...family is an increased incidence in divorce. Whereas in the past, divorce was a relatively rare occurrence, in recent times it has become quite commonplace. This change is borne out clearly in census figures. For example thirty years ago in Australia, only one marriage in ten ended in divorce; nowadays the figure is more than one in three (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1996: p.45). A consequence of this change has been a substantial increase in the number of single parent families and the attendant problems that this brings (Kilmartin, 1997). An important issue for sociologists, and indeed for all of society, is why these changes in marital patterns have occurred. In this essay I will seek to critically examine a number of sociological explanations for the 'divorce phenomenon' and also consider the social policy implications that each explanation carries with it. It will be argued that the best explanations are to be found within a broad socio-economic framework....
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...that has occurred in the Western family is an increased incidence in divorce. Whereas in the past, divorce was a relatively rare occurrence, in recent times it has become quite commonplace. This change is borne out clearly in census figures. For example thirty years ago in Australia, only one marriage in ten ended in divorce; nowadays the figure is more than one in three (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1996: p.45). A consequence of this change has been a substantial increase in the number of single parent families and the attendant problems that this brings (Kilmartin, 1997). An important issue for sociologists, and indeed for all of society, is why these changes in marital patterns have occurred. In this essay I will seek...
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...traditional nuclear family in terms of an expressive role and an instrumental role. However, this traditional arrangement may have changed as families have changed, and many feminists use the term ‘dual burden’ to describe the woman’s role in the family today. Item 2B Government policies and laws include tax and benefit policies as well as legislation such as relating to divorce and marriage. Sociologists have different views on the impact of these policies and laws on families. For example, feminists argue that social policies assume that the ideal family is a patriarchal nuclear family, and that government policies and laws therefore favour this sort of family. On the other hand, the New Right argue that the benefit system undermines traditional nuclear families by actively encouraging lone parents. 0 6 Explain what is meant by the ‘dual burden’ (Item 2A). (2 marks) 0 7 Explain the difference between the expressive role and the instrumental role (Item 2A). (4 marks) 0 8 Suggest three ways in which the differences between children and adults are becoming less clear in society today. (6 marks) 0 9 Examine the reasons for, and the effects of, changes in family size over the past 100 years or so. (24 marks) 1 0 Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess sociological views of the impact of government policies and laws on family life. Item 2A Over the past 40 years or so, there has been a decline in the number of first marriages in the United Kingdom. One of the reasons...
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...reasons for the increase in the divorce rate since 1969. (6 marks) | (d) Examine the ways in which social policies and laws may influence families and households. (24 marks) | (e) Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the view that it no longer makes sense to talk about the .patriarchal family. (Item 2B, lines 1 . 2). (24 marks) | Jan 09 | (a) Explain what is meant by the ‘expressive role’ (Item 2A, line 5). (2 marks)(b) Suggest two ways in which ‘family life may have a harmful effect on women’(Item 2A, lines 6 – 7). (4 marks)(c) Suggest three reasons for the decrease in the death rate since 1900. (6 marks) | (d) Examine the ways in which childhood can be said to be socially constructed. (24 marks) | (e) Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the view that the nuclear family is no longer the norm. (24 marks) | Jun 09 | 0 6 Explain the difference between a family and a household (Item 2A). (4 marks)0 7 Suggest two reasons why lone-parent families are more likely to be headed by a female. (4 marks)0 8 Suggest two reasons why there has been an increase in one-person households(Item 2A, line 3). (4 marks) | 0 9 Examine the reasons for changes in birth rates and family size since 1900. (24 marks)no | 1 0 Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the view that gender roles andrelationships have become more equal in modern family life. (24 marks) | Jan 10 | ((a) Explain the difference between the ‘birth rate’ and the ‘fertility rate’ (Item 2A).(4 marks)(b)...
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...families are likely to be head by a female(4 Marks) Suggest two reasons why there has been an increase in one person households(4 Marks) Explain the difference between the birth rate and the fertility rate(4 marks) Suggest two reasons why women might delay having children(4 Marks) Suggest two ways in which the position of children could be said to have improved over the last 100 years(4 Marks) Suggest two reasons why there has been an increase in cohabitation(4 Marks) Suggest two reasons why someone might migrate to the united kingdom apart from employment.(4 Marks) Explain what is meant by the social construction of childhood(2 marks) Suggest two ways in which government policies may shape the experiences of childhood today(4 Marks) Suggest three reasons for the decrease in the death rate since 1900(6 Marks) Identify three ways in which childhood may not be a positive experience for some children(6 Marks) Identify three ways in which greater ethnic diversity has contributed to family diversity(6 marks) Identify 3 reasons why the birth rate has fallen since 1900(6 Marks) Essay Questions Examine the ways that childhood could be said to be socially constructed(24 Marks) Using material form Item 2 b and elsewhere, assess the view that the nuclear family is no longer the norm.(24 Marks) Examine the reasons for changes in birth rates and...
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...write a 20 mark answer. * The essays will consist 4 paragraphs and a conclusion containing new information. How to use this document: * Use the extract from the mark scheme and examiners’ advice to create essay plans of the questions. * You may not have heard of all of the concepts in the mark scheme but there should be at least some that are familiar to you. * The examiner’s advice usually outlines bad, moderate and good answers to the question so pick out the ways in which you can achieve top band and incorporate this into your plan. June 2015 Examine the impact of government policies and laws on family life. [24 marks] From the mark scheme: Concepts and issues such as the following may appear: patriarchy; familism; surveillance; ideological control; gender regimes; marital breakdown; family structure; family diversity; welfare dependency; underclass; reserve army of labour Policies/laws on abortion; divorce; contraception; reproductive technology; marriage; adoption; pensions; benefits; taxes; education; childcare; child protection; sexuality; immigration may be discussed Analysis and evaluation may be developed, for instance by comparing the impact of different policies/laws or by discussing perspectives on social policy and the family (eg New Right, feminist, functionalist etc) From the examiner’s report: The most successful answers were able to identify relevant policies...
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...Article 1 Divorce rates in Dubai plummet to 24pc in the space of just two years The divorce rate in Dubai has become the lowest not only in the UAE but the whole of the Arab world, thanks to a new counselling service offered by the emirate's court service. Divorce rates have plummeted from 35 per cent to 24 per cent in the space of just two years. It has been attributed to the success of the Reformation and Family Direction Section created by Dubai Courts in 2000 to tackle marital problems. Wodad Lootah, a social worker at the section said Dubai Courts had set up the section following an increase in divorce rates during the 1990s. She said the main aim was to allow couples to settle disputes amicably without resorting to court action at an early stage. Since the Reformation and Family Direction Section was established, it has received 1,496 couples who claimed they wanted to divorce. Of these, 471 couples changed their minds and did not divorce - nearly one third. "The main causes of divorce are lack of understanding between the husband and wife because neither know how to communicate effectively with each other, as well as how to solve their problems in the right way," she said. Wodad added that the section has taken many steps to reduce divorce. It has distributed about 1,200 social packages to newly married couples at the court which has helped in dropping divorce rates by six per cent in the year 2002 alone. However, it's not all...
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...focused on analyzing how these various factors within a family within a family impact a child's likelihood of experiencing juvenile delinquency, but more specifically how family changes are a factor. My proposed research studies the question by studying individuals, making persons my phenomena. Using the existing studies as a basis of knowledge will provide the framework for a new theory involving the significance of family structural changes. One of the major functions of the family is to protect, teach, and train children so that they become competent, productive adults and if that job is not done properly, then it can be assumed that the family has failed to do its job (Kunz, 2001b). Variable: DIVORCE We first have to look into whether juvenile delinquency is related to divorce. Cynthia Price and Jenifer Kunz created a meta-analysis, involving 72 studies where meta-analysis is the quantitative statistical analysis of several separate but similar experiments or studies in order to test the pooled data for statistical significance. The researchers found that children from divorced families have a greater likelihood of engaging in delinquent behavior. The research also showed that black children were more likely to participate in delinquent than their white peers (Kunz, 2001b). On the other hand of the spectrum, the research also, showed that the juvenile justice system may actually be more willing to process...
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...WORKBOOK ANSWERS AQA AS Sociology Unit 1 Families and Households This Answers book provides some possible answers that might be given for the questions asked in the workbook. They are not exhaustive and other answers may well be acceptable, but they are intended as a guide to give teachers and students feedback. The responses for the longer essay-style questions are intended to give some idea about how the exam questions might be answered. Again, these are not the only ways to answer such questions but they can be treated as one way of approaching questions of these types. Topic 1 Functionalist and New Right views of the family How have functionalist and New Right thinkers explained family life and the relationship between families and social change? 1 The organic analogy refers to the extended comparison made by functionalists between the human or other living body and society, with the organs of the body equivalent to institutions and structures in society. 2 Primary socialisation refers to the first and most important stage of the socialisation process by which young children absorb the norms and values of their culture, mainly from their parents. Note: make sure your answer explains both ‘primary’ and ‘socialisation’. 3 One way in which the nuclear family is more suited than other types of family to modern industrial society is that it allows for geographical mobility; it is easier to move a nuclear family to a new area for, say, a...
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...traditional family to various other types of family structures. Today, children are increasingly growing up in single-parent, step, and grandparents-only families. Recently, there has been considerable research examining whether correlations exist between family structure and children’s well-being. Research suggests that the loss of traditional family structure negatively affects children’s well-being in academic achievement outcomes, overall physical and mental health, and increases the likelihood of at-risk behaviors. There are negative educational consequences for children that grow up in nontraditional family structures. A great deal of research on the correlation between family structure and academic achievement has results that are similar. According to Sun and Li, “most previous studies have concurred that growing up in various alternative family structures has negative educational consequences (2011, p.542). Also, data from previous studies showed that the number of transitions, like divorce, in family structure during a child’s life lowered that child’s test scores. This can be accounted for by associating family instability with lower academic achievement. In the study by Sun and Li, which compared children’s academic performance among six types of family structures, it...
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...this article to be very interesting. Surprisingly, it was difficult to locate a credible article that discussed women in their midlife; which it is why I really liked this article. Life Course Transitions and Depressive Symptoms among Women in Midlife, discusses about different issues that has accrue in adult women through midlife. It also discusses how midlife in adult women can affect their social development. This article will provide you with transitioning stage of midlife in adult women, as well as some of the consequences that can occur as women transition into midlife. It gives you step by step as to how each transition will affect her. This study was done on women from the ages 50-59 to show midlife transition and depression will affect the women. It will also tell you things about the male midlife transition and how they will react differently than women in their midlife transition. * Yes, I find that this article would be a great choice as a main source for a research paper. I say this because; it provides you with credible information and statistics on social development in women transitioning through midlife. It also provides you with information on how to overcome the issues that may affect social development. This resource is very informative and it provides you with actual statistical data found through research studies. It explains how marital transition will be differently when you are a young adult as oppose to when you are in your midlife transition...
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...there is an increasing rate of cohabitation in the society. Cohabitation by definition is two unmarried people living together. In moral values, this does not seem an appropriate situation because there is no marriage between the couples. However, cohabitation is a chance and requirement to establish strong bonds at the relationship. I became interested in the topic because of my own situation. I am a Christian, so according to the Bible, it is considered a sin to live together outside of marriage. However, I stand in grace. As a grace believer, I know that if I was going to live under law, breaking one “rule” means you break them all. What a frightening thought considering everyone falls short in some area or another. My thought on the subject is that I have seen both sides of the story, and having married young and watching the marriage fall apart, I am very content just living with my significant other. Marriage is a commitment, and before God we have said our vows to each other, but according to man we have not. I feel as though we are married, but I also do not feel as though signing legal documents will change anything accept gain the approval of the world. It is not my intentions to live in sin, but I also do not feel as though it is necessary to sign a bunch of papers just to gain the approval of man. I suppose I feel so strongly because I have seen how devastating marriage can be, and although any relationship can end, the repercussions of divorce are enough to cripple...
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...household.” There is no correct definition on the family, Sociologists do not agree on a definition, broadly there are two types of definition; • Exclusive definitions – These focus on the specific relationships within the family unit i.e. marriage • Inclusive definitions – These focus on the functions of the unit e.g. support. The Cereal Packet Family A popular image of the family in Britain in the late twentieth century has been described as the cereal packet family. The ‘happy family’ image gives the impression that most people live in a typical family and these images reinforce the dominant ideology of the traditional nuclear family. Functionalists Roles of the Family – Parsons The Functionalist Talcott Parsons sees two main functions that the family performs these are: • The primary socialisation of children Parson argues that every individual must internalise the norms and values of society. He said it is the family that moulds the child’s personality to fit the needs of society, producing children who are committed to shared norms and values and who have a strong sense of belonging to society • The stabilisation of adult personalities Adults need emotional security, which is given by partners in a marriage, and they also need a source of release from the stresses and strains of daily life, which they get from being able to indulge in childish behaviour when playing with their children. This ‘stabilisation’ is often referred...
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...household.” There is no correct definition on the family, Sociologists do not agree on a definition, broadly there are two types of definition; • Exclusive definitions – These focus on the specific relationships within the family unit i.e. marriage • Inclusive definitions – These focus on the functions of the unit e.g. support. The Cereal Packet Family A popular image of the family in Britain in the late twentieth century has been described as the cereal packet family. The ‘happy family’ image gives the impression that most people live in a typical family and these images reinforce the dominant ideology of the traditional nuclear family. Functionalists Roles of the Family – Parsons The Functionalist Talcott Parsons sees two main functions that the family performs these are: • The primary socialisation of children Parson argues that every individual must internalise the norms and values of society. He said it is the family that moulds the child’s personality to fit the needs of society, producing children who are committed to shared norms and values and who have a strong sense of belonging to society • The stabilisation of adult personalities Adults need emotional security, which is given by partners in a marriage, and they also need a source of release from the stresses and strains of daily life, which they get from being able to indulge in childish behaviour when playing with their children. This ‘stabilisation’ is often referred...
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...Department of Justice Ministère de la Justice Canada Canada WORKING DOCUMENT THE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN A Selected Literature Review Research and Statistics Division October 1997 WD1998-2e UNEDITED Research and Statistics Division/ Division de la recherche et de la statistique Policy Sector/ Secteur des politiques WORKING DOCUMENT THE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN A Selected Literature Review Research and Statistics Division October 1997 WD1998-2e UNEDITED The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice Canada. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 2.0 LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH .............................................................. 3 3.0 FACTORS AFFECTING CHILDREN’S POSTDIVORCE ADJUSTMENT ................. 6 3.1 Child Characteristics............................................................................ 6 3.1.1 Gender ................................................................................. 6 3.1.2 Age at Divorce ....................................................................... 8 3.2 Family Characteristics.......................................................................... 9 3.2.1 Socio-economic Status .............................................................. 9 3.2.2 Ethno-cultural Background...................................................
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