Evaluate The View That The Family Is A Beneficial Institution Flashcards
Paragraph 1
Some sociologists would argue that …;
however, others would disagree arguing that it has a…
By institution, sociologists mean…
Some sociologists would argue that the family is a beneficial social institution; however, others would disagree arguing that it has a negative impact on both the individual and society. By institution, sociologists mean an organisation or formal social structure.
Paragraph 2
According to Item B, the family acts “as an agent of socialisation which helps maintain social order by teaching norms and values”.
Therefore, the family has…
Parsons (a…
This suggests that the family is…
According to Item B, the family acts “as an agent of socialisation which helps maintain social order by teaching norms and values”.
Therefore, the family has some key advantages in helping maintain social order and teaching us the basic norms and values needed for our role in wider society.
Parsons (a Functionalist) argued primary socialisation is an essential part of becoming a functioning member of society as not only do we learn about acceptable social behaviours, we also learn the basic skills that make us human, e.g. how to walk/talk, etc.
This suggests that the family is a beneficial institution in society as without it people would not be able to respond appropriately in social situations and there would be a state of anomie where clear boundaries were not present and understood by all.
Paragraph 3
However Feminist sociologists such as Ann Oakley would argue..
From a young age gender…
Girls, for example, are encouraged…
This reinforces the notion…
Feminists would also argue that there is..
It could even be argued that they..
This suggests that the…
However Feminist sociologists such as Ann Oakley would argue that although the family does indeed teach us norms and values they are patriarchal in the sense that their aim is to oppress women.
From a young age gender stereotypes are perpetuated within the family in response to gendered toys and activities.
Girls, for example, are encouraged to play with dolls and become nurturing whereas boys are given toys that foster their aggression and risk-taking behaviour.
This reinforces the notion that a woman’s place is in the home and as such ensures male privilege is able to continue.
Feminists would also argue that there is a clear inequality within families regarding the amount of power held by women as they are often expected to assume the majority share of housework and childcare, even when they are in paid employment themselves (they experience a dual burden).
It could even be argued that they experience a triple shift as they also take care of the emotional wellbeing of family members (Duncombe and Marsden).
This suggests that the family is not a beneficial institution as it simply exists to create gender inequalities.
Paragraph 4
However, Functionalist sociologists would…
Murdock saw it as.. (alongside more practical issues such as economic support, socialisation and reproduction) whereas Parsons …
He argued…
This allowed them to return to..
However, Functionalist sociologists would point to the importance of looking after the emotional wellbeing of family members.
Murdock saw it as one of the key functions of a family (alongside more practical issues such as economic support, socialisation and reproduction) whereas Parsons referred to the need to ensure the “stabilisation of adult personalities”.
He argued that the family acted as a warm bath which aimed to reduce stress and pressure experienced by its members outside of the home by offering a warm and loving environment.
This allowed them to return to the wider world as fully functioning members of society. This suggests that the family is a beneficial institution as it supports its members, enables the social order to be maintained and supports a productive economy/society.
Paragraph 5
Marxist Zaretsky, however, would take issue with the idea that..
This reduces …
Similarly, Engels…
This suggests that the…
Marxist Zaretsky, however, would take issue with the idea that the family is a positive institution as he argues the “warm bath” theory offered by Functionalists was simply a method for ensuring the continuation of the capitalist system, as rather than taking out frustrations about social inequality upon their employers, individuals do so within the family.
This reduces the chance of a proletariat revolution and as such allows the family to remain a major agent of the ideological state apparatus.
Similarly, Engels argues that families simply exist to protect private property as it is passed on to a son and heir.
This suggests that the family is not a beneficial institution as it is an integral part of capitalist exploitation.
Paragraph 6
Feminists would also point to the negative impact of the family as because..
This suggests that the…
Feminists would also point to the negative impact of the family as because it is seen as a private institution, its members (particularly women and children) are often subjected to emotional or physical abuse and it can be difficult for the state and legal system to intervene. This suggests that the family is a negative institution as its privatised nature means it is difficult to police within the legal framework of society.
Last paragraph
Based on the evidence, sociologists would..
however, it is difficult to claim that..
Postmodernists would also argue that it is…
Based on the evidence, sociologists would agree that there are indeed some hugely beneficial aspects to families; however, it is difficult to claim that they are a beneficial institution because they also create significant social problems. Postmodernists would also argue that it is difficult to generalise about “families” as our experiences/family structures are so diverse in our individualistic society that it does not make sense to talk about “the family” as a single institution.
