Family Flashcards
TYPES OF FAMILIES
What are the types of families?
Nuclear - Consists of a mother and a father who are married/partnership with children (63% of UK population 2021)
Same sex - A nuclear family lead by a same sex couple.
Extended - Family members beyond the nuclear family, multiple generations; cousins, parents or grandparents.
Lone parents - A family that consists of a lone mother or lone father and dependent children (15.4% of UK population 2021.)
Reconstituted - Step families.
Cohabitating - (18% of UK population)
TYPES OF FAMILIES
What is a family?
A social institution consisting of a group of people, related by kingship ties: relations of blood, marriage/ civil partnership or adoption.
Cohabiting couples not linked by kingship can also be regarded as a family unit.
3 million in uk 2021.
FUNCTIONALISTS ON FAMILY
What is the functionalist view on the family?
A nuclear family is the ideal family, for industrial society. According to functionalists, the family has four primary functions: reproduction, socialisation, economic, emotional.
The family performs the vital function of socializing children and transmitting cultural values/norms to the next generation.
Through processes like role modeling, reinforcement, and sanctions, the family teaches children the norms and values that will allow them to function effectively in society.
Children learn gender roles by observing and modeling the behavior of their same-sex parent. They learn what behaviors and attitudes are appropriate for their gender.
Other core social norms like sharing, obedience, respect for authority are also learned through family interactions and discipline techniques.
Socialization helps ensure social stability and continuity as each new generation learns the appropriate way to behave and what is expected of them in their future roles.
The nuclear family structure is seen as most efficient for socializing children. Clear gender roles and authority hierarchies facilitate normative learning.
FUNCTIONALISTS ON FAMILY
What is Murdock’s view on the family?
Family performs four functions: sexual, reproduction, socialisation, economic.
Murdock believed the family serves important economic functions that are universally necessary for human survival and reproduction.
One of the primary functions is production - the family provides economic cooperation by dividing labor between family members, especially in pre-industrial societies. Members work together to produce goods and services.
It facilitates distribution by determining how goods/resources produced by the family unit will be allocated and shared among members. This can include inheritance. Inheritance and property transmission between generations also had important economic functions in perpetuating family businesses, land ownership, skills from parents to children.
He believed the family is the primary economic institution for fulfilling basic human needs and reproducing the labor force from one generation to the next.
FUNCTIONALISTS ON FAMILY
What is the Parson’s view on the family?
Parsons argued that the family serves as a crucial source of emotional support and stability for adults.
Within the family, individuals find emotional fulfillment, love, and a sense of belonging. The family acts as a private sphere where individuals can relax and seek solace from the pressures of the outside world.
Within the family structure, spouses and parents learn stable and clearly defined gender roles as men and women. This gives them a clear role and identity.
Living out these roles (e.g. husband/father as breadwinner, wife/mother as homemaker) helps socialize individuals into well-adjusted adults and stabilizes their personality development.
Having a set position within the family allows individuals to gain a sense of self-worth, belonging and mastery over their responsibilities.
This emotional support contributes to the overall well-being and mental stability of adults.
Warm bath theory: A stressful working man returns home to be ‘de-stressed’ by his wife and family -> reduces social conflict.
FUNCTIONALISTS ON FAMILY
What are the criticisms of the functionalist view on the family?
The functionalist definition of the family as a nuclear unit consisting of a heterosexual couple and their biological children has been criticized for being too narrow. It overlooks other family forms, such as single-parent families, same-sex couples, extended families, and chosen families, which are prevalent in many societies. Critics argue that this limited definition excludes important variations and fails to acknowledge the diverse ways in which families are structured.
Murdock’s perspective tends to overlook issues of conflict, power dynamics, and inequalities within families. Critics argue that it fails to address issues such as gender roles, patriarchy, domestic violence, and other forms of family-related inequalities. These criticisms highlight the need to consider the ways in which families can also be sites of tension and social problems, rather than solely focusing on their functional aspects.
Parsons’ perspective has been criticized for reinforcing traditional gender roles and perpetuating gender inequality. His assumption that men are primarily responsible for instrumental tasks and women for expressive tasks reflects a limited understanding of gender roles. This perspective overlooks the diversity of family structures and the changing roles of women and men in contemporary society. Critics argue that Parsons’ view neglects the agency of individuals in shaping their roles within the family and reinforces gender-based inequalities.
NEW RIGHTS VIEW
What is the new rights view on the family?
A nuclear family is the ideal family.
The New Right promotes the idea of the nuclear family as the ideal family structure. They emphasize the importance of a heterosexual couple living together with their biological children.
They argue that this traditional family structure provides stability, promotes moral values, and is essential for the well-being of individuals and society.
Supports traditional gender roles within the family, with men being the primary breadwinners and women primarily responsible for domestic duties and childcare. They advocate for the preservation of traditional family values, including notions of marriage, monogamy, and emphasizing the importance of family cohesion and stability.
NEW RIGHTS VIEW
What is Murray’s view on the family? (1984)
Murray has been critical of government welfare policies, particularly those that he believes ecourage single parenthood and discourage marriage.
He argues that welfare programs can inadvertently undermine the family structure by creating disincentives for individuals to form and maintain stable marriages.
Murray suggests that welfare reforms should be geared toward promoting self-sufficiency and encouraging marriage as a means of reducing poverty and social problems.
NEW RIGHTS VIEW
What are the criticisms of the new right view on family?
Critics also assert that Murray’s views on the family and related social issues fail to adequately address the impact of social inequality. They argue that his emphasis on individual responsibility can overlook the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities and perpetuate social inequities. Critics argue for a more intersectional approach that considers how race, class, gender, and other social factors intersect to shape family outcomes.
The New Right’s emphasis on traditional gender roles within the family has been criticized for reinforcing gender inequality. By promoting the idea that men should be primary breadwinners and women should primarily focus on domestic duties and childcare, it restricts individuals’ choices and potential and perpetuates rigid gender norms. Critics argue that this perspective hinders progress towards gender equality and fails to recognize the value of gender equity within families.
MARXIST VIEW ON FAMILY:
What is the Marxist view on the family?
Marxists argue that the family plays a role in the reproduction of labor power. It provides the necessary conditions for raising and socializing children to become future workers.
The family is responsible for instilling the values, skills, and behaviors required for individuals to participate in the capitalist labor market.
Marxists view the family as a mechanism for the transmission of private property and inheritance.
The family promotes the values of individualism, competition, and obedience to authority, which are necessary for the functioning of capitalist societies.
The family unit serves to ensure the transfer of wealth and property from one generation to the next, consolidating the ownership of the means of production within a select few.
MARXIST VIEW ON FAMILY:
How is the family a tool of capitalism according to Zaretsky?
Zaretsky recognizes that the family provides emotional support and a sense of belonging for individuals within capitalist societies.
However, he contends that this emotional support is often limited and conditioned by the pressures and alienation of capitalist relations. The demands of work and the commodification of personal relationships can lead to emotional strain and disconnection within familial bonds.
Zaretsky acknowledges that the family can provide a temporary refuge from the harsh realities of capitalism.
He suggests that the private sphere of the family offers a space where individuals can find solace and personal fulfillment away from the competitive and exploitative nature of the capitalist market. However, he emphasizes that this refuge is limited and does not fundamentally challenge the capitalist system.
MARXIST VIEW ON FAMILY:
How is the family a tool of capitalism according to Althusser? (socialisation)
The family socialises the next generation into ruling class ideology.
Althusser posited that the family plays a crucial role in the reproduction of ideology. It functions as an apparatus through which dominant ideologies, norms, and values are transmitted from one generation to the next.
The family, as an ISA, contributes to the formation of individuals who internalize and reproduce the dominant ideology of the ruling class.
Maintains capitalism by ensuring the next generation accepts ruling class ideology.
MARXIST VIEW ON FAMILY:
What are the criticisms of the Marxist view on the family?
Critics argue that Althusser’s focus on ideology and the role of the family as an ideological state apparatus may lead to a reductionist understanding of familial relationships. They contend that his framework overlooks the complex and multifaceted nature of family dynamics, including emotional connections, personal experiences, and individual agency, which cannot be solely explained by ideological factors.
Some critics argue that Zaretsky’s analysis does not adequately consider intersectional perspectives. They contend that his focus on the traditional nuclear family and its relationship to capitalism overlooks the experiences of marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, single parents, and families of diverse cultural backgrounds. By not considering the specific challenges and dynamics faced by these groups, Zaretsky’s analysis may fail to capture the full complexity of family life under capitalism.
Critics argue that the marxist’s analysis does not provide concrete solutions for transforming the family within capitalism. While they acknowledge the potential for change, critics contend that their work offers limited guidance on how to challenge and reshape the oppressive dynamics within families. This criticism calls for a more actionable and practical approach to address the issues identified.
FEMINIST VIEW ON FAMILY:
What are the Marxists feminist’s view on the family?
The family contributes to women’s oppression by performing capitalist functions:
- Women reproduce the labour force by socialising the next generation of workers and servicing the current workers (their husbands.)
- Women absorb the anger of the proletariat who are exploited - links to warm bath theory.
- Women are a reserve army of cheap labour because of their primary domestic role at home so they are restricted from working until the bourgeoisie needs them.
E.g. Fran Ansley (1972) claims that women’s male partners are frustrated by the exploitation they experience which may lead to domestic violence - justified by 1 in 4 women compared to 1 in 7 men.
FEMINIST VIEW ON FAMILY:
What are Radical feminist’s view on the family?
Radical feminists criticize the family for socializing children into gender roles and norms that perpetuate inequality. They argue that from an early age, children are taught and expected to conform to rigid gender expectations, leading to the reproduction of patriarchal values and behaviors.
They highlight the prevalence of domestic violence and abuse within the family. They argue that the family, as a private and intimate space, can perpetuate violent and oppressive behaviors, often targeting women and children.
Hetero relationships are based on patriarchy because men cause women’s exploitation and oppression.
Heterosexual relationships causes women to be dependent on their husbands therefore, according to Germaine Greer single women are happier as shown by the large number of divorces instigated by women.
E.g. Kate Millet claims that the family is the chief institution of patriarchy as it encourages people to conform to the patriarchal state.
FEMINIST VIEW ON FAMILY:
What are Liberal feminist’s view on the family?
Liberal feminists emphasize the importance of individual autonomy and choice in shaping family dynamics. They argue that individuals should have the freedom to make decisions about their family structure, relationships, and roles, free from societal expectations and constraints.
Liberal feminists advocate for policies and societal support systems that enable individuals, especially women, to balance their work and family responsibilities. They often highlight the need for affordable childcare, flexible work arrangements, and policies that promote equal sharing of caregiving duties between partners.
Liberal feminists prioritize equal access to education, employment, and economic opportunities for women within the family
E.g. Ann oakley claims that the conventional family puts unnecessary stress on both the wife and husband in families:
- Mothers are always at home – this leads to depression and dissatisfaction.
- Men are always at work – this leads to stress and health issues as he worries about providing for his family.
FEMINIST VIEW ON FAMILY:
What are the criticisms of the feminist’s view on the family?
Some argue that liberal feminism’s focus on legal and policy reforms does not sufficiently challenge the underlying patriarchal power structures that perpetuate gender inequality within the family. It is criticized for not addressing the broader societal and cultural norms that shape family dynamics.
Marxist feminism is criticized for reducing all social relations to economic relations and overlooking other forms of power and oppression, such as cultural, emotional, and psychological dynamics within the family. Critics argue that it does not fully capture the multidimensional nature of gender inequality within the family.
Some argue that radical feminism’s focus on gender conflict and male dominance within the family overlooks the potential for cooperation, love, and mutual support within familial relationships. Critics contend that it presents a one-sided and negative view of family dynamics.
PERSONAL LIFE PERSPECTIVE ON THE FAMILY:
According to Carol Smart, what are the concepts of personal life?
-Memory: emotions and interactions influence relationships strength and bonds.
-Biography: previous experiences and pathways influence present relationships.
-Embeddedness: connections and interactions with people influence the relationships strength and bonds.
-Relationality: the nature of the relationships we have with people.
-Imaginary: How we view a certain relationship.
PERSONAL LIFE PERSPECTIVE ON THE FAMILY:
What is the personal life perspective on the family?
The personal life perspective recognizes the agency of individuals in shaping their familial and intimate relationships.
It highlights the subjective experiences, emotions, desires, and choices of individuals within their families. This perspective acknowledges that individuals actively negotiate and make meaning of their family lives, and that their experiences may differ from societal norms or expectations.
The personal life perspective recognizes the diversity and variation of family forms and relationships. It acknowledges that families can take various forms beyond the traditional nuclear family, such as single-parent families, blended families, same-sex families, cohabiting couples, and chosen families.
This perspective emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all model of family, and that families can be shaped by individual circumstances, cultural backgrounds, and personal choices.
This perspective recognizes that emotions and affective experiences play a central role in shaping individuals’ experiences and the dynamics of their family lives.
PERSONAL LIFE PERSPECTIVE ON THE FAMILY:
What are the criticisms of the personal life perspective on the family?
Some critics argue that the personal life perspective does not adequately address power relations within families. While it recognizes individuals’ agency, it may not sufficiently consider how power dynamics, such as gender, race, and class inequalities, influence familial relationships and shape individuals’ experiences. Ignoring power imbalances may lead to an incomplete understanding of family dynamics.
Critics argue that the personal life perspective’s focus on individual experiences and narratives may limit its generalizability. By prioritizing subjective experiences, it may be challenging to draw broader conclusions about family dynamics and patterns. This criticism calls for a more balanced approach that incorporates both individual experiences and broader societal influences.
POSTMODERNISM ON THE FAMILY:
What is the postmodernist view on the family?
Postmodernists argue that the idea of a universal or fixed family structure is outdated. They suggest that families are diverse and fragmented, taking various forms and arrangements that challenge traditional nuclear family norms. Postmodernists highlight the existence of non-traditional family structures, such as single-parent families, blended families, same-sex families, cohabiting couples, and chosen families, among others.
Postmodernists emphasize the fluid and unstable nature of families. They argue that family structures and relationships are constantly changing and evolving, influenced by individual choices, personal needs, and cultural shifts. Postmodernism rejects the notion of a stable and permanent family structure, instead highlighting the dynamic and transient nature of family arrangements.
E.g. Giddens claims that traditional social structures have lost a lot of their influence over peoples actions and decisions. People’s ascribed roles based on their class, gender and religion, prevented them from choosing their own family type. Now that we have been freed from these social structures we can choose the family that meets our needs.
POSTMODERNISM ON THE FAMILY:
What are the criticisms of the post modernists view on the family?
Critics contend that postmodernism may downplay or neglect power dynamics and inequalities within families. By emphasizing individual agency and diverse family constructions, it may overlook the ways in which power imbalances, such as gender, class, and race, shape family relationships and constrain individuals’ choices. This criticism highlights the need to consider broader structural factors that influence family dynamics. IIndividuals are not completely free to construct their identities or choose their family arrangements.
