Key Sociological Studies for Family and Education
This page summarizes several important sociological studies and theories relevant to GCSE Sociology revision notes on family and education. The content covers perspectives from radical feminism, family diversity research, and studies on educational inequalities.
Delphy and Leonard: Radical Feminist View of Family
Delphy and Leonard, as radical feminists, argue that the family is patriarchal for several reasons:
- Women face economic exploitation, with their labor being used by their husbands.
- The family structure is hierarchical, with men at the top.
- The patriarchal family reflects the broader patriarchal society.
Highlight: This perspective is crucial for understanding feminist critiques of family structures in AQA GCSE Sociology.
Rapoports: Family Diversity
The Rapoports were pioneers in researching family diversity. They developed the CLOGS framework to analyze different aspects of family life:
- Cultural: Values and beliefs
- Life course: Different cycles of the family
- Organisational: Structure of families
- Generational/cohort: Historical differences
- Social class: Resources (e.g., ability to afford a nanny)
Vocabulary: CLOGS - An acronym used to remember the different dimensions of family diversity studied by the Rapoports.
Robert Chester's Critique
Robert Chester criticized the Rapoports for exaggerating the extent of family diversity.
Example: This critique highlights the ongoing debate in sociology about the degree of family diversity in modern society.
Paul Willis: Marxist Study on Education
Paul Willis conducted a Marxist study on education, focusing on:
- Laddish behavior
- Anti-school subculture among working-class boys
- Two-year study of "the lads"
Willis found that the students were disobedient, but their subculture was similar to working-class workplaces.
Definition: Anti-school subculture refers to a group of students who reject the values and norms of the school system.
Ball: Social Class and Educational Banding
Ball's research on education revealed:
- Lower-class students were more likely to be in lower bands
- Teachers had different expectations for different bands
- Even in mixed-ability classes, labelling still occurred
Highlight: This study is important for understanding how social class affects educational experiences and outcomes in AQA GCSE Sociology.
Halsey, Heath, and Ridge: Social Class and University Attendance
This comprehensive survey of 8,000 men examined the relationship between social class and higher education:
- Three social classes were identified: service, intermediate, and working
- Service (middle) class boys were 11 times more likely to attend university than working-class boys
Quote: "Service (middle) class boys 11 times more likely to go to university than working class"
This statistic powerfully illustrates the significant impact of social class on educational opportunities and is a key point for GCSE AQA Sociology Revision.
