F+H - Theories Flashcards
How do functionalists view society?
Functionalists view society as a system made up of many different parts (institutions) which each perform their own functions and depend on each other.
This is similar to the way the human body works with organs - the organic analogy.
What are the functions of the family according to Functionalists?
George Murdock believed there were 4 essential functions of society:
1. Stable satisfaction of sex drive
2. Biological reproduction of next generation
3. Socialisation of the young
4. Meeting members’ economic needs
What are some issues with Murdock’s theory?
- Feminists argue that arguing “family is essential” is ideological as traditional family structures historically disadvantaged women.
- Other institutions can theoretically perform the same functions (i.e. schools can socialise children).
- Research shows that there are societies in the world which don’t have ‘families’ showing family isn’t essential.
What do functionalists think happens to family types as society changes?
Talcott Parson’s ‘functional fit theory’ says that as society changes, the type of family which best suits its needs changes too (along with the functions it performs).
How has society changed over the last 200 years according to Parson?
Society has changed from pre-industrial society (which suited the extended family) to industrial society (which suited the more isolated and mobile nuclear family).
What are Parson’s irreducible functions of the family?
- Primary socialisation - family is responsible for teaching children the norms and values of society (such as gender roles - instrumental role for boys and expressive role for girls).
- Stabilisation of adult personalities - the ‘warm bath’ theory says that families provide emotional security after the stress of work, preventing conflict.
What are some issues with Parson’s theories?
- It is too neat - social change is not so uniform.
- Laslett found that only 10% of families were extended before the industrial revolution, meaning family was already nuclear.
- Young and Wilmott found that extended kin networks were still strong in East London as late as the 1970s.
What are some overall criticisms of functionalism?
- It downplays conflict and only shows the ‘rosy’ side of the family and ignore the ‘dark side’ such as child abuse and violence against women.
- It is out of date - most theories were much more accurate back in the 1950s.
- It ignores the exploitation of women such as the triple shift.
- It is too deterministic and ignores the fact children create their own personalities.
How do Marxists view the traditional family?
The traditional nuclear family serves a number of functions for the ruling Bourgeouise such as:
- Ideological functions
- Unit of consumption
- Reproducing class inequality
- Teaching passive acceptance of hierarchy
What do Marxists say about the emergence of the nuclear family?
Engels said that the monogomous nuclear family only emerged with Capitalism to make private ownership and inheritance easy, and to reproduce class inequality.
Before this, wealth and ownership was distributed in classless societies with ‘primitive communism’. This was also known as the ‘promiscuous horde’ as there was no obvious family structure.
How can we criticise Engels’ view of the nuclear family?
- Gender inequality/family hierarchy predates Capitalism.
- Wealthy Capitalist countries like the UK and US have the fastest improvements in gender equality.
How do Marxists see the family as an ideological apparatus?
Althusser said the family is an ISA (Ideological State Apparatus) and that through socialisation within the family, the ruling class maintains a false consciousness, justifying hierarchy and sharing the same norms and values among the working class. This prevents a revolution against the Capitalist system.
How do Marxists argue the family creates acceptance of hierarchy?
- Zeretsky saw the family as an escape route for workers from the oppression and exploitation of working in a Capitalist system. This ‘safe haven’ meant men could live with the oppression and provided them with motivation to keep working (to provide).
- There is a hierarchy in traditional nuclear families of father-mother-children which normalises it in the outer world.
How do Marxists see the family as a unit of consumption?
The family increases demand for products by:
1. ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ - families feel pressure to appear the perfect family so will buy lots of things which other families also have.
2. Media and companies target children as ‘pester power’ as parents buy things to please their wanting children.
Overall, how can we criticise Marxism?
- It is too deterministic - for example, many families reject consumerism.
- It ignores family diversity and the fact divorce is often more profitable for companies than married couples.
- It is too focused on social class and neglects gender inequality in all families.
- It ignores the benefits of a nuclear family - both parents can support the child. The nuclear family is accepted in most societies, including socialist ones.
What is Feminism?
A conflict theory that highlights the negative effects that society (i.e. the family) has upon women.
What are the two key ways the nuclear family oppresses women according to Feminists?
- The family socialises girls to accept subordinate roles within the family and boys to believe they are superior or dominant.
- The family socialises women into accepting the “housewife” role as normal, which limits their aspirations.
What is Marxist Feminism?
Feminists who believe the exploitative relations of capitalism are what cause patriarchal relations within the family.
In order to fix gender inequality, we must bring down Capitalism.
What are some key arguments made by Marxist Feminists?
- Women’s free domestic labour provides for the domestic needs of the male worker so they could keep serving the Capitalist economy.
- Fran Ansley said women played the traditional role as the “takers of shit”. They act as a safety valve and deal with the male worker’s frustration and emotion.
- The male worker feels pressure to work in order to provide for his family.
- Women reproduce and raise the next generation of Capitalist workers.
- Diane Feeley (1972) argues the family has an “authoritarian ideology” which teachers passivity and acceptance of hierarchy.
How can we evaluate Marxist Feminism?
- Women have many job opportunities now and there is no gender pay gap in younger generation.
- The majority of households are dual income now.
- Social policies make it easier for mothers to avoid the full-time housewife role.
- Capitalism can’t be the root of patriarchy because:
- Capitalism has intensified in the UK since the 1970s but women’s lives have generally improved.
- Patriarchy is found in non-Capitalist societies.
What is Radical Feminism?
Feminists who see society as patriarchal and believe all social institutions are systematically structured to support men and male domination over women.
What are some key ways Radical Feminists argue families oppresses women?
- The traditional family forces women into the housewife role.
- Physical violence maintains male dominance in the household.
- The private nuclear family makes the continuation of domestic abuse easier as it is hidden away.
What did the Radical Feminist Greer say about families?
Women are oppressed in three roles:
1. Women as wives - after the honeymoon, the man spends most of his time out of the house but the wife continues to serve him. Women are fooled into believing they need marriage to be happy.
2. Women as mothers - mothers are undervalued, mistreated and blamed in society.
3. Women as daughters - men exercise control over daughters. Girls are likely to experience sexual abuse from male family members.
What are some solutions according to Radical Feminists?
- Matriarchal households where all adults are women.
- Lesbian relationships.
How can we evaluate Radical Feminism?
- There is lots of generalisation but not much evidence (especially Greer).
- It is unrealistic - heterosexuality makes seperatism unlikely.
- It ignores domestic abuse against men.
What is Liberal Feminism?
Feminists who argue there is nothing inherantly wrong with the nuclear family and believe in campaigning, social policy change and empowering women.
What are some key Liberal Feminist ideas?
- Somerville:
- Promotes modest policy reforms rather than revolutionary change as we fail to acknowledge the progress already made.
- Many men are now willing to do their fair share.
- Women might do better without men but matriarchal households aren’t the correct solution. - March of progress suggests women are making good, gradual change and have been for a while.
What are some solutions suggested by Liberal Feminists?
- encourage employers to have more flexible hours for mothers and fathers.
- policies encouraging equal sharing of paternity and maternity leave (i.e. Shared Parental Leave Act 2015).
- free childcare.
How can we evaluate Liberal Feminism?
- Fails to recognise the extent of inequality still present.
- Focuses mainly on heterosexual relationships.
- Ethnocentric view which only recognises experiences of white, middle class women.
What is Difference Feminism?
It is the same as Black feminism: a perspective that sees how women are oppressed by the patriarchy but also by both Capitalism and racism. They argue that ethnic minority, working-class women are the most discriminated against people in society.
