To what extent have family roles changed in modern industrial societies? [15]
Candidates should show awareness of the ways that family roles have changed in modern
industrial families and the ways that they have not. A range of different family types and roles
are likely to be discussed.
Possible answers:
For
• The increase in dual worker families has led to the need for more equality within families
today so changing conjugal roles and making them more symmetrical;
• Technological advancements has made the domestic role easier and quicker making
symmetry more viable;
• Other family members (i.e. children/grand-parents) or paid employees (i.e. a cleaner)
take on a lot of the roles within the house today;
• While men and women may do different tasks in the house (i.e. males may do the
maintenance, gardening, DIY and females housework, cooking, etc.) the hours spent by
both on these tasks are similar today;
• Young and Willmott’s research showed that both husband and wife contributed equally to
the family;
• Families have become more privatised today meaning that the home has become central
to family life, encouraging a more equal partnership between spouses but perhaps more
isolation from wider kin;
• Women today have higher status, more independence and more power in society and so
are more likely to be treated as equals;
• The rise of child centred families means that the role of the children in the family has
typically been given more status and importance;
• Extended and modified extended families often see grand-parents playing a crucial role
in terms of childcare, financial assistance, etc.;
• The rise of single parent families and homosexual families has changed the nature and
form of family roles;
• Other reasonable response.
Against
• Segregated conjugal roles still exist/the triple shift for women;
• Women still responsible for most childcare and other caring responsibilities in the family,
i.e. elderly care;
• Women still responsible for housework;
• Women more likely to work part-time;
• Research suggests that whilst there have been many moves towards symmetry in
families, change has been slow and equality is a long way off;
• Feminists argue that for as long as society remains patriarchal, family life will too;
• Men may be more willing to help out with childcare and housework today but the main
responsibility is still the women’s;
• Men continue to make most of the financial decisions within the family;
• In some cultures/religions distinct segregated roles for males and females still exist;
• Children continue to play a subordinate role within the family;
• Grandparents have always played a key role in the family and continue to do so, this has
not changed;
• Other reasonable response.
Band 0
No creditworthy response.
Band 1 (1–4)
Answers in this band may be vague and largely based on common sense showing limited
knowledge of whether family roles have changed. Use of sociological terms or concepts is
very unlikely. Responses may be short, undeveloped and one-sided, e.g. ‘Men help out in
the house now’. Lower in the band (1–2 marks), expect one or two weak points. Higher in the
band (3–4 marks) candidates may offer more than two points or provide a weak definition of
key terms, e.g. family roles are the parts played by various family members, i.e. parents and
children, in the question.
Band 2 (5–8)
In this band candidates will show some basic knowledge of whether family roles have
changed. Alternatively, they may offer an answer which is list-like in nature but there will be
no real attempt to assess the issues raised by the question. There may be limited/some use
of sociological terms or concepts. Responses may be underdeveloped and lack range.
Answers may be simplistic and two-sided responses are unlikely, e.g. ‘Women have to go to
work too now so men have to do more in the house’. Lower in the band, the response will be
rather narrow in the points covered and there will be little development. Higher in the band,
more points will be covered and there will be limited development of some points.
Alternatively, a list-like answer with little development covering both sides of the argument
may score up to 8 marks.
A one-sided answer cannot score higher than 8 marks.
Band 3 (9–12)
Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding of whether
family roles have changed. Sociological terms and concepts will be used with greater
accuracy and/or frequency. For the most part, answers will be well developed, focused on
the question and there will be a range of points presented. Candidates may say that, e.g.
‘despite more equality within the family, women still do most of the housework and childcare
and can be said to be suffering from a dual burden as they also have to go out to work’. OR
‘Children play an increasingly significant role in the family as they have more rights in society
and the family has thus become more child-centred in nature’. There will be a two-sided
response but this may be unbalanced. At the bottom of the band, candidates may provide a
narrower range of well-developed points. At the top of the band, expect a wider range of
points and clear focus on the question.
Band 4 (13–15)
Answers in this band will show excellent knowledge and understanding of whether family
roles have changed. There will be a strong grasp of the argument as well as accurate and
frequent use of sociological terms and concepts. Answers will be well developed, clearly
focused on the question and discuss a wide range of points. Responses will be two-sided
and balanced. At the bottom of the band (13 marks), the answer may lack a specific
conclusion. Higher in the band, there will be a clear attempt to offer an assessment of the ‘To
what extent…?’ part of the question through a focused conclusion. Candidates should show
consideration of points for and against the idea of changing family roles, citing some of the
examples given.