4.3 theories of the family

Question 1

6 perspectives on the family

Answer 1

• marxism
• functionalism
• feminism
• personal life perspective
• the new right
• post-modernism

Question 2

the functionalist perspective on the family

what 4 essential functions does murdock argue that the family performs to meet the needs if society and it’s members?

Answer 2

• stable satisfication of the sex drive- with the same partner, prevents social disruption caused by a ‘free for all’
• reproduction of the next generation- without which society wouldnt continue
• socialisation of the young
• meeting it’s members economic needs-e.g. food and shelter

Question 3

the functionalist perspective on the family

criticism of murdock: these functions the family perform can by perfromed…

Answer 3

equally as well by other institutions or by non-nuclear family structures

Question 4

the functionalist perspective on the family

how do feminists criticise murdock?

Answer 4

• see the family as serving the needs of men and opressing women
  *

Question 5

the functionalist perspective on the family

how do marxists criticise murdock?

Answer 5

• see families as serving the needs of capitalism not family members or society

Question 6

the functionalist perspective on the family

what is parsons’ “functional fit” theory?

Answer 6

the idea that family structures change along with society of that time

Question 7

the functionalist perspective on the family

what is the difference between the nuclear family and the extended family?

Answer 7

• nuclear- just parents and their dependant children
• extended- three generations living under 1 roof

Question 8

the functionalist perspective on the family

what 2 basic types of society does Parson identify?

Answer 8

• modern industrial society
• pre-industrial society

Question 9

the functionalist perspective on the family

which type of family does parsons think suits which type of society?

Answer 9

• nuclear- industrial
• extended- pre industrial

Question 10

the functionalist perspective on the family

what 2 essentials needs does parsons believe that industrial society has?

Answer 10

• a geographically mobile workforce
• a socially mobile workforce

Question 11

the functionalist perspective on the family

in what way is the modern nuclear family a more geographically mobile workforce?

Answer 11

• it is easier for a compact 2 generation family to move than for the three generation extended family

Question 12

the functionalist perspective on the family

how is the modern nuclear family a socially mobile workforce?

Answer 12

• in the original extended family, if a son overtook his father in work, it would cause household tensions
• instead, the son can do so whilst living in his own family

Question 13

the functionalist perspective on the family

the family is no longer a unit of …. but now only ….

Answer 13

• production
• consumption

Question 14

the functionalist perspective on the family

what functions does the nuclear family perform nowadays?

Answer 14

• the primary socialisation of children
• the stabalisation of adult personalities (the family is a place where adults can relax and release tensions, returning to the workplace to fulfill their roles there).

Question 15

the functionalist perspective on the family

evidence against parsons: was the extended family dominant in pre-industrial society?

Answer 15

• young and willmott found that the pre-industrial family was nuclear, not extended
• with parents and children working together

Question 16

the functionalist perspective on the family

evidence against parsons: is the extended family no longer needed in modern society?

Answer 16

• continues to exist and perfom important functions: with finacial help, childcare and emotional support

Question 17

the functionalist perspective on the family

evidence against parsons: what other functions does the family perform today?

Answer 17

• supports economic growth
• emotional support

Question 18

the marxist perspective on the family

what 3 functions of the family do marxists believe support capitalism?

Answer 18

• inheritance of property
• ideological functions
• a unit of consumption

Question 19

the marxist perspective on the family

how does the inheritace of property fulfill capitalism?

Answer 19

• inheritance of pprivate property has made monogamy essential so that fathers would be sure they had a son to inherit their property
• this serves capitalism as it turns women into a mere instrument for production, defeating the female sex

Question 20

the marxist perspective on the family

why is engels view not applicable today?

Answer 20

he lived from 1820-1895

Question 21

the marxist perspective on the family

how do ideological functions fulfill capitalism?

Answer 21

• socialises children into the idea that hierarchy and inequality are inevitable (e.g. through dad always being in control) and that someone is always in charge:prepares them for life as workers
• zaretsky sees the family as a haven, where the workers can “be themselves” from outside forces of capitalism

Question 22

the marxist perspective on the family

how does the family as a unit of consumption fulfill capitalism?

Answer 22

• capitalism exploits its workers-the family plays a major part in this as it is an important market for the sale of consumer goods:
• e.g.food and clothing
• advertisers urge families to buby the latest products e.g. airfryers
• media target children who use “pester power”
• children who lack latest items are mocked and stigmatised by peers

Question 23

the marxist perspective on the family

criticisms of the marxist view

Answer 23

• marxist assume the nuclear family is dominant- ignores the variation in society
• feminists argue that the marxist explanation pushes social class and capitalism and ignores ender differences
• functionalists argue that marxists ignore the benefits that the family provides for one another

Question 24

feminist perspective on the family

what 4 feminist perspectives is there

Answer 24

• liberal
• marxist
• radical
• difference

Question 25

# feminist perspective on the family key points of liberal feminism

Answer 25

* womens opression becoming overcome through changes such as sex discrimination act 1975 * believe we are moving towards gender equality but further reforms and changes in attitudes and socialisation patterns are needed

Question 26

# feminist perspective on the family what do other feminists criticise liberal feminists for?

Answer 26

* not doing enough- believe that changes in the law will not be enough

Question 27

# feminist perspective on the family key points of marxist feminism

Answer 27

* womens opression in family is due to capitalism not men * women reproduce the labour force through unpaid domestic labour, by socialising the next generation to do the same * women absorb anger that would otherwise be directed at capitalism * women are a reserve army of cheap labour

Question 28

# feminist perspective on the family criticism of the marxist feminist perspective on the family

Answer 28

* victim blames women and ignores that men are the perpurtartors: by saying that women reproduce labour force through unpaid labour and socialisting the next generation

Question 29

# feminist perspective on the family radical feminist perspective on the family key points

Answer 29

* all of society has been founded on patriarchy * men are the enemy- the source of womens exploitation and opression * marriage and family are institutions that support the patriarchy * political lesbianism

Question 30

# feminist perspective on the family what is political lesbianism?

Answer 30

the idea that hetrosexual relationships are inherantly sexist as they involve "sleeping with the enemy"

Question 31

# the personal life perspective on families the the personal life perspective on families argues that the other perspectives have two weaknesses:

Answer 31

* they assume nuclear is the dominant family type * they are all structural (assume family and the members are manipulated passively by society)

Question 32

# the personal life perspective on families personal life perspective says we miust understand...

Answer 32

the meanings we give to our relationships

Question 33

# the personal life perspective on families who might the the personal life perspective define as family?

Answer 33

* friends * fictive kin * gay and lesbian chosen family * relationships with dead family * pets

Question 34

# the personal life perspective on families who researches donor conceived children?

Answer 34

nordqvist and smart

Question 35

# the personal life perspective on families nordqvist and smart found many parents emphasised what?

Answer 35

* the importance of social relationships over genetic ones

Question 36

# the personal life perspective on families erin example

Answer 36

* she is the mother of a donor concieved child, believes that putting time and effort into being a mother makes a mother not the cell that starts it off

Question 37

# the personal life perspective on families what leads to problems in donor concieved families?

Answer 37

* difficult feelings could flare up if somebody remarked that the child looked like them * difference in appearence may lead the family to wonder about the donors identity, and if "donor siblings" counted as family * if the parents knew the donor, may be difficulties

Question 38

# the personal life perspective on families what questions do donor families have to resolve?

Answer 38

* do the donor's parents count as grandparents? * does the child have half siblings? * in lesbian couples- might the donor be seen as a "real" second parent?

Question 39

# the personal life perspective on families evaluation: advantage of nordqvist and smart's study

Answer 39

* shows benefit of "bottom up" approach as it helps us to see how people construct family * traditional perspectives don't do this