1. GCSE Sociology
The Role of the Family

2. Starter…
In pairs, mind map the functions you can think of that the family performs.
Now choose one of your functions of the family and write it down on the post-it-note.

3. Place your post-it-notes here
Roles of the Family
Place your post-it-notes here

4. Learning Objectives
To describe and explain the role of the family. What is the family for?
• To briefly contrast different views of the family. How do functionalists differ to feminists?

5. Functionalist Sociologists
Functionalist Sociologists believe both people and society have needs which must be met for society to function smoothly.
Functionalists see the nuclear family plays an important role because t performs a number of essential functions.
Can you think of three things which individuals needs to survive?

6. Functionalist Sociologists
Functionalist Sociologists four essential functions of the family are:
Reproduction
Primary Socialisation
Functionalism
Emotional Gratification
Economic Provision

7. The Reconstituted Family
Meeting The Needs
We have seen what the Functionalist Sociologists see the four essential roles of the family to be, but which family types fulfil these?
The Nuclear Family
The Extended Family
The Reconstituted Family
The Lone Parent Family

8. Feminist Sociologists
Feminist Sociologists come from a conflict perspective, this is completely opposite to Functionalist Sociologists.
Feminists identify that inequality exists between men and women, therefore they are critical of the family as they see it to contribute to the inequality.

9. Feminist Sociologists
Functionalist Sociologists identify primary socialization to be an essential function of the family.
Feminist Sociologists identify it to be negative as it contributes to the inequality between males and females.

10. Think back…
Think back to your childhood, what activities or tasks did you help your parents of other family members with? E.g. washing up, baking, mending/cleaning the car.

11. Different Treatment – Why?
Baby boys and baby girls are often treated different and feminists see them to be brought up in certain roles.
Where do the ideas of who should do what roles come from?
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Feminists see gender socialization to take place in the family = Inequality

12. Task: Read the extract on Page 124 and answer question two only!
Violence in the Home
The Feminist approach is one which highlights a negative aspects of the family to be violence in the home.
Feminists identify how the home is not a safe haven for every family.
Task: Read the extract on Page 124 and answer question two only!

13. Plenary A question you have about today’s lesson
Things you have been reminded on in today’s lesson
Things you have learnt in today’s lesson