Summaries of sociological approaches to family life

Family life is a central theme in sociology because it plays such an important role in shaping who we are, how society is organised, and how power and inequality are maintained or challenged. Sociologists have offered a range of explanations about the family – from seeing it as a positive and supportive institution, to criticising it as a site of inequality and control.

This resource provides you with clear summaries of the main sociological perspectives on the family. You’ll explore how Functionalists, Marxists, Feminists, and Postmodernists (among others) interpret the role and meaning of family life. The aim is to give you a foundation for understanding and comparing these views, so you can apply them in your essays and exams.

There are completed versions and blank versions for you to test your own knowledge of different views of family life.