Defining the Family

Sociological Theories of the Family

In this course, Dr Vicki Harman (University of Surrey) explores the sociology of the family. In the first lecture, we think about the different ways in which we might define the word 'family', as well as considering some of the alternative concepts that have found currency in recent sociological research, e.g. 'household', 'personal life'. In the second lecture, we look at functionalist approaches to the family. In the third lecture, we explore Marxist theories of the family. Next, we think about feminist approaches to the family. In the fifth lecture, we consider how the nature of the family and of family life has changed over time. In the sixth and final lecture, we think about the concepts of 'family practices' and 'family display', including the work of David Morgan and Janet Finch.

Defining the Family

In this lecture, we think about what we mean when we talk about 'family', focusing in particular on: (i) the different people (and animals) that we might include in our 'family'; (ii) the extent to which our 'family' changes over the course of our lives; (iii) the concept of the nuclear family; (iv) the extent to which patterns of family life in the UK are becoming increasingly diverse, and potential alternatives to the term 'family', e.g. 'household', 'personal life', etc.; and (v) the advantages of continuing to use the word 'family'.