Page 2: Family Sociologists and Theories

This page delves into various sociological perspectives on family structures, roles, and functions in society.

Functionalist views:

• Murdock outlined 4 functions of the family: sexual, reproductive, economic, and socialization
• Parsons added the "Warm Bath Theory" to functionalist understanding of family roles

Definition: The Warm Bath Theory suggests that the family serves as a place of relaxation and emotional support for working adults, helping them cope with the stresses of modern life.

Marxist perspectives:

• Zaretsky argued that the family cushions the harsh effects of capitalism
• Delphy & Leonard viewed the family as patriarchal and hierarchical

Feminist critiques:

• Oakley challenged the concept of the conventional family
• Ginn & Arber examined how elderly experiences are affected by class, gender, and ethnicity

Changing family structures:

• Young and Willmott introduced the concept of the symmetrical family becoming more common
• Allan & Crowe expanded the definition of family to include siblings, parents, aunts, and partners

Example: The symmetrical family refers to a family structure where roles and responsibilities are more equally shared between partners, contrasting with traditional gender-based divisions of labor.

Cultural and technological influences:

• Rapoport identified 5 ways families can be diverse: organizational, cohort, life course, culture, and class
• Postman suggested technology is causing children to act like adults earlier in life

The page also touches on concepts like arranged marriages, cohabitation, and the role of friends as emotional support for single individuals.

Highlight: This overview is particularly relevant for students studying AQA GCSE Sociology or preparing for Sociology paper 3 Crime and deviance examinations.

Page 1: Crime and Deviance Sociologists

This page presents a comprehensive overview of key sociologists and their theories related to crime and deviance in sociology.

Highlight: The page covers a wide range of sociological perspectives on crime, including functionalist, Marxist, feminist, and subcultural theories.

Functionalist perspectives:

• Durkheim outlined 3 functions of crime: reaffirming boundaries, promoting social cohesion, and allowing for functional rebels
• Davis viewed crime as a "safety valve" for society
• Merton developed strain theory to explain deviance

Subcultural and labeling theories:

• Cohen linked youth delinquency to subcultural theory, emphasizing group dynamics
• Becker introduced concepts of deviant careers and outsiders

Definition: Deviant career refers to the process by which individuals become labeled as deviant and potentially embrace that identity over time.

Feminist perspectives:

• Heidensohn proposed control theory related to female criminality
• Carlen examined how women may turn to crime if they feel they have "nothing to lose" in terms of class or gender expectations

Marxist views:

• Chambliss argued the police act as a "tool of the ruling class"
• Gordon claimed capitalism causes an unfair criminal justice system that targets street crime

Other important concepts:

• Moral panics and folk devils (Cohen)
• White-collar crime (Nelken)
• Chivalry thesis in feminist criminology

Vocabulary: Moral panic refers to a widespread fear about a perceived threat to social order, often amplified by media coverage.

The page also touches on racial disparities in crime and housing, noting that 50% of black people live in low-income housing compared to 20% of white people.