families and households

Question 1

what are murdocks 4 functions of the family

Answer 1

sexual, reproduction, primary socailisation and economic

Question 2

what is the sexual function? (murdock)

Answer 2

teaching children to only have sex when married and sex should only be between a man and a woman.
evaluation:
no longer relevant - rise in same sex couples and cohabitation

Question 3

what is the reproduction function? (murdock)

Answer 3

give birth to the next generation to ensure the continuation of society
evaluation:
rise in single parent and same sex families

Question 4

what is the primary socialisation function? (murdock)

Answer 4

teaching children society’s norms and values
evaluation:
marxists - family teaches ruling class values
feminists - family teaches patriarchal values

Question 5

what is the economic function? (murdock)

Answer 5

provide food and shelter for family and act as a unit of consumption
evaluation:
other family types carry out this function

Question 6

what is parsons primary socialisation function?

Answer 6

the family is the first place where children learn about society’s shared norms and values. parents teach norms and values, which creates value consensus

Question 7

evaluation of parsons primary socialisation function

Answer 7

parsons assumes that all children are socialised effectively and had a happy childhood.
ignores issues like child poverty - causes financial stress - negative impact on relationships

Question 8

what is parsons SOAP function?

Answer 8

stabilisation of adult personalities - the family is a place where the man can relax and relive tensions so they can return to the workplace refreshed - ‘warm bath theory’
keeps economy running efficiently as all workers are happy and satisfied

Question 9

evaluation of parsons SOAP theory

Answer 9

ignores the dark side of the family eg. conflict and domestic violence. stress over the recent cost of living crisis - rising domestic violence
feminists would argue the ‘warm bath’ is patriarchal and only benefits males

Question 10

what is parsons gender roles theory?

Answer 10

two roles based on biological differences:
>instrumental role - breadwinner male provides money for the family
>expressive role - housewife, caregiver. caring for elderly relatives and children and providing emotion work (all members are happy)

Question 11

evaluation of parsons gender roles theory

Answer 11

> today, attitudes are changing - a woman’s role is no longer restricted to the home. increase in dual earner families and men taking on the expressive role (househusbands)
ignores roles of same sex couples that are not based on biological differences. adult roles are fluid and flexible, decided by the couples themselves

Question 12

what are the 4 marxist theories on the funtions of the family?

Answer 12

private property is passed down to males, transmit ruling class ideology, unit of consumption and to act as a safe haven (illusion)

Question 13

what is the function of passing on private property to males? (Engels)

Answer 13

> according to engels, the monogamous nuclear family provided a means of passing on private property to male heirs.
monogamy provided proof of paternity (who the father is) - property was passed down to biological sons
this is patrilineality (inheritance through the male line)
prevents distribution of wealth and power, reproducing and maintaining social class inequality

Question 14

evaluation of engels’ theory (passing down private property)

Answer 14

> other studies say that nuclear families were around before capitalism developed
theory is outdated because property can now be passed down to anyone not just males - however, it is still relevant because wealth and power is still kept within the family - social class inequality is still reproduced and maintained

Question 15

what is the function of transmitting ruling class ideology? (althusser)

Answer 15

> family is a key part of the ideological state apparatus (ISA) - controlling how people think by passing on ideas and beliefs that benefit the ruling class and capitalism
family socialises its members to accept capitalism, convincing members that it’s fair and unchangeable
children learn about power relationships. parents have power over their children which prepares them for later life when their boss will have power in the workplace
ruling class continue to make a profit, maintaining capitalist economy.
family maintains a false class consciousness (unaware of exploitation) - children are brainwashed into loving capitalism

Question 16

evaluation of althusser’s theory (transmit ruling class ideology)

Answer 16

> functionalists argue that the family passes on society’s shared norms and values, rather than those of the ruling class.
feminists also argue the family passes on patriarchal norms and values
child liberationists would agree that parents have power over their children. age patriarchy gets children used to the idea that there’s always someone in charge. however they argue that adults control all parts of their children’s lives to make them dependent on adults, rather than prepare them for work

Question 17

what is the function of acting as a unit of consumption? (zaretsky and marcuse)

Answer 17

> families generate profit for ruling class through consumption
ads urge families to ‘keep up with the joneses’ to buy all the latest products
children grow up to value consumerism (wanting more and more things)
marcuse argues that ads for new toys give children ‘false needs’ (they must have them or they will never be happy)
children use their ‘pester power’ to nag their parents to buy the things they want, not need

Question 18

evaluation of zaretsky and marcuse’s theory (unit of consumption)

Answer 18

> we are not passively brainwashed by capitalism to buy consumer products. postmodernists argue that the products we buy reflect individual identities and choices. they reject the views of marxists, saying that life is characterised by choice, fluidity, diversity and change
functionalists argue that the family acting as a unit of consumption is positive as it benefits everyone in society, not just the ruling class

Question 19

what is the function of the safe haven - illusion? (zaretsky)

Answer 19

> people are led to believe the family is a safe haven - a place to relax and unwind
family offers a ‘buffer zone’ from the harsh exploitation at work
at home, members can be themselves and have a private life away from the alienation of capitalism
however, this is an ideological illusion - this function benefits capitalism and prevents revolution

Question 20

evaluation of zaretsky’s theory (safe haven - illusion)

Answer 20

functionalists would disagree: parsons argues that the family is a haven, where adults can relax and release tensions, like a bubble bath. parsons calls this the warm bath theory. unlike zaretsky who claims that families only benefit the ruling class, parsons argues the family is a positive, happy place for everyone