booklet one theory and social policy Flashcards
what do structural functionists think of the family
they take a cinsensus perspecitve on family and a macro view of society . they believe family plays an importnat and positive family role
what are MURDOCKs{1949} four main fuctions that the family performs
sexual; the family provides a means of sexual gratfication ofr the emotional wellbeing of husbands and wives
reproductive; family undettkaes a reproductive function by bringing in enw members for society to continue
economc; family provides a ssiantce for the economic function , in a nucelar family the husband gains economic capital at work and is cared for an nourushed by his wife at home
education; finally the family eductes and socialises chidlren into societys culture ie norms and values
arguments against the four fucntions theory
> some argue these could be perforned equally well by other institutions ad that murdocsk theory is genralised and outdated.
marxists/feminists reject the rose tinted nature of this theory seeing it as serving the needs of just men and capitalism rather than benifitting wider society
explain DURKHEIMS value consensus theory
durkheim believes the family is important to create a value consensus of what deas are considered important , family is key to intergrate children into society and creates social solidarity and a collecgtive consicence
explain PARSONS functional fit theory
parsons beleives the functipons of the family to be flexible based on what kind of society its found in
eg > pre industrial society a larger family suitable as people spent all their time working otgether in the same large farm
> in industrial society however the nuclear family is suitable as it provided geographical mobility of a small family unit that will benefit the growing need for labour where wrkers could be mobile and be detached from their extended kin
which theorists counter the functional fit thoery by parsons with an alternative arguement and how
WILMOTT AND YOUNG; they believe that parsons view of the family was too generalised and istead they identify three specific family stages based on britain
1. a preindustrial nuclear family hwere work and family were connected and the family were interdependant.
2. early industrial extended family when factorys emerged and excluded children and woe making them dependant on mens labour
3. modern industrial symetrical familys where both parent work for a wage
explain PARSONS two irreducable fucntions of the family
1>THE PRIMAERY SOCILAISATION OF CHILDREN; parsons believe this only takes place inside a juclear family where children within the unit internalise societys culture so it can be reproduced by generation
2>THE STABLEISATION OF ADULT PERSONALITY ; the nuclear fanction owkrs to stabilise the adults as dictated by the warm bath theory where the family unquestionably benefits from individuals and society and that the husbands family act a s awarm bath to wash away his troubles and worries.
how doe MORGAN evaluate functioalists perspectve o the family
statesi itso too positive and that functonalists have over exaggerated the importance and efficency of family functions for example couple oftn dont find sexual satisfaction in marrage
how does OAKLEY evaluate functionalists take on the family
she beleives the isolated nuclear family is oppressive to women in society and that as a radical feminist she believes the family retards womens economic progression and confines them as house bound dependandts. And also denying society the full use of female potential
How can the four functions of family br evaulated by modern truths
Reproduction: ivf means that a family unit is no longer neccassary for reproduction
Economic: women now in workplace
Wellfare; child day care industrry
how does RD LAING evaluatte the downside to nuclear families
He believes privatised nuclear familys can be harmful and bad because family members will end up living in their own little bubble cut off from the rest of society leadint to th
