Sociology · May / June 2024 · Paper 21 · Question 1
0495
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Views on family life, conjugal roles and marriage change over time. This means that family roles are also changing, for example the increase in child-centredness or the decrease in the cereal 1 packet family. Some sociologists think that the family is positive for individuals and society whereas other sociologists are more critical of the family.
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1(a)[2]
What is meant by the term ‘child-centredness’? One mark for partial definition e.g. buying children what they want. Two marks for clear definition e.g. when the child’s needs and wishes are the most important considerations in the family.
1(b)[4]
Describe two conjugal roles in the family. Possible answers:
joint/integral/symmetrical – tasks and activities are carried out together by the husband and wife so there is no clear separation of roles;segregated/traditional – husband and wife perform different roles based on their gender;those assumed to be ‘normal’ in the traditional nuclear family;
instrumental – the man’s role is, according to functionalists, to be the breadwinner and decision maker in the family;expressive – the woman’s role is, according to functionalists, to be nurturing, maternal and caring;any other reasonable response. One mark for each point correctly identified (up to maximum of two). One mark for each point that is developed (up to a maximum of two).1(c)[6]
Explain how Marxists view the family. Possible answers:
capitalism – Marxists believe that the family serves capitalism and therefore benefits elite groups in society, exploiting and oppressing the working class;socialisation – the family is where each generation is socialised into accepting the values of capitalism as being fair;workers – the family brings up children to be the next generation of workers, kept healthy by the wives, and so produces more profits for the capitalists who employ them;wage slaves – having families makes it difficult for workers to protest about workplace inequalities and go on strike as they need their wages to support their families;domestic violence – men who are oppressed and alienated at work can compensate for this in the family where they are in control;they may take out their anger and frustration on their wives and children at home;
consumption – the family is the main unit of consumption – they buy and sell items and so support the capitalist system e.g. status symbols and ‘pester power’;any other reasonable response. Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1–3 marks] Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of the question. Responses may be short and un/underdeveloped. At the bottom of the band (1 mark), expect one weak point. Higher in the band (2–3 marks), candidates may offer more than one weak point, but there may be a tendency towards simplistic answers, engaging with sociological ideas without using sociological language. Band 2 [4–6 marks] Answers in this band will have clear and accurate explanation, showing good sociological knowledge and understanding. Sociological terms and concepts should be expected and explained. At the bottom of the band, the range of points covered may be narrow or lack detail. Higher in the band, answers will cover more than one point in a well-developed way or cover several points in less detail.1(d)[8]
Explain why there has been a decrease in cereal packet families in many societies. Possible answers:
feminism – this movement has led to many women rejecting the expressive role associated with the nuclear family as they see it as patriarchal subordination, choosing instead to embrace singlehood, same- sex relationships or joint conjugal roles;secularisation – the decline of religion has meant that there is less pressure from wider kin for couples to marry and follow the expected family path - cohabitation/single parenthood increases;the anti-social family – Barrett and McIntosh – their research shows that the nuclear family does not work for many people due to its inherent inequalities and it often being a source of stress;family diversity – postmodernism – society has become more accepting of all kinds of family types, meaning that there is less expectation to live in a nuclear family, e.g. same-sex families;multiculturalism – ethnic diversity in societies has led to the creation of many alternative family forms e.g. extended families, single-parent families, polygamous families etc.;DINK families – having children has become less of a norm in many societies and thus many couples are choosing to focus on their relationship and career rather than reproduction;rising divorce rates – the realisation that so many marriages end in divorce is causing many individuals to question the value of marriage and the idea of a relationship for life - serial monogamy becomes a norm in many societies;changing media – advertisements are changing the way they represent the ‘typical’ family and are now often moving away from the stereotypical nuclear family to represent a wider range of living arrangements and relationships’;any other reasonable response. Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1–3 marks] Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of the question. A tendency to description is likely. Responses may be short and undeveloped and points stated without explanation. Sociological terms and concepts are unlikely to be used. At the bottom of the band (1 mark), expect one weak point. Higher in the band (2–3 marks), candidates may offer more than one weak point. Band 2 [4–6 marks] Answers in this band will show basic sociological knowledge and understanding. Responses maybe underdeveloped and lacking in range. At the bottom of the band, candidates are unlikely to use sociological terms and concepts accurately. Higher in the band, candidates may be beginning to use sociological terms and concepts in greater accuracy. However, some aspects of the answer may only be partially developed/explained. Band 3 [7–8 marks] Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding and will be well-developed and explained. Sociological terms and concepts will be used accurately overall. Answers will be well-focused on the question and there will be a range of points presented. At the top of the band explanations will be clear throughout.1(e)[15]
To what extent are families necessary today? Possible answers: Arguments for:
functionalist view – Murdock – the nuclear family is essential for both the individual and society as it still provides the irreducible family functions (Parsons);reproduction – societies must reproduce new generations of children in order to survive and the family is seen as the natural place to do this, where reproduction is actively encouraged;primary socialisation – children need to learn the norms and values of their society and the family is vital for this and for ensuring the culture is passed down through the generations;social control – the family is a key source of social control and uses rewards and sanctions to ensure children conform to society’s norms and values;care of children – children need to be fed, protected and sheltered and nurtured emotionally. In the family people are given responsibility to ensure that this happens;status – families provide status for children as they involve children in a range of interpersonal and group relationships and networks;regulation of sexual behaviour – all societies set rules about what kind of sexual behaviour is approved of, with whom and in what circumstances – the family is still the most socially approved relationship for this;feral children – studies prove that without a family, children are unable to function as human beings therefore proving that the family remains essential e.g. Oxana, Genie;Marxism – Marxists claim that the family is essential for maintaining and reinforcing capitalist ideologies;feminism – feminists claim that the family is essential for cultivating and maintaining patriarchal ideologies;New Right – writers such as Murray claim that the nuclear family is still essential as without it moral decay occurs in society e.g. crime, poor work ethic, lack of parental discipline, promiscuity etc.;any other reasonable response. Arguments against:feminism – families only serve to exploit women and limit them to the domestic sphere due to patriarchy. For gender equality the family is far from essential, in fact it is a hindrance;friends as family/shared households – these non-family based living arrangements demonstrate that the family is no longer essential as individuals can gain all the core functions from people other than parents/close family members;communes – these challenge the very core of the family and demonstrate a different way of living whereby family relationships are not valued and yet happiness and fulfilment is still achieved;dark side of the family – families are often a source of abuse and unhappiness for individuals and in these cases the family is definitely not essential, in fact it is harmful;socialisation – this function is now often performed by institutions other than the family, demonstrating that the family is no longer essential e.g. nurseries, nannies, the media;social control – this is now often done by other institutions such as education, peers and media, meaning that the family is no longer essential;cereal packet families – Leach’s research demonstrates the negative and harmful side of family life and shows how the nuclear family can be oppressive and stifling, leading to mental health issues and general dissatisfaction – the family is clearly not essential here;singlehood – this is an increasingly popular living arrangement choice and has not been shown to have negative results for either society or the individual – hence the family is no longer essential;any other reasonable response. Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1–4 marks] Answers in this band may be vague and largely based on common sense showing limited knowledge of the debate. Use of sociological terms or concepts is very unlikely. Responses may be short, undeveloped and one- sided. Lower in the band (1–2 marks), expect one or two weak points. Higher in the band (3–4 marks) candidates may offer more than two points and provide a weak definition of key terms in the question. Band 2 [5–8 marks] In this band candidates will show some basic knowledge of the debate. Alternatively, they may offer an answer which is list-like in nature but there will be no real attempt to assess the issues raised by the question. There may be limited/some use of sociological terms or concepts. Responses may be underdeveloped and lack range. Answers may be simplistic and two-sided or only cover one side of the debate. Lower in the band, the response may be rather narrow in the points covered and there may be some development. Higher in the band, more points are likely to be covered with some development. Alternatively, a list-like answer with some development covering both sides of the argument may score up to 8 marks. A one-sided answer cannot score higher than 8 marks. Band 3 [9–12 marks] Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding of the debate. Sociological terms and concepts will be used with greater accuracy and/or frequency. For the most part, answers will be well- developed, focused on the questions and there will be a range of points presented. There will be a two-sided response but it may lack range on one side. At the bottom of the band, candidates may provide a narrower range of developed points. At the top of the band, expect a wider range of developed points and clear focus on the question. Band 4 [13–15 marks] Answers in this band will show excellent knowledge and understanding of the debate. There will be a strong grasp of the arguments as well as accurate and frequent use of sociological terms and concepts. Answers will be well- developed, clearly focused on the question and discuss a wide range of points. Responses will be two-sided and have a range of points on each side. At the bottom of the band (13 marks), the answer may lack a specific conclusion. Higher in the band, there will be a clear attempt to offer an assessment of the ‘To what extent?’.
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