Family

Question 1

What are the 4 functionalist functions of the family and who proposed them?

Answer 1

Murdock.

1. expressing sexuality in socially approved context.
2. providing stability for reproduction of children.
3. primary socialisation of children.
4. economic needs e.g. food and shelter.

Question 2

What did Parsons proposed about functions of family?

Answer 2

1. Primary socialisation of children into societies culture such as language and values.
2. Stabilisation of human personalities through sexual division of labour in family. Women = expressive and men = instrumental.

Question 3

What are 6 reasons for the decline in the extended family?

Answer 3

1. Geographical mobility.
2. Higher rate of social mobility
3. Growth in wealth and income
4. Grow in meritocracy
5. Avoids possibility of economic differences causing conflict
6. Protect family stability by strengthening bonds

Question 4

What are 4 criticisms of functionalist approach of family?

Answer 4

1. Downplays conflict in family and has a rose-tinted goggle view.
2. Out of date social roles, old fashioned and independent women.
3. Ignores exploitation of women.
4. Ignores harmful effects of family like emotional stress.

Question 5

Who says the family has not lost its function and what does he argue?

Answer 5

Fletcher.
The family now has more responsibility through welfare state and social services. The family plays an important economic role.

Question 6

Summarise the New Right perspective on the family?

Answer 6

Support traditional values and institutions. Traditional heterosexual family is important and should remain dominant. It’s under threat from social changes and is leading to social instability. Welfare state has undermined self help and encourages single parents. They call this a dependency class.

Question 7

What is a dependency culture?

Answer 7

New Right theory that we become dependent on benefits from the welfare state and lack self-help.

Question 8

Summarise the Marxist perspective on the family?

Answer 8

Family is a capitalist framework driven by private property and profit. Family teaches members to submit to the capitalist class and allows fathers to pass their property onto their son. Family is an ideological state apparatus and maintains false class consciousness.

Question 9

Who proposed social control and surveillance and what did he say?

Answer 9

Focault.
The state watches people and exercises control over them. People police their own behaviour and accept norms of society. Mothers are pressured to police their children and watch over them.

Question 10

What are the 4 main themes in feminist analysis of the family?

Answer 10

1. Family is a place of work for women e.g. housework.
2. Myth of symmetrical family
3. Dependency of women on men’s earnings
4. Domestic violence

Question 11

What do liberal feminists propose?

Answer 11

1. Change socialisation and parenting practices to avoid stereotyping.
2. Establish and assert legal rights of women as individuals.
3. Establishment of equality in maternity and paternity leave.
4. Better and cheaper childcare.
5. More sharing of housework
6. Stronger action against domestic violence.

Question 12

What do radical feminists say?

Answer 12

Men are the obstacle to women’s equality. Women should reject men and families altogether.

Question 13

Summarise the postmodern perspective of the family?

Answer 13

Society is constantly changing. We are no longer constrained by traditional values. Diversity and consumer choice is a key part of our lives. Pick n mix society.