FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS: THEORIES OF THE FAMILY

Question 1

What is the functionalist view of the family?

Answer 1

-VALUE CONSENSUS: shared agreement of norms and values in society
-Consensus view that it provides beneficial functions.

Question 2

What is the Marxist view of the family?

Answer 2

-Conflict view that it maintains class inequalities.

Question 3

what does Murdock say are the 4 main functions performed by the family?

Answer 3

-satisfaction of the sex drive
-reproduction of the next generation
-socialisation of the next generation
-meet economic needs e.g. food, shelter, resources

Question 4

what are two criticisms of Murdock’s functionalist view of the family?

Answer 4

-those same functions can be performed by other institutions and by non-nuclear family structures
-Murdock’s view are ‘rose-tinted’ so it ignores negatives e.g. power imbalance
-Feminists view: family serves the needs of men oppressing women

Question 5

What is the organic analogy?

Answer 5

-Society is made up of interdependent parts that work together to maintain the social system as a whole.

Question 6

what is the nuclear family?

Answer 6

• married parents with children

Question 7

what is the extended family?

Answer 7

-multiple generations living under one roof

Question 8

What are the functions of the family in pre-industrial society according to Parsons?

Answer 8

-Production and consumption.

Question 9

According to Parsons why does the industrial society need to be geographically and socially mobile?

Answer 9

-geographically mobile requires people to work to where the work is.
-social mobility allows people to move up the ‘class system’ due to more opportunity.

Question 10

how does the nuclear family meets each of these two needs?

Answer 10

-it’s easier to move as a nuclear family (less expensive)
-geographically mobile workforce allows to move easier for work
-socially mobile workforce- nuclear family provides opportunity for social mobility (allows for child to become head of household when moving out)

Question 11

what are 3 criticisms of Parsons? (FUNCTIONALIST)

Answer 11

-Young and Willmott: nuclear family has always been dominant
-Anderson: family structure based on class so is better for w/c family to maintain an extended family (due to additional support and lack of welfare state)
-The extended family is still present in modern society and is dominant in certain cultures.

Question 12

What are the two irreducible functions of the nuclear family according to Parsons?

Answer 12

-Primary socialisation of the young: equip them with basic skills, norms and values
-Stabilisation of adult personalities: space for adults to relax and take out frustrations in order to return to work refreshed

Question 13

What is the definition of irreducible functions?

Answer 13

-Functions that cannot be performed by any other institution.

Question 14

what are the 2 types of classes identified by Marxists?

Answer 14

• capitalist class: the Bourgeoise (own means of production)
  -working class: the Proletariat (sell their labour= so don’t own anything)

Question 15

What is the purpose of the family according to Engels? (MARXIST)

Answer 15

-To pass private property to biological offspring, notably a son.

Question 16

according to Engels why is monogamy essential in class society?

Answer 16

-monogamy is essential for men to ensure their property is passed down to their own legitimate heirs

Question 17

according to Engels what did the rise of the monogamous nuclear family mean for women?

Answer 17

-“defeat of the female sex”- women’s sexuality now controlled by men
(instrument for production of children)

Question 18

according to Marxists why will the overthrow of capitalism mean the end of the patriarchal nuclear family?

Answer 18

• only complete overthrown of capitalism can liberate women

Question 19

what is the Marxist definition of ideology?

Answer 19

• set of ideas and beliefs

Question 20

what are 2 ideological functions of the family for MARXISTS?

Answer 20

-socialisation of children into the norms of hierarchy and inequality (parental power/household hierarchy) for the workforce
-Zaretsky (1976)- family offers a ‘safe haven’ from the exploitative capitalist world- this is an illusion to make workers seen they are being looked after.

Question 21

what are 3 ways in which a family is an important market for consumer goods?

Answer 21

-family are exploited as workers and used to make profit on products produced
-advertising: to keep up with the latest trends
-media targets children: ‘pester power’ to persuade parents to spend more

Question 22

what are 3 criticisms of the Marxist perspective?

Answer 22

-assumes that the nuclear family is dominant so ignores the positives of the family
-FEMINISM: ignores the importance of gender inequality in the family
-FUNCTIONALISM: ignores the benefits of the family

Question 23

What is the impact of nuclear families according to Poulantzas?

Answer 23

-Brainwashes them into thinking capitalism is fair, teaching them to conform and cooperate with the system.

Question 24

What is the view of liberal feminists?

Answer 24

-Gender inequality is gradually being overcome through reform and policy change.

Question 25

what do liberal feminists campaign for?

Answer 25

-march of progress view
-full equality but hasn’t been done YET but there there is gradual progress made

Question 26

in what way do liberal feminists agree with march of progress theorists?

Answer 26

-men have taken over by being more involved in domestic labour and socialisation of children has become more equal

Question 27

why are liberal feminists criticised by other feminists?

Answer 27

-other feminists argue liberal feminists are naive for suggesting things have changed and that more radical change is needed to free women

Question 28

What is the role of women in reproducing the labour force according to Marxist feminists?

Answer 28

-Socializing the next generation of workers to serve capitalism (which is the oppressor)

Question 29

What is the role of women in absorbing men’s anger according to Marxist feminists?

Answer 29

-Soaking up their husband’s frustration from being exploited at work.

Question 30

What is the role of women as a reserve army of cheap labour according to Marxist feminists?

Answer 30

-When not needed, women workers can return to their domestic role.

Question 31

what are the 2 features of the division between men and women in patriarchal society?

Answer 31

-men are the enemy : the source of female oppression
-the family/marriage are institutions that allow men to dominate women and benefit from female subservience (domestic labour/sexual service)

Question 32

what are 2 solutions that radical feminists propose to overcome women’s oppression?

Answer 32

-the only way for women to be safe is through separation
-political lesbianism or matrilocal households

Question 33

why do liberal feminists criticise radical feminists?

Answer 33

-somerville: radical feminists ignore the progress made (divorce, role equality, choice around marriage)

Question 34

what is the main argument of difference feminism?

Answer 34

-most feminist stances assume a shared experience.
-NOT the case as women across society have very different experiences e.g. black feminists argue the family performs a positive function of being a safe space from racism

Question 35

why do other feminists reject the difference feminist view?

Answer 35

-ignores shared experiences of women e.g. domestic violence/abuse
-it undermines the movement (disagreements with opinions)

Question 36

what are 2 features that functionalists, marxists and feminists perspectives on the family can be said to share?

Answer 36

-they all assume the nuclear family is dominant
(ignores family diversity)
-they are all structural (assumes we are puppets to the institutions)

Question 37

what is the main emphasis of the PERSONAL LIFE PERSPECTIVE?

Answer 37

-Influenced by Interactionist ideas & argues that to understand families must start from point of view of individual concerned & meanings they give to relationships.

Question 38

what are examples of relationships that may give a sense of belonging? (with ties of blood & marriage and without them)

Answer 38

-Draws attention to range of other personal or intimate relationships = important to people even if not in family:
- relationships with friends = bro/sis to you.
- fictive kin = close friends treated as relatives - call them auntie.
- gay & lesbian chosen families = made up of supportive network of close friends, exes & others not related.
- dead relatives.
- pets.

Question 39

in what ways does the personal life perspective challenge the conventional ‘blood and marriage’ view family relationships?

Answer 39

-family is defined by the individual themselves not by blood or marriage.

Question 40

what are donor conceived children?

Answer 40

-Smart - issue of blood & genes raise range of feelings. Some parents emphasized importance of social relationships over genetic ones - mum of egg donor child & defines being mum as time & effort put in raising daughter not how cell starts it.

Question 41

what problems might be faced by donor-received children, their parents and others?

Answer 41

-appearance because it can be hurtful for the non-genetic parent as the child doesn’t look like their adopted parents
-if the donor is known then conversations around how far their family is counted as the child’s family e.g. grandparents, donor’s other children etc..

Question 42

Evaluation of personal life perspective (PLP) :

Answer 42

Critics - (TOO BROAD VIEW) ignore what’s special about relationships that’s are based on blood or marriage.
PLP rejects top down view.
Does see intimate relationships as performing important function of providing sense of belonging.
PLP recognizes relatedness not always positive.

Question 43

Nordquist and Smart (2014): (PLP)

Answer 43

-what counts as a family when your child shares a genetic link with a relative stranger but not with your partner? (donor conceived children)

Question 44

Greer (2000) (RADICAL FEMINIST)

Answer 44

-argues for the creation of all female ‘matrilocal’ households as an alternative to the patriarchal heterosexual family

Question 45

Ansley (1972) (MARXIST)

Answer 45

-marxist feminist perspective, wives are the takers of shit, who soak up the frustration their husbands feel because of the alienation and exploitation they suffer at work