

Access To Humanities And companionable Science Sociology Es vocalizeThis probe w recovering explore the concept of the family, and how it has varyd e reallyplace time. The family is an enduring institution over time and within dissimilar cultural settings such(prenominal)(prenominal) as nomadic, tribal, agrarian, industrial and post- industrial. The history of man is essentially linked to that of the family for instance, the most powerful tarradiddle of the western world is arguably the bible, and it gives the defining genealogy of mankind. A important theme of the bible is family history which links the main players from Adam and evening through to Jesus himself, for instance who doesnt know Jesus was from the line of David? It is, amongst early(a) things, an extensive documentation of family.It is tell that in pre-industrial Britain, the family had different a different social agenda and a different instruction than that of the family in the industrial revolution that followed. Before industrialisation Britain was an agricultural country with most of its tribe running(a) on the land. It is spaciously trustd that the extended family was prevalent in these times. Social historian Philippe Aries (1962) suggested that small fryren of this time were regarded as little adults who took part in the work place and were thought of as an economic asset. He argued that as their death rate was so high, there were difficulties in investing emotionally in children. In medieval company the idea of childhood did non exist www.google.com/www.ehs.org.uk/ alliance/pdfs/Hendrick%2015a.pdfOn the new(prenominal) hand, Peter Laslett (1972-77), studied pre industrial family social organizations and suggested that neither family relationship, nor the undefi take extended families were typical family social organisations in pre industrial Britain or America, he suggested the figures provideed these families made up slight than 10% of the family population i n. later on extensive research on family sizes in Britain he reversed the business that the thermonuclear family came ab let on in reaction to industrialisation, stating that the nuclear family was to be gear up in pre industrial Britain, and that there was evidence of the comparable in very much of atomic number 63, the nuclear family had economic, political and social consequences that prep atomic number 18d Britain and Europe for early industrialisation. He cal conduct the nuclear family of this time the western family. His studies also led him to conclude that the severaliseic extended family was found more widely in Eastern Europe and in countries much(prenominal) as Russia and Japan.Anderson (1980) argued that there was a greater mix of family complex body part than Laslett implied in his research, implying pre industrial Europe was characterised by family diversity. Anderson used info from the 1851 census of Preston and concluded that 23% of the households of the working classes contained kin beyond that of the nuclear family, a much larger figure than that of Lasletts findings. Preston was largely reliant on the cotton trade in these times, and he concluded that in these times of hardship, resulting from spells of high unemployment, low wages, high death rates and overcrowded housing, large kinship networks would be beneficial to all parties. For ideal, the p atomic number 18nts of spouses would much live in the said(prenominal) household, providing them with child c atomic number 18 whilst they were out at work. In turn the grandpargonnts were cared for. Andersons studies led him to conclude that the working class family of the mid nineteenth century acted as a mutual aid organisation. Anderson argued that industrialisation increased rather than decrease extensions of working class nuclear families.In1949 functionalist George Murdock published his studies on the institution of the family, look at a wide range of societies (250) from large scale industrial, to lilliputian hunter gatherer societies. He concluded that a form of the family existed in every party. Murdock desexd the family (1949) It includes adults of twain sexes, at least(prenominal) two of whom represent a socially approved relationship, and matchless or more children, declare or removeed, of sexually cohabiting adults. Haralambos Holborn, Sociology Themes and perspectives seventh magnetic variation, pg 460. Murdock defined the family as living together, pooling its resources, working together, and producing offspring. He also thought of the family as functioning with at least two of its adult members conducting a sexual relationship, depending on the norms of its society. For example in Muslim countries it is allowed for the masculine to ready up to four wives. Murdock defined the family as be a universal social institution.Functionalist views are lots referred to as conservative thinking, preserving or maintaining the shape qu o. Arguments opposing functionalist theories emerge from bolshie and libber ideology, as often in their fundamental personality, they will challenge or change existing perceived oppression and work onation, with libbers exposing, or trying to change oppression of women, and in Marxist ideology, exposing and theorizing on the exploitation and oppression of the working classes.(1884) Engles studied the evolution of the family with a Marxist outlook. Engles argued that the monogamous nuclear family genuine as the state passed righteousnesss to protect private property, and to enforce monogamous marriage. The nuclear monogamous family solved the problem of the inheritance of property, and gave men certainty as to the legitimacy of their heirs. Engels stated that the monogamous family asserted male supremacy the contain purpose being to produce children of undisputed paternity, such paternity is demanded because these children are later to come into their conveys property Engles (1972) first published (1884), Haralambos Holborn, Sociology Themes and perspectives Seventh version pg464.Marxist womens rightists command women as being un check in society and in the family they assert the in equating of patriarchal systems in society such as the family. This group of feminist psychologists see the problems facing women in society as being capitalist, exactly unthe likes of Marxists, who concentrate on capitalism and its do on the family, the Marxist feminist would focus on its effects on women. Speaking of housewives Benston commented (1972) The amount of unpaid campaign performed by women is very large and profitable to those who give birth the means of production pg466. She would assert that the male member of the family pays for the running of a future work force (his children) and the pecuniary care of his wife, and as a result, he is trapped in the cogs of capitalism.Talcot Parsons (1959-65b) was an prestigious Functionalist sociologist who assert ed that the Ameri evoke family had, by this point in the evolution of the American society, been reduced to two main functions the stabilisation of children, and the stabilisation of the adult personalities. Parsons identify the typical family in naked as a jaybird(a) industrial society as the stray nuclear family, and argued as the society evolves and locomotes engaged in processes of structural differentiation, the functions of the family are diminished. Parsons thought that as institutions develop within society, there would be a transfer of a variety of functions from the nuclear family to other structures of society, Haralambos Holborn, Sociology Themes and perspectives Seventh edition pg47. The Education system, Health and Welfare systems were all seen as examples of this transference of functions. He argued that the marooned nuclear family religious services to maintain and perpetuate the wider society. He continued that ascribed status that is given to its members wit hin the family, directly contrasts with status that has to be happen upond in society at large. It is because it is isolated it can manage this discrepancy if it was not, extended tensions could arise. An example of this is the position Parsons gives to the male within the family, head of the family, which may contradict with a lower economic status outside the family, but it is managed within the isolated nuclear family. In an extended family, another male in the household who was on more pay than the spouse, would reduce that males status within his family. The family had become structurally isolated and family relationships were more of a matter of choice than eye-popping obligations. Parsons aphorism these existing functions of the nuclear family as being vital functions in maintaining the American way of life. (1976)Zaretsky gave a Marxist outlook in researching the developments of the family in industrialised societies he asserted the family props up capitalism Haralambos Holborn, Sociology Themes and perspectives Seventh edition p465. Zaretsky (1976) asserted that only with industrialisation, work and family life separated. He noteworthy that the family was seen as a refuge in a terrible unidentified world of commerce and industry. But unlike Parsons, who was pro capitalism, he would say that the family perpetuates capitalism and inequality in the unpaid labour of women, creating radical labour forces, and in the family being a unit of consumption that allowed the bourgeoisie too prosper. Zaretsky saw socialism as the familys answer to the evils of capitalism.Marxist feminist Fran Ansley echoed the Marxist view point when she asserted wives play their conventional role as takers of shit, they often absorb their husbands legitimate anger and frustration at their own powerlessness and oppression. Hers was the view that married working class women cushion their husbands ill feelings at their powerlessness within the work place. on that point are d euce-ace menstruums in the development of feminism the first being political, mainly electioneering for womens rights to vote. The second period of feminist development was in the 1960s represent the rise of the womans liberation movement which dealt with social and economic discrimination, with feminists of the time candidacy for womens rights and to change jurisprudence. The third period is said to redeem continued from the second, but also in reaction to what had already been achieved by feminists through legislation. This period is said to pay back started in the 1990s and has continued to present times. There are different groups of feminists, who have differing opinions concerning womens issues and what is the best way forward for womankind. It is said that in late times feminism has splintered into different groups, reflecting the needs of a multi cultural society. Addressing, for example, feminism from a cultural point of view such as honour killings, and arranged mar riages, which pose considerable problems for the agents of a emcee society. Different groups of feminist sociologists include liberal feminism which is a less extreme form of feminism than others. Commenting on liberal feminism Susan Wendel remarks, one of the modern political goals most closely associated with liberal feminism is equality of opportunity which would undoubtedly require and lead to both www.google.com /en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal feminism. They see women as having equality, but would look at a womens ability to show or sanction her equality in the decisions and actions she makes. A liberal feminist would say that a woman needs to mould herself to fit citizenship in a social structure constructed in the interests of men. They also believe that socialisation needs to be addressed, as in its current form, it can often perpetuate the inequalities that women face in society an example of this would be girls toys like dolls and prams conditioning them into their futur e role as house wives and mothers. Liberal feminist Jennifer Somerville (2000) sees our society as being much more equal in recent years. She believes that laws need to be passed to make straight marriages more equal in order to address the family breakdown. native Feminists believe women are poor in society. Women are exploited in patriarchal society. Some fore feminists believe the answer is separatism meaning that men and women should live apart. Radical feminist Germaine Greer (2000) remarks on high profile family couples her eyes should be ameliorate on him but he should do his best never to be caught looking at her. The relationship must be seen to be unbalanced Haralambos Holborn, Sociology Themes and perspectives Seventh edition pg 468. She argues that women seem oblivious to the misgivings of marriage but the inequalities in brief become apparent, and that male sexuality requires the added stimulus of novelty. She points to the fact that three accommodate of divorce s in Britain are instigated by women, as evidence that women will no longer suffer in silence for the illusion of a enduring family life. She sees this as a good thing for women. exit feminist, Calhoun (1997) states that heterosexual relationships exploit women, and that gay and lesbian relationships reduce that exploitation. She remarks that gays and lesbians have historically been depicted as family outlaws. Calhoun sees another type of family outlaw the unwed welfare mother. Calhoun thinks that these family outlaws have been goddamned for the breakdown of the traditional family, and of a moral decline within society. Difference feminism has been influenced by liberal, Marxist and radical feminism and has connotations with post modern theories. But where Marxist, and radical feminist movements are insensitive to family variation. Difference feminists focus on these family variations and there effects.American Difference Feminist Linda Nicholson (1977) states that women can gain from living in an alternative family, that other theorists and sociologists have over idealise the nuclear family and undermined the alternative family. Examples of alternative families are families with a stay at home father, heterosexual families living outside marriage, step families and homosexual families to realize a few. She points out that the nuclear family had only been the norm since the fifties, and that even and so it was un putting surface for groups such as the African American working classes. Nicholson says that changes in society such as Increased interest of married women in the labour force, and the growth of female-headed households were making this way of life increasely abnormal Nicholson (1997) pg471. She sees benefits for women living in an alternative family black women benefiting from mother centred families, as with no male presents, the women often group together forming strong support networks. as well in times of financial hardship, friends and kin act as a social insurance system, helping financially. Nicholson saw disadvantages for women in an alternative family as being if the family did come into money, they would then be expected to, in turn, help their network of close friends and family financially, another disadvantage of this type of alternative family would be that children had no father figure, unlike in many middle class households. Nicholson also looked at the advantages and disadvantages of the nuclear family. Disadvantages are that with both parents having to work, the childrens up demanding can be negatively affected, and with such a structure, abused children often had nowhere to turn within a nuclear family. Nicholson would assert that an advantage of being in a nuclear family would be that there is a much greater chance of being economically successful as often, both parents are working, and that the nuclear family doesnt have to redistribute its wealth. Nicholson would argue that different families and households should be acknowledged because they suit women in differing circumstances.Examine the ever-changing and assorted nature of the family in modern society the modern family has become increasingly diverse in structure in todays modern western world. The nuclear family is no longer seen as the norm by many sociologists, and other family structures such as alone(predicate) parent families, matriarchal families, reconstructed families (step families), Homosexual families, abstruse race families, and ethnic minority families, have become more common place in modern western societies. One form of family which has attracted condemnation in recent years is the lone parent family. This type of family structure is now much more prevalent in the western world, in Britain alone, it is said that there has been a thirty per cent increase in lone parent families in the last ten years. Around a quarter of all families are headed by one parent in Britain today. The new right (modern func tionalists) believe that the nuclear family is the ideal family structure, and view lone parent families and same sex families as harmful to society. From a new right perspective, lone parent families mostly have no father figure to financially provide for the family, making it financially dependent on the state. Also they would argue that the lack of a male role ideal is a negative force in the socialization process of children. otherwise criticisms of lone parent families and their financial reliance upon the state, it is argued, is that they have eroded the responsibilities of fathers, who are much more likely to be involved in antisocial behaviour. New right thinkers believe that single parent families have helped to induce an underclass in Britains society who see no need to work, who often live in poverty, whose children are more likely to under achieve in school, and are more likely to be involved in a wide range of social problems. The new right would go so far as to say that there is a generation of a young underclass of females who regard pregnancy as a ticket to receiving housing, and financial support from the state, but others would say that this is a simple outlook and that it is unfair to stigmatise single parent families, or to consign them for the problems within society. Mary McIntosh (1996) pointed out that over recent years, the media in the joined Kingdom have been reflecting a concern about lone mothers that amounts to a moral panic pg478. Also, it is mostly not the case that these, mostly teen girls, get pregnant to be housed and supported by the state, as in most cases, they see a future with their partners, but the relationship breaks down. E.E Ceshmore (1985) oratory of the darker side family life and how it serves male interests asserted that the idea of breaking costless of marriage and raising children single handed has its appeals pg488. She continued that it must be preferable for a child to grow up with one feel for pa rent, than live with two warring parents.Another new form of family structure in todays Western society is same sex families. Recent changes in attitudes towards gays and lesbian behaviours and in the law (the UKs Civil Partnership Act of 2004) have enabled this new form of family. Often same sex households will define their households as chosen families, with more choices available than traditional heterosexual families, these families adopt their offspring in most cases, but there is the option of producing a child in a laboratory using donated sperm for somewhat women. It has also been known for homosexuals to conceive children, and for gay couples to use a adoptive mother in order to start a family. Geffery Weeks (1999) stated they bring whom to include in their family and negotiate what are often fairly egalitarian relationships pg484. Weeks goes on to argue that this type of family is based on individual freedoms, and participation within this family is a matter of bargaini ng instead of merely adopting the traditional roles within the traditional heterosexual family. Arguments against same sex couples come from the new right and religious groups who argue that the socialisation process of children within these families is undermined by the lack of an adult of the other sex in a same sex family. Generally it is seen as a threat to the traditional models of the heterosexual family.There have been different ethnic groups immigrating to the UK throughout the 20th century. These families have brought with them different norms and values, and different ways of bringing up their offspring. For example, Black Afro Caribbean families, whose structure is often fundamentally matriarchal (single Mothers rearing the children) provide economically for the unit. It is often the case that families originating from Southern Asia often contain extended families. Studies on British Asian families, Muslim Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indian Hindu and Sikh, found that ther e was a continued emphasis on family loyalty and an effort to maintain traditional marriage practices such as arranged marriages. Ballard commented that this was because upon arriving in Britain, many Asians saw British culture as placing little emphasis on family traditions, or on maintaining kinship ties. These observations resulted in a strong desire to uphold their traditional family ways and try to insure that their children upheld these traditions also. British Asian families often have members of a third generation living in a household, mostly the parents of the mother or father. A Sikh tradition is that when the first son marries, his wife moves into the household to help care for the spouses parents. This tradition of collective responsibility can be beneficial to members of the family, and the wider society. For instance, the caring of elderly relatives and child care arrangement of the children are traditionally provided for within the family unit, therefore these fami lies have no need to rely on the state financially. On the other hand it could be argued that women in these families are closely monitored and there is the authority for their exploitation, and their abuse in some cases. Honour killings for example, can be seen as an extreme cultural behaviour, which pose a serious problem in modern society.Different sociological groups have differing opinions regarding the changes in family structures, in changing attitudes towards what is the norm regarding the concept of the family, and the consequences these shifts have incurred. Some point to changes in the law in the sixties and 1970, The Sex Discrimination Act 1975, and changes in legislation that made it easier to divorce. Some sociologists see these changes in legislation as a turning point which saw the start of the decline of the nuclear family as the norm. Germaine Greers book, The Female Eunuch, published in 1970, helped to bring womens liberation to a wide audience of young women. In it, Greer commented that opponents of the liberation of women were more clear comprehend than those who believed that equality for women would not upset anything. She went on to say that, when we reap the harvest, which the unintentional suffragettes sowed, we will see that the anti-feminists were after all right. M Abbott/ Family Affairs/ pg121. new(prenominal) sociologists believe that the breakdown of the nuclear family is not down to just these changes in legislation, but point to changes in norms, values and in attitudes in modern times. They point to the numbers of divorces, and assert that most people still believe in marriage as the ideal way in which to bring up a family, but greater freedom and expectations for women have led to the divorce rate rising. Sociologists such as Abbot and Wallice recognise increasing family diversity but view the decline of the nuclear family and of marriages as having been magnified by the New Right for political reasons. They assert that , seven out of eight children are born to parents living together, three quarters of whom are legally married. Only one in five children will understand parental divorce by the time he or she is 16. Pg508