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GCSE Sociology · general specification · Families · (see note)
Mini-Lesson

Families

This mini-lesson covers the sociology of families: functions of the family, family forms and diversity, conjugal roles, marriage and divorce, and the functionalist, Marxist and feminist views.

Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Some questions are multiple-choice, some are sort-and-match games, and a few use simple research-methods maths (percentages and sample figures). Press Start when you're ready.

Families · functions

What are families for?

  • Functionalism: Murdock (sexual, reproductive, economic, educational needs); Parsons (primary socialisation + stabilising personalities).
  • Marxism: family serves capitalism (reproduces labour, inheritance, consumption).
  • Feminism: family reproduces patriarchy and unequal roles.

Spec note (please read): Pearson/Edexcel does not currently offer a GCSE Sociology qualification, and the code 1SC0 is Edexcel Combined Science, not Sociology. This lesson therefore teaches mainstream GCSE Sociology content (valid across boards) rather than a fabricated Edexcel spec. Check your own board's specification for exact wording.

Quick check

Whose view?

?A sociologist says the family's key jobs are primary socialisation and stabilising adult personalities. Who?
Families · forms

Family forms & diversity

  • Nuclear, extended, reconstituted, lone-parent, same-sex, beanpole.
  • The Rapoports identified five types of family diversity — there is no single 'normal' family.
Sort it

Sort the family form

Tap a description, then the best-fitting form.

🏠 Nuclear

👵 Extended

👤 Lone-parent

Quick check

Which form?

?A step-family formed after remarriage, mixing children from previous relationships, is a…
Families · conjugal roles

Conjugal roles

  • Segregated vs joint conjugal roles.
  • Young & Willmott: the 'symmetrical family' (more equal).
  • Oakley (feminist): women still do most housework — the 'dual burden'.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 400 married women, 232 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.
%
Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (232 ÷ 400) × 100.
Families · change

Marriage & divorce trends

  • ↓ marriage, ↑ cohabitation, ↑ divorce.
  • More divorce because of changing laws, less stigma, secularisation and women's independence.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage change

✎The number of cohabiting couples in a sample rose from 90 to 117 over ten years. Calculate the percentage increase. Give a whole number.
%
Hint: % change = (change ÷ start) × 100 = ((117 − 90) ÷ 90) × 100.
Match it

Match perspective to claim

Tap a claim, then the perspective.

Statement
Answer
Calculate

Your turn — response rate

✎A researcher posts 500 questionnaires and 340 are completed and returned. Calculate the response rate as a percentage. Give a whole number.
%
Hint: response rate = (returned ÷ sent) × 100 = (340 ÷ 500) × 100.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 250 lone-parent households, 95 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.
%
Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (95 ÷ 250) × 100.
Quick check

Whose concept?

?Which feminist argued the 'symmetrical family' is a myth because women carry a dual burden?
Calculate

Your turn — sample size

✎A sampling frame lists 800 people. The researcher takes a one-in-four (1/4) sample. How many people are in the sample?
people
Hint: sample = 800 × 0.25.
Quick check

Divorce

?Which is a sociological reason for rising divorce since the 1960s?
Recap

Families — the big ideas

Functions: Murdock, Parsons vs Marxist & feminist critiques

Forms: nuclear, extended, reconstituted, lone-parent, same-sex, beanpole; Rapoports

Roles: segregated → joint; symmetrical family vs dual burden (Oakley)

Change: ↓ marriage, ↑ cohabitation, ↑ divorce

You've covered the sociology of families. Press Finish.

🏆

Mini-lesson complete!

⭐⭐⭐

You've worked through Families for GCSE Sociology (Edexcel-style). 🎉

Your stars: 0 / 0

Next: test yourself in the Verify stage.

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