May/June 2017 (A1)

-What is meant by the term functionally fit? [2]

Functionally fit is connected with this idea that as societies are switching from agrarian to industrialized
era and the suitable family structure that fits the requirements of this type of society is nuclear family.
So, when a family functions to meet the requirements of society, this functioning process is called
“functionally fit”.

-Describe two functions of family apart from socialization. [4]

The two main functions of family apart from socialization are 1. Economic protection

2. Psychological protection

-Explain the consequences of family failing to socialize children according to the functionalists.[8]

As we know that functionalists believe that family has two main functions and according to Parson, they
are 1. Primary socialization

2. Building of adult personalities

Similarly, Durkheim believes that instilling (gradually but firmly establish in a person’s mind) norms and
values by collective conscious (shared beliefs) is really beneficial for society to maintain conformity and
stabilize social order of society. Someone who is not socialized properly is tagged as “anomic
(breakdown or absence of social norms and values)” or “egotist (self-seeker or self-admirer)”.

Similarly neo-functionalists and new right believes that if crime rate has increased in society, that is
because of lone parent families which are unable to socialize its members and consequently they
become criminals and victimized of dependency culture (a way of life characterized on state’s benefits).

Edward Leash is another anthropologist (study of various aspects of human within past and present
societies) who is of the view that nuclear families are most of the time unable to socialize its members
because this type of family structure is so closely connected with each other that it passes likings and
disliking in children and eventually they are dittos of their parents and process of evolution (change in
heritable characteristics) stops.

Some other sociologists like Cooper believes that because of slow socialization and lack of parenting
skills create different problems like murdered self and schizophrenia (a mental disorder) and incent
(inspire or motivate) abnormal families. Lone parent families are particularly creating such sort of
pathetic socialization where majority of children become crippled (disabled) to handle future
responsibilities as healthy members of the society.

Finally we can say that example of feral children (children who have lived isolated from human contact
from a very young age where they have no experience of human behavior) is an example of poor
socialization which makes them unhealthy members of the society.

Oct/Nov 2017 (A1)

-What is meant by the term empty shell marriage? [2]

Due to financial dependency or other insecurities when and in the absence of any love or emotional
bonding when a couple continues to live together under the same roof in the legal institute of marriage,
this kind of bond is called ‘empty shell marriage’.

-Describe two types of households which are not based on marriage. [4]

The two types of households not based on marriage are: 1.cohabbiation, it is the type of household
where a couple decides to live together like married couples under the same roof without any legal tie
of marriage by choice. 2. Single person household or lone parent families, these are the families where
one male/female leads the whole family due to the death of partner, divorce or may be by choice.

-Explain why there has been a decline in the number of marriages in modern industrial societies? [8]

In modern industrial societies decline in marriage is drastically creating new dimensions for man-woman
relationship, the highest rate is among Epirus, where out of 1000 people 7.8% people go for divorce, in
Denmark 6.7% people and lowest rate in Belgium and Slovenia 4.1% and 2.9% people respectively.

Here are specific causes to marital change for example there is less stigma to have children outside
marriage and less social pressure to get married.

Similarly financial independence of females also plays a vital role because rather than living in empty
shell marriages, females prefer to live independently. According to Oswald marriage for females is now
a” lifestyle choice”.

Cohabitation is another factor and in recent years it has increased dramatically. Hues and Church note
that in 2010 around 10% of families with dependent children were single mothers (never married) as
compared to 1971 when the percentage was 1%.
Finally Beck believes that people in postmodern societies access the risks and consequences of their
actions and statistical likelihood of divorce leave people to avoid for marriage.

Leniency in law and secular thinking is another factor contributing. The process of divorce is now
cheaper and easy so more people go for divorce without any second thought and the other factor is now
religion is not influential the way it used to be and due to no religious pressure people go for divorce as
no religion supports divorce.