F&H: Theoretical Views Flashcards
identify the theoretical views of the family we study (5/6)
- functionalist
-new right
-Marxist
-feminist
-postmodernist + personal life perspective
what TYPE of theory is functionalism? (3 words)
-macro
-structural
-consensus
which 2 key functionalists comment the most on the family institution?
Murdock
Parsons
which type of family do functionalists favour?
the nuclear family: a heterosexual marriage with children
which roles do functionalists argue men and women should perform?
man - instrumental - breadwinner, provider, protector. ‘naturally dominant’
women - expressive - nurturer, carer. ‘naturally suited’ to caring roles
who argued that the family unit has 4 key functions for society?
MURDOCK
NAME the 4 key functions of the family that Murdock identified
1) reproductive
2) economic
3) educational
4) sexual
explain Murdock’s reproductive function of the family
the family reproduces the next generation for society. This can only be done by a man and a woman
explain Murdock’s educational function of the family
the family socialises the next generation into the norms/values of society. This requires a male instrumental role model + a female expressive role model.
explain Murdock’s economic function of the family
the family unit financially provides for the development of the unit (shelter, food, clothing etc) by having a worker and a consumer
explain Murdock’s sexual function of the family
the family unit is centred around a monogamous relationship between 2 consenting adults of the opposite sex. This controls sexual behaviour, stabilises the adult sex drive and therefore prevents a sexual free for all in society.
give a criticism for Murdock’s 4 family functions.
Arguably, same-sex couples could perform all of these functions well, not just the nuclear family!
describe the Nayar tribe
-females are very powerful. they have traditions of matrilineal inheritance and matrilocal residence. Women practice polyandry.
-Women can terminate marriages, hold the right to their land = property etc.
which case study can criticise Murdock’s claim that the nuclear family is the most functional and so is found in all societies.
the Nayar Tribe
Who’s theory is the functional fit theory?
parsons
how does Parsons link PRE INDUSTRIAL life to the dominant type of family of that time?
-economy was based on animal breeding + agricultural farming
-this meant work was labour intensive + required a lot of workers.
-therefore, people had a lot of children to help with work. they were cared for & educated by their family. Little geographical mobility.
- Extended family / multigenerational family was best suited to pre industrial society
how does Parsons link INDUSTRIAL life to the dominant type of family of that time?
-economy is based on factories, machinery , businesses.
-work was less labour intensive, requires less workers. (less kids)
-more geographical mobility - formal education, hospitals, nurseries
- Nuclear family is best suited to industrial society
NAME Parson’s 2 functions of the family in the modern industrial era
1) Primary Socialisation
2) Stabilisation of Adult Personalities
explain Parsons’s family function of primary socialisation
the family passes on the norms / values of society to the new generation (0-3 yrs old). Other institutions like education take on secondary socialisation
what is Parsons’s family function of Stabilisation of Adult Personalities also known as
the warm bath theory
explain Parsons’s family function of Stabilisation of Adult Personalities
the family is a relaxing place taking away stress / frustration.
prevents the overflow of emotion + stabilises personalities.
where do Murdock and Parsons have slightly different beliefs about the nuclear family
Murdock - nuclear family is universal vs
Parsons - functional fit theory
how could feminists criticise the functionalist view of family
the warm bath theory arguably only benefits men as women are usually expected to come home and continue domestic work , childcare. Plus, not every family is a safe space for members to return to - domestic violence
how could marxists criticise the functionalist view of family
lower class families will have different experiences to middle class families
how could postmodernists criticise the functionalist view of family
not every family is nuclear - the theory is outdated
when did the new right first appear?
1980s - Thatcherite Conservative government
name 3 views that the new right SHARE with functionalists (regarding family / family patterns)
-nuclear family is best
-favour marriage over cohabitation
-disagree with divorce, same-sex families, single-parents
-men + women should play traditional roles in family unit
who is the key theorist for the new right ?
Charles Murray
the new right see single mothers as dependent on what?
welfare
which 2 societal groups / classes did Charles Murray identify?
the underclass / new rabble - the long term unemployed, the welfare dependent, single mothers. dangerous for society
the new Victorians - the respectable middle classes who marry, socialise their children properly and pay taxes
what solutions does Charles Murray and other new right theorists suggest?
cutting benefits to reduce welfare dependency. making absent fathers take responsibility for their children. encourage the underclass not to breed by incentivising sterilisation
do the new right believe that the nuclear family will stay dominant?
although they want it to stay dominant they fear its decline to due the rise of family diversity
give 2 criticisms of the new rights perspective on the family
- targets vulnerable women, when its often the fathers that abandon the women and child
- their ‘solutions’ of cutting benefits will only create greater poverty + dependency
name the 2 key Marxists who look at the family unit
ENGELS + ZARETSKY
NAME the function of the family that Marxist Engels identifies
family plays vital economic role - to ensure families pass on their inheritance to the rightful heir
explain the background / first part of Engel’s inheritance function of the family ( prehistoric era)
-in pre-historic times before land was farmed, societies were classless and performed ‘primitive communism’ - no private property.
-property was collectively owned and family structure reflected this. no families, tribal groups with no restrictions on sexual relationships. no need to control sexual relationships as there was no inheritance
explain the second part of Engel’s inheritance function of the family (ownership and nuclear family)
- private ownership, industry and capitalism emerged. Bourgeoisie started to look for ways to pass on their wealth to next generation rather than it be shared out to the masses.
- Monogamous nuclear family became best way to pass on wealth to your son as you know who your children are.
how does the Inheritance function of the family reproduce inequality?
the children of the rich grow up into wealth, and the children of poor remain poor. the nuclear family benefits the bourgeoisie rather than the proletariat
what are Zaretsky’s 4 functions of the family
1) reproduces next generation of workers
2) socialise members into capitalist ideology
3) unit of production + consumption
4) sexual regulation
explain Zaretsky’s family function of socialising members into capitalist ideology
capitalist ideology = ideas / beliefs that help maintain the capitalist state and stop the proletariat from rebelling. The family passes on beliefs that the working class will always be exploited + the ruling class will always be in control
explain Zaretsky’s economic function of the family
family a unit of production- some members work which fuels economy. family a unit of consumption- it buys goods + services which fuels economy. Family plays major role in making profit for the ruling class
Identify the 2 ways in which the ruling class encourage families to act as a unit of consumption - according to Zaretsky
1) create competition between families
2) pester power - target children
explain Zaretsky’s family function of sexual regulation
the family is a private unit, where members can relax, providing a safe haven from the stresses of the capitalist state. BUT its a false sense of safety which keeps workers exploited
give an example of families socialising members into capitalist ideology
1) encourage children to work hard at school - be obedient and do your work passively to be successful
2) birthdays - families buy presents to represent love - shows importance of money
give 2 criticisms of the Marxist perspective of the family
- ignores positive functions of family
- doesn’t consider gender inequality
- assumes nuclear family is dominant
what is gender role socialisation
the process by which we learn what behaviours + attitudes are desirable for boys and girls. what is masculine and feminine
identify the 4 types of feminists that look at the family
liberal , radical , marxist , difference
explain the liberal feminist view of the family
-march of progress view, there is gradual progress.
-gender socialisation is becoming more equal, some studies show men are doing more domestic labour. Sex Discrimination Act 1975 changed people’s attitudes. Full equality depends on further reforms
explain the radical feminist view of the family
family + marriage are the key institutions in patriarchal society. men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic labour and sexual services. men dominate through domestic / sexual violence or the threat of it. doesn’t recognise that women’s positions have improved. want seperatism
explain the marxist feminist view of the family
the main cause of women’s oppression in the family is capitalism. women reproduce the labour force. women absorb anger that would otherwise be directed at capitalism. women are a reserve army of cheap labour. family must be abolished whilst a socialist revolution replaces capitalism
what did Marxist Feminist Fran Ansley say in 1972?
‘women are the takers of shit’. meaning they absorb male frustration that would otherwise be directed at capitalism. also explains domestic violence
what did Marxist Feminist BENSTON say in relation to women’s oppression in the family?
‘women are the slaves of the wage slaves’
explain the difference feminist view of the family
we cannot generalise about women’s’ experiences in the family. Lesbian, heterosexual, white, black, middle class, lower class women cannot all be generalised. For example, black feminists view the black family positively as a source of support against racism
what process do postmodernists believe has caused the transition from a modern society to a postmodern society?
globalisation
what 4 changes have caused globalisation?
-politics
-culture
-economy
-technology
give 2 postmodernist sociologists that study the family
Giddens and Beck
what theory do Giddens + Beck establish?
The Individualisation Thesis
summarise The Individualisation Thesis
- traditional social structures like class, gender and family have lost their influence over us. In the past, people’s lives were defined by fixed roles that prevented them from choosing their life course. However now, individuals have fewer rules to follow and have more freedom to choose lifestyles
what TYPE of theory is the personal life perspective? (2 words)
micro, interactionist
NAME the 5 types of postmodern family relationships excluding biological family according to the Personal Life Perspective
1) friends
2) fictive kin
3) gay / lesbian chosen families
4) dead relatives
5) pets
explain how friends can be a family relationship to individuals - according to personal life perspective
we can see our friends as our siblings - they can be as close to us as brothers and sisters
explain how fictive kin can be a family relationship to individuals - according to personal life perspective
fictive kin = friends of parents that we refer to as auntie / uncle and are seen as part of the family
explain how gay / lesbian chosen families can be a family relationship to individuals - according to personal life perspective
same sex couples / gay individuals who form families based on friends as they feel they understand them better than blood relatives
explain how dead relatives can be a family relationship to individuals - according to personal life perspective
no longer alive but still seen as part of the family + live on in memory
explain how pets can be a family relationship to individuals - according to personal life perspective
seen + treated as part of the family and have the same status as blood relatives
what is the key point of the Personal Life Perspective regarding family?
that ‘family’ is open to interpretation and defintion
which case study supports the Personal Life Perspective?
Nordqvist + Smart’s study of donor received children:
lesbian couples struggle with donor conception as it is so expensive, many choose friends / someone from internet to be their surrogate. Also a struggle to decide if you want the child to have the donor in their life –> family becomes confusing
name 2 personal life perspective sociologists
- Smart
-May
-Nordqvist
The Personal Life perspective presents the ___________ Thesis in opposition to Giddens and Beck’s Individualisation Thesis
the Connectedness Thesis
what part of Giddens and Beck’s Individualisation Thesis did Smart and May disagree with?
they felt that the freedom of choice was overstated.
summarise Smart and May’s Connectedness Thesis
we are social beings whose choices are always made in a web of connectedness ; we live in networks of existing relationships and interwoven personal histories, which strongly influence our range of choices in relationships
give a strength of the Personal Life Perspective
its very contemporary especially as it examines the diverse range of family life + what it means to individuals
give a criticism of the Personal Life Perspective
it can be difficult to conduct the type of research this approach demands - less likely to develop policies
