Family And Households

Question 1

What is the functionalist theory of the nuclear family?

Answer 1

• Functions for the greater good of society
• They play a major role in the effective economy
• Adults and children benefit from the emotional wellbeing and satisfaction of family life
• Provides social support, identity and family life

Question 2

What did functionalist Murdock think about the nuclear family?

Answer 2

• It is so useful to society that it is universal and inevitable

Question 3

What are the 4 functions Murdock believed in? And what do they mean?

Answer 3

• Reproductive : Provides new members of society
• Sexual : Controls sexuality and provides stability for adults
• Economic : Family provides for its members
  Educational : Family socialises the young into societies in the norms and values

Question 4

What is primary socialisation?

Answer 4

Children learns the norms and values of society from parents

Question 5

What criticisms did Murdock’s theory get?

Answer 5

• View is ethnocentric
• Dated : does not take into account modern trends
  Thinks there is a right way to organise family two parents in a heterosexual marriage

Question 6

What are the two functions functionalist Parsons believes in?

Answer 6

• Primary socialisation : Children learn norms and values from parents
• The stabilisation of adult personalities : Family gives emotional support

Question 7

What were the effects of industrialisation?

Answer 7

• Extended families has to evolve into a smaller mobile nuclear unit
• Families has to be geographically mobile
• Specially devised occupational roles = social mobility
• Nuclear family became more independent because of no added pressures from extended kin
• Structural differentiation meant that the nuclear family could focus on reproducing and tearing the next modern work force

Question 8

What did Parsons believe about the primary socialisation of children?

Answer 8

• Happens during childhood and prepares a child for adult life
• Children could only become responsible parents if they were socialised into the right norms and values
• Sees it as a personality factory connecting children to wider society

Question 9

What did Parsons believe about the stabilisation of adult personality?

Answer 9

• Members of a nuclear family no longer have an extended kin that is easily available for advice
• The nuclear family acts a ‘warm bath’ they relieve the stress of work or society as a whole
• Sees it as essential to health and happiness therefore viewed the family as positive and beneficial place for all its members where people can be there natural self.

Question 10

Evaluation of the functionalist theory of the family?

Answer 10

• Ignores family diversity
• Idealises the nuclear family
• Ignores conflict and abuse within family
• Ignores rising divorce rates
• Generalises assumptions about nuclear family

Question 11

Why did Fletcher (1988) criticise Parsons theory?

Answer 11

• Wrong to suggest that the family had lost all functions
• Believes the family performs 3 unique and crucial functions :
  1. Satisfying long term sexual and emotional needs of parents
  2. Raising children in a stable environment
  3. The provision of a home to which all family members return home after work/school

Question 12

What is the Marxist theory of the family?

Answer 12

• See the nuclear family as serving the interests of the ruling class ideology to serve the capitalists

Question 13

What did Marxist Engels believe?

Answer 13

• The ruling class encouraged the nuclear family in order to protect their property and wealth
• Wanted to make sure their children would inherit everything