Sociology · Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 23 · Question 1

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In modern industrial societies there are many types of family and family members play many different roles. A dual worker family is one example of a family type often seen today. Parents, children and members of the extended family all have important roles to play in family life.

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1(a)[2]
What is meant by the term ‘dual worker family’? [2]
Families in which both the man and the woman do paid work. One mark for partial definition, e.g. everyone works. Two marks for clear definition, e.g. Both spouses/partners are in paid employment.
1(b)[4]
Describe two traditional conjugal roles. [4]
Candidates will be expected to describe two traditional conjugal roles. Traditional conjugal roles– the segregated roles assumed to be normal in the traditional nuclear family. Key idea is that men and women have clearly different roles. Possible roles:
Female childcare role;
Female domestic role/housework;
Female role is unpaid;
Female role is seen to be less important/lower status than the male role;
Female has limited time for employment therefore may either not work or work part time;
Male is the breadwinner/provider;
Male works in full time employment, spending little time in the domestic sphere;
Male makes financial decisions;
Male has more power and status;
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 some families today can be described as child-centred. [6]
Candidates need to show an understanding of what is meant by the term child-centred within their response. Child centred – when the child’s needs and wishes are the most important considerations for the family/parents. Possible answers:
New laws/rights give children power, i.e. physical reprimands by parents (e.g. smacking) are often no longer acceptable and may be defined as abuse;
UN Convention – ‘Rights of the Child’– has been signed by most countries and gives children the right to say what they think and be listened to about decisions being taken which affect them, e.g. divorce cases;
Childhood is seen as a period of innocence where children are protected from the adult world, i.e. not having to work;
Media influence through advertising – there is a specialist consumer market aimed at children that marks children’s status as being something special which parents often buy into – clothes, activities, toys, clothing, media products, etc.;
Children are seen to be very important to family life, central to it, particularly with a lot of adults now choosing to have less children. They are given a lot of parental time, etc.;
Other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–3) Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of how some families can be described as child-centred, e.g. ‘children are really important’. Responses may be short and undeveloped. 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) A clear and accurate explanation, showing good sociological knowledge and understanding of how some families can be described as child-centred. Sociological terms and concepts should be expected, e.g. ‘In the modern world children are seen as distinct and different to adults and are treated accordingly. They are protected by parents and bought specialist products for the ‘child market.’ This would be followed by explanation of factors leading to this. 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 factor in a well-developed way or cover several factors in less detail.
1(d)[8]
Explain why grand-parents and the extended family may have an important role to play in many families today. [8]
Candidates should show an awareness of why both grand-parents and the extended family have an important role to play in families today. A wide variety of cultural variations and examples are likely to be seen in candidates’ responses and will need to be credited here. Possible answers:
People live longer today and are more healthy into old age, meaning they are able to play a role in family life, i.e. for childcare – both parents frequently need to work today for financial reasons and/or to help out in single parent families;
There are now many step grand-parents and step extended families due to the increase in the divorce rate, widening the potential support network for families;
Some grand-parents/extended families may live close by and help out on a daily basis, others will live further away and help out less frequently;
Many grand-parents will move into the family home as their health worsens/their partner dies. This allows for easy childcare;
Elderly family members may require care/looking after by their kin and need to move into the family home for this to happen;
Can play an economic role – giving/lending money – particularly important with the high cost of living today;
Can give practical support – childcare, domestic chores, etc.;
Can give emotional and moral support – advice, guidance, listening, etc.;
Multi-generational households still important in some societies;
Other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–3) Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of why grand-parents and the extended family may have an important role to play in many families today. A tendency to description is likely. Responses may be short and undeveloped, e.g. ‘to look after the children’ 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) Answers in this band will show basic sociological knowledge and understanding of why grand-parents and the extended family may have an important role to play in many families today. Responses may be underdeveloped and lacking in range, e.g. ‘Grand-parents play an important role in many families today due to the financial help they can give to single parents, for example.’ ‘Extended family play an important role in family life today by offering guidance and advice to parents’, etc. 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 with greater accuracy. However, some aspects of the answer may only be partially developed/explained. Band 3 (7–8) Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding of why grand-parents and the extended family may have an important role to play in many families today and will be well developed and explained, e.g. ‘Grand-parents are able to play an active role in family life today because with advancements in healthcare they are likely to live longer. They can therefore help out with childcare and socialisation enabling parents to go out to work to provide for their family, increasingly common today with the high cost of living’. They can then expand on the explanation of this and other factors as necessary. Sociological terms and concepts will be used accurately overall. Answers will be well focused on the question and there will be a range of reasons presented. At the top of the band explanations will be clear throughout.
1(e)[15]
To what extent have family roles changed in modern industrial societies? [15]
Candidates should show awareness of the ways that family roles have changed in modern industrial families and the ways that they have not. A range of different family types and roles are likely to be discussed. Possible answers: For
The increase in dual worker families has led to the need for more equality within families today so changing conjugal roles and making them more symmetrical;
Technological advancements has made the domestic role easier and quicker making symmetry more viable;
Other family members (i.e. children/grand-parents) or paid employees (i.e. a cleaner) take on a lot of the roles within the house today;
While men and women may do different tasks in the house (i.e. males may do the maintenance, gardening, DIY and females housework, cooking, etc.) the hours spent by both on these tasks are similar today;
Young and Willmott’s research showed that both husband and wife contributed equally to the family;
Families have become more privatised today meaning that the home has become central to family life, encouraging a more equal partnership between spouses but perhaps more isolation from wider kin;
Women today have higher status, more independence and more power in society and so are more likely to be treated as equals;
The rise of child centred families means that the role of the children in the family has typically been given more status and importance;
Extended and modified extended families often see grand-parents playing a crucial role in terms of childcare, financial assistance, etc.;
The rise of single parent families and homosexual families has changed the nature and form of family roles;
Other reasonable response. Against
Segregated conjugal roles still exist/the triple shift for women;
Women still responsible for most childcare and other caring responsibilities in the family, i.e. elderly care;
Women still responsible for housework;
Women more likely to work part-time;
Research suggests that whilst there have been many moves towards symmetry in families, change has been slow and equality is a long way off;
Feminists argue that for as long as society remains patriarchal, family life will too;
Men may be more willing to help out with childcare and housework today but the main responsibility is still the women’s;
Men continue to make most of the financial decisions within the family;
In some cultures/religions distinct segregated roles for males and females still exist;
Children continue to play a subordinate role within the family;
Grandparents have always played a key role in the family and continue to do so, this has not changed;
Other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–4) Answers in this band may be vague and largely based on common sense showing limited knowledge of whether family roles have changed. Use of sociological terms or concepts is very unlikely. Responses may be short, undeveloped and one-sided, e.g. ‘Men help out in the house now’. 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 or provide a weak definition of key terms, e.g. family roles are the parts played by various family members, i.e. parents and children, in the question. Band 2 (5–8) In this band candidates will show some basic knowledge of whether family roles have changed. 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 responses are unlikely, e.g. ‘Women have to go to work too now so men have to do more in the house’. Lower in the band, the response will be rather narrow in the points covered and there will be little development. Higher in the band, more points will be covered and there will be limited development of some points. Alternatively, a list-like answer with little 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) Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding of whether family roles have changed. 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 question and there will be a range of points presented. Candidates may say that, e.g. ‘despite more equality within the family, women still do most of the housework and childcare and can be said to be suffering from a dual burden as they also have to go out to work’. OR ‘Children play an increasingly significant role in the family as they have more rights in society and the family has thus become more child-centred in nature’. There will be a two-sided response but this may be unbalanced. At the bottom of the band, candidates may provide a narrower range of well-developed points. At the top of the band, expect a wider range of points and clear focus on the question. Band 4 (13–15) Answers in this band will show excellent knowledge and understanding of whether family roles have changed. There will be a strong grasp of the argument 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 balanced. 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…?’ part of the question through a focused conclusion. Candidates should show consideration of points for and against the idea of changing family roles, citing some of the examples given. Section B: Education

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