A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

What did Western governments aim to achieve by imposing nuclear family structures on indigenous cultures?

1. Economic growth

2. Social integration

3. Stability and civilization

4. Access to education

The correct answer is: Stability and civilization

The imposition of nuclear family structures on indigenous cultures by Western governments primarily aimed to achieve stability and civilization. This approach was often rooted in a belief that the nuclear family model—consisting of two parents and their children—was the most effective social structure for promoting social order, civility, and Western values. The perception was that such a structure would lead to greater individual responsibility, economic productivity, and social cohesion. By advocating for this family model, governments believed they could facilitate the transition of indigenous populations into what they considered a more civilized society. This strategy often involved undermining traditional communal ways of life, which were seen as chaotic or primitive, and replacing them with a family structure that mirrored Western ideals. The broader goal was to assimilate indigenous peoples into Western culture, promoting a form of social integration that conformed to colonial and imperial ideologies about progress and development. While economic growth, social integration, and access to education were indeed factors that played a role in these policies, the fundamental aim centered around achieving stability and establishing a civilization that reflected Western norms and values.