...The “New Right” and the Family • This is a structural and modernist perspective. • It advocates (sees as desirable) the nuclear family – other forms of family are seen as deviant and inadequate. The nuclear family is seen as clear cut, organised and structured. It performs the essential functions of the family, that of; - Primary socialisation - Stabilization of adult personalities • They see this system of family structure as contributing to the overall effectiveness and stability of society. • It is a conservative (small c – therefore does not like rapid, radical change) and anti-feminist. • Opposed to family diversity as this would lead to the inadequate fulfilment of the main functions of the family (see above). • Patriarchal • The division of labour within a family is clear (instrumental and expressive) • Nuclear family is “natural” form of family life – based on biology, the family seen as a place of refuge, contentment and harmony. • Decline in the nuclear family and the rise in diversity = social problems. ➢ Lone parent families (single parent families) are unnatural and harmful to children ➢ Lone mothers (single mothers) cannot discipline properly (linked to expressive roles) and are a burden on the state and leave boys with no role models therefore threaten social stability. ➢ Mothers should not work because should be caring for children. ➢ Marriage is essential – creates stable environment for...
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...History: The Five Families of the New York Mafia Since the1920’s the five Italian/Sicilian-American crime families which include the Colombo’s, the Genovese’s, the Bonanno’s, the Gambino’s, and the Lucchese’s have been dominating New York’s organized crime. Each family has their own unique story about how each family made its way to becoming one of the top Five Families in the mafia. We will be taking a journey and learning the history behind each crime family, from what part of New York they controlled to who controlled each family during that time period, and who currently runs the mafia present day. Before going into the histories of each of these families, below is a hierarchy chart of the organized crime. You will need this to understand how the families were structured, and names that were associated with their titles. Boss: Also known as the “Don”. Has total control over the entire family. Underboss: They are second in command of the family; they give orders usually that comes from the Boss. Consigliere: The family advisor, sometimes they’re professional attorneys. Capo: They are captains or lieutenants; they are in charge of the soldiers and associates. Soldiers: They are the ones that do all the dirty work; they take orders from the Capo’s, and sometimes the Underboss. Associates: Are soldiers who haven’t been a “made man” yet. ------------------------------------------------- The Colombo Crime Family The Colombo crime family was formerly...
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...A massive change the United states has experienced is the migration away from farming livings. This essay does a great job of drawing out the factors that played in to cause farmers to pursue another career. I would begin to become more and more difficult to farm, due to factors such as structural economical and political. This essay follows an American family farm that went through much adversity to stay afloat. John Kardel was a man of Germany who made his way to the new world to start his new American life. They settled in Iowa upon arrival to the new world and established a family farm. John Kardal was an intelligent man one can assume due to him realizing to travel as war west as he could. Land was much more inexpensive due to less densely...
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...“No. We don’t have Wi-Fi, talk to each other.” This is an actual sign in a café which truly reflects the trend going on today. It’s currently extremely common to see a group of friends sitting in the same table but speaking no word to each other, while sticking their eyes at the phone screen. Modern technology is blooming in our world; however, this doesn’t come without cost and teenagers seem to be the ones who are most profoundly affected. The invention of Internet genuinely allows humans to connect with others instantly whenever we want, which is a good thing, or is it? A new addiction (to smart devices and social networks) has been formed during our time, yet the consequences have still been taken for granted. Internet has made people unload themselves much more easily. But not many adolescents are able to realize that this results in careless word choices. Instead of long, thoughtful lines, youngsters just type in whatever they’re thinking without considering the outcomes. And frequently enough this does ruin their relationships as the “readers” couldn’t handle the arrogant statements sent to them. According to recent surveys, smart devices and social networks are pulling people, especially young ones, out of the physical world. Internet-based relationship has its downsides. There is a reason why we call the net “virtual world”, which is basically because it’s not real. Some teenagers admit that being aware of the fact, at times they are still startled by the way others...
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...The Nuclear Family is a household consisting of two generations. It is the traditional ‘cereal packet family’ with a Husband and a Wife and children either adopted or biological. The New Right also believe that the Nuclear Family should also have traditional segregated roles within the family. This traditionally means that the women would be in charge of the household chores and looking after the children whilst the husband would be the main breadwinner and would go out to work. The New Right are a perspective who believes that government policies do not support the traditional Nuclear Family and the roles that should be upheld within that family. One of the main policies that are thought to undermine these traditional roles and values is that of the Divorce reform Law of 1969. This law made divorce, especially women, easier, less costly and less shameful for the women who were involved. It also introduced the concept of family courts which helped to protect the children who were almost, inevitably involved in the rare divorce of their parents. The reform of the law is something that the New Right doesn’t agree with. They feel that the law encourages divorce and in this way it does not support the Nuclear Family. They feel that because divorce is no easier for the majority of people then more people are going to get a divorce and become lone parents and because they believe that the Nuclear Family has to consist of two married parents and their children then this is a policy...
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...NEW RESTRICTIONS In life, people pass through different phases. They are born into a family, and then they grow up and reach puberty. After puberty, they are considered adults. At this time, the sociological burden becomes heavier and new responsibilities are added to a person’s burden. Graduating from a good university, finding a job, getting married and having children are some of these expectations. Most people consider these expectations especially having children reasonable and a source of happiness. However, it is my opinion that children are far away from being the ultimate bliss in our lives; on the contrary, they bring about more responsibilities and restrictions. Some people claim that children bring happiness and meaning to one’s life. But people also have aims, pleasures and hobbies that contribute to their happiness. Therefore, we do not need children to achieve happiness. Also, in my opinion, children are a burden for the family. Once you give birth to babies, you must do everything to raise them. You must pay for new clothes, nannies, expensive schools, etc. Since you spend all your money on your children, you do not have enough financial resources to do something for yourself. Children restrict the parents. Since you are always busy with your kids and their problems, you do not have enough time to be with your friends or to do things that give pleasure to you. For instance, you cannot always go out with your spouse or you cannot...
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...as a set of nutriments representing the overlapping work of ecological, biological and cultural systems in human societies’ (Khare, quoting in Lupton, 1996: 9). The preparation, consumption and presentation of food are intricately connected to our social life. This paper will explore more details on the second approach; which is the relationship between food, family and community. It will examine how food consumption habits are fundamental to outline the boundary of a family and the causes and consequences of the decline in number of family meal. Family is always presented in positive qualities. It always encourages love, trust and intimacy. Home is seen as a place where warmth, tenderness, protection and understanding would be expected from parents; family relationship is divined to provide enduring and continuing emotional support; family is important in our aspect of life because ‘for the child, an introduction to life in the wider society and for the adult, a basis for life in the wider society’ (Fletch, 1966:228). Most importantly, family provides a secure refuge for us from the outside world; the family as a whole would work together to contribute their own continuity thus promotes stability of society. In today’s rough and tumbled industrial world, ‘people need company to share burdens and pleasures,...
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...social policies affect family life A social policy is a law implemented by the government to benefit society. Most social policies will affect families in some way or another. There are 2 types of policies, direct and indirect. A direct policy has a direct and immediate affect on the family, and an indirect policy is other policies not directly aimed at families but may still have an affect on them. Social policies have attempted to promote the nuclear family, such as those introduced by New Labour and the Conservative government, although New Labour are more accepting of family diversity. The New Rights ideology has influenced government policies. They argue that policies have weakened the nuclear family leading to family diversity and more problems for family members. The New Right have the view that social policies should avoid doing anything that might undermine the 'natural' and self reliant nuclear family and will often criticise many government policies for undermining the family by providing over generous welfare benefits e.g. council housing for teenage mothers. The New Right argues that social policies like the legalization of abortion and the availability of the contraceptive pill is the beginning of family decline. They also state that equal opportunities and equal pay lows distract women from their 'natural' career as a mother. The New Right feel that policies like this is causing a decline in the traditional nuclear family, resulting in the family not fulfilling its...
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...Family diversity is the idea that there are a range of different family types, rather than a single dominant one like the nuclear family. It is associated with the post-modernists idea that in today’s society increasing choice about relationships is creating greater family diversity. The modernist view sees society as having a fairly fixed, predictable structure. The modernists see the nuclear family as being the best as it performs certain essential functions. Talcott Parsons saw that the nuclear family as uniquely suited to meet the needs of modern society for a geographical and socially mobile work force. Also Parsons saw that the family performed two ‘irreducible functions’- the primary socialisation of the young and the stabilisation of adult personalities. These functions contribute to the overall stability and effectiveness of society. The New Right has an anti-feminist and conservative view on the family; they are firmly opposed to diversity within family life. The New Right sociologists hold the view that there is only one normal family type; this is the traditional patriarchal nuclear family consisting of a married couple and their dependent children. The New Right sees this family type as being natural based upon the fundamental biological differences between men and women. These sociologists would argue that family diversity is the cause of many social problems, such as education failure and high crime rates. The New Right believes that lone-parent families...
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...the impact of Government policies and laws on family life in Britain (20 marks) Social policies are the measures taken by state, or Government, bodies such as schools and welfare agencies. They are usually based on laws introduced by Government. Laws and policies can have both direct and indirect effects on the family. There are many Government policies that can either benefit of have a negative impact on the family. These come from many different movements in Government, such as: New Right, New Labour and Coalition - these can be criticised by different types of sociologists such as Marxists and Feminists, which I will be expressing throughout this essay. The New Right have a Functionalist view on the family. They believe strongly in the advocation of the nuclear family and the other family criteria that they present, such as - as presented by the sociologist George Murdock - A heterosexual couple as part of a nuclear who engage in a socially acceptable sexual relationship, economic cooperation (or being self-sufficient) and provides basic functions such as socialisation, discipline and morality. The “Child Support Agency” was enforced in 1993, and forced natural fathers to provide for their own children financially in the event of a parental split. The Government fund this agency to ensure that the child is financially supplied to ensure good health and quality of life as they grow up. The impact that this had on the family is that the biological fathers are forced into...
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...'neo-conventional family' (2 marks) Chester describes the neo-conventional family as a dual-earner family, in which both souses go to work. It is similar to Young and Willmott's idea of the symmetrical family. b) Explain the difference between 'expressive' and 'instrumental' roles. (4 marks) Expressive - 'homemaker', usually the female's role as it is more caring and nurturing and stating that they should stay at home and be a housewife and not go to work. Instrumental – 'breadwinner', usually the male's role as it is more physical and states that men should go to work and earn money for their family in order to provide for them. c) Identify three of the types of family diversity described by the Rapoports. (6 marks)Organisational – difference in how roles within the family are organised and shared between husbands' and wives'. (e.g. joint or segregated conjugal roles)Cultural - differences in family structures between different cultures, religions and ethnic groups. (e.g. female headed households in African-Caribbean). Generational – different generations have different attitudes and experiences that reflect the historical periods in which they have lived. (e.g. morality of cohabitation or divorce) Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess sociological explanations of the nature and extent of family diversity today. Family diversity refers to any family type that is not nuclear, such as single parent families and gay couples. Family diversity is...
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...extent of family diversity these Sociological views on family diversity divided into two groups; the modernists and the post-modernists. The modernists include the functionalists, the new right, the neo-conventional family and the Rapoports: five types of family diversity. The functionalists and new right only see the conventional nuclear family as normal and all other family types as deviant, and Chester believes there has been one major change which is the neo-conventional family and finally the rapoports have identified five different types of diversity. The post-modernist include life course analyse, family practices and include sociologists such as Giddens, Beck, Stacey and Weeks. Postmodernism rejects the structural views of society and believe individuals have more choice in their relationships and family practices. The functionalist view on society as fixed and predictable structure. They see the nuclear family as the best family type and helping to maintain structure by preforming vital functions. Talcott Parsons believes there is a ‘functional fit’ with the nuclear family and society, and Parsons sees the nuclear family as suited to meeting modern societies needs for a geographically and socially mobile workforce. He also believes the nuclear family as preforming two ‘irreducible functions’ which are the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities. As a result of this in the functional view, because of the nuclear families ability to...
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...important influence on family life, they hold different views about what kinds of effects it has and whether these are desirable. In this essay I will examine a range of different sociological views or perspectives on the impact of social policy on families. The actions and policies of governments can sometimes have profound effects on families and their members. Cross-cultural examples from different societies and historical periods can show us some of the more extreme ways in which the state’s policies can affect family life, this can help us to see the relationship between families and social policies in a new light. One particularly striking attempt by the state to shape family life was the policy set by China on controlling the population, and birth rate within the country. Chinas population control policy has discouraged couples from having more than one child. According to Adrian Wilson (1985) the policy is supervised by the workplace family planning committees; women must seek their permission to try and become pregnant, and there is often a waiting list and a quota for each factory. Couples who comply with the policy get extra benefits, such as free child healthcare and higher tax allowances. Functionalists see society as built on harmony and consensus, and free from major conflicts. They see the state as acting in the interests of society as a whole and its social policies as being for good for all. Functionalist’s see policies as helping families to perform their functions...
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...Blended Families Kendra Harmon ENG121: English Composition I Elizabeth Myers February 2, 2015 I am the fifth child of seventeen children. This has happened because I have a blended family, my father remarried and my step mother had five children from a previous marriage, and my mother has remarried to my step father who has seven children from his previous marriages. My parents divorced when I was thirteen years old, and have now remarried to spouses who have children of their own from previous marriages. By working as a family unit on both sides, mother and father as well as stepmother and stepfather, the family can stay strong and become a big happy family instead of two separate families. Having a blended family takes a lot of work from both the sides of both the parents and the children because of the hardships on the family when the mother and father divorce, then meeting and getting to know the new family members, and learning to work with the new family members as one whole family unit instead of two separate families. The hardships on the family when the mother and father divorce can hurt the family structure but as long as everyone works together it can be rebuilt to be a healthier relationship for everyone involved. With my family, we had a rough divorce process and we had a lot of hate within the family. My brother, sister, and I grew closer together when the divorce happened and our bond was strengthened as we were unsure of what was to come but with hard work...
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...and support the traditional nuclear family. (24 Marks) Social policies are the measures taken by the state bodies and based on laws introduced by the government that aim to deal with a problem or achieve a goal. They can have both direct (aimed specifically at family life) and indirect effects (aimed on other social or economic issues but also affects the family). The traditional nuclear family is the ‘cereal packet’ family comprised of two adults of opposing sex with segregated roles of male breadwinner and female nurturer, and two children. There are many examples of government policies which support the traditional family norm and therefore social policy may be seen as an aspect of family ideology. Ideology is a set of beliefs that serve the interests of a dominant social group, and so we are encouraged to view the traditional family as normal and desirable. Functionalists believe that the state acts in the interests of the whole society and that its policies help the family to perform its functions. There is a March of Progress view as they believe policies are gradually improving family life. Functionalists believe that the welfare state enables families to look after their members better through access to the NHS, child benefit etc. However Feminists argue that social policies only benefit men whereas New Right believes that the interference of the state creates a “perverse incentive”, encouraging irrational behaviour. The New Right is a conservative perspective...
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