FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS: THEORIES OF THE FAMILY Flashcards
What is the functionalist view of the family?
-VALUE CONSENSUS: shared agreement of norms and values in society
-Consensus view that it provides beneficial functions.
What is the Marxist view of the family?
-Conflict view that it maintains class inequalities.
what does Murdock say are the 4 main functions performed by the family?
-satisfaction of the sex drive
-reproduction of the next generation
-socialisation of the next generation
-meet economic needs e.g. food, shelter, resources
what are two criticisms of Murdock’s functionalist view of the family?
-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
What is the organic analogy?
-Society is made up of interdependent parts that work together to maintain the social system as a whole.
what is the nuclear family?
- married parents with children
what is the extended family?
-multiple generations living under one roof
What are the functions of the family in pre-industrial society according to Parsons?
-Production and consumption.
According to Parsons why does the industrial society need to be geographically and socially mobile?
-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.
how does the nuclear family meets each of these two needs?
-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)
what are 3 criticisms of Parsons? (FUNCTIONALIST)
-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.
What are the two irreducible functions of the nuclear family according to Parsons?
-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
What is the definition of irreducible functions?
-Functions that cannot be performed by any other institution.
what are the 2 types of classes identified by Marxists?
- capitalist class: the Bourgeoise (own means of production)
-working class: the Proletariat (sell their labour= so don’t own anything)
What is the purpose of the family according to Engels? (MARXIST)
-To pass private property to biological offspring, notably a son.
according to Engels why is monogamy essential in class society?
-monogamy is essential for men to ensure their property is passed down to their own legitimate heirs
according to Engels what did the rise of the monogamous nuclear family mean for women?
-“defeat of the female sex”- women’s sexuality now controlled by men
(instrument for production of children)
according to Marxists why will the overthrow of capitalism mean the end of the patriarchal nuclear family?
- only complete overthrown of capitalism can liberate women
what is the Marxist definition of ideology?
- set of ideas and beliefs
what are 2 ideological functions of the family for MARXISTS?
-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.
what are 3 ways in which a family is an important market for consumer goods?
-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
what are 3 criticisms of the Marxist perspective?
-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
What is the impact of nuclear families according to Poulantzas?
-Brainwashes them into thinking capitalism is fair, teaching them to conform and cooperate with the system.
What is the view of liberal feminists?
-Gender inequality is gradually being overcome through reform and policy change.
what do liberal feminists campaign for?
-march of progress view
-full equality but hasn’t been done YET but there there is gradual progress made
in what way do liberal feminists agree with march of progress theorists?
-men have taken over by being more involved in domestic labour and socialisation of children has become more equal
why are liberal feminists criticised by other feminists?
-other feminists argue liberal feminists are naive for suggesting things have changed and that more radical change is needed to free women
What is the role of women in reproducing the labour force according to Marxist feminists?
-Socializing the next generation of workers to serve capitalism (which is the oppressor)
What is the role of women in absorbing men’s anger according to Marxist feminists?
-Soaking up their husband’s frustration from being exploited at work.
What is the role of women as a reserve army of cheap labour according to Marxist feminists?
-When not needed, women workers can return to their domestic role.
what are the 2 features of the division between men and women in patriarchal society?
-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)
what are 2 solutions that radical feminists propose to overcome women’s oppression?
-the only way for women to be safe is through separation
-political lesbianism or matrilocal households
why do liberal feminists criticise radical feminists?
-somerville: radical feminists ignore the progress made (divorce, role equality, choice around marriage)
what is the main argument of difference feminism?
-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
why do other feminists reject the difference feminist view?
-ignores shared experiences of women e.g. domestic violence/abuse
-it undermines the movement (disagreements with opinions)
what are 2 features that functionalists, marxists and feminists perspectives on the family can be said to share?
-they all assume the nuclear family is dominant
(ignores family diversity)
-they are all structural (assumes we are puppets to the institutions)
what is the main emphasis of the PERSONAL LIFE PERSPECTIVE?
-Influenced by Interactionist ideas & argues that to understand families must start from point of view of individual concerned & meanings they give to relationships.
what are examples of relationships that may give a sense of belonging? (with ties of blood & marriage and without them)
-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.
in what ways does the personal life perspective challenge the conventional ‘blood and marriage’ view family relationships?
-family is defined by the individual themselves not by blood or marriage.
what are donor conceived children?
-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.
what problems might be faced by donor-received children, their parents and others?
-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..
Evaluation of personal life perspective (PLP) :
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.
Nordquist and Smart (2014): (PLP)
-what counts as a family when your child shares a genetic link with a relative stranger but not with your partner? (donor conceived children)
Greer (2000) (RADICAL FEMINIST)
-argues for the creation of all female ‘matrilocal’ households as an alternative to the patriarchal heterosexual family
Ansley (1972) (MARXIST)
-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
