OCR A-Level Sociology Component 1 Section B: Families and relationships, a complete overview

Families and relationships is one of three optional substantive topics in OCR Component 1, Section B, alongside Youth subcultures and Media. You study one. It applies the Section A themes (socialisation, culture, identity) to the family, the most studied institution in sociology. This overview ties together the option and explains how it is examined. Each section has a matching dot-point page.

How the option is examined

Section B uses three extended questions on your chosen option: an Outline and explain question (around 12 marks, AO1 and AO2) for two developed points, a shorter Evaluate essay (around 16 marks), and a major Assess essay (around 24 marks). The essays are marked with a levels-of-response scheme, so a two-sided argument with named theorists, applied examples and a judgement is what reaches the top.

The functions of the family

The option opens with what the family does and whom it benefits. Functionalists (Murdock's four functions, Parsons's primary socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities) see positive functions; Marxists (Engels, Zaretsky) see it serving capitalism; feminists see it serving men; and the New Right (Murray) praises the nuclear family while blaming family breakdown for an underclass.

Family diversity and changing patterns

Families have become diverse: the Rapoports' five types and Stacey's postmodern family capture the range, while marriage has declined, cohabitation and divorce have risen, and lone-parent, reconstituted and same-sex families have grown. Chester's neo-conventional family is the key counter-argument that the nuclear family remains the norm.

The domestic division of labour

Are conjugal roles equal? Young and Willmott's march of progress claims a symmetrical family, but Oakley rejects this, and Duncombe and Marsden's triple shift (paid work, housework, emotion work) shows persisting inequality. Dunne's study of lesbian couples suggests gender, not hours, drives the gap.

Power, childhood and demographic change

Family power is gendered: Edgell on decision-making, Pahl and Vogler on money, Dobash and Dobash on domestic violence. Childhood is socially constructed (Aries), and its position is debated (Postman's disappearance of childhood, Palmer's toxic childhood). Demographic change, the falling birth and death rates, the ageing population and migration, reshapes families into beanpole forms with a sandwich generation.

How the option is examined

• Outline and explain (AO1 and AO2). Two developed points with a theorist and an applied example each.
• Evaluate and Assess essays (AO3-heavy). A two-sided argument across perspectives, with a supported judgement.