Family: General functionalism and Marxism

Question 1

What did Murdock, 1949, claim the 4 functions of the family were?

Answer 1

1. Socialisation/ social solidarity
2. Reproduction
3. Sexual
4. Economic

Question 2

What was Parson’s view on the family? Why did he think this?

Answer 2

He argued that the family had the division of labour - women were the expressive role and men participated in the instrumental role.
He thought this as he believed that industrial society threatened to destabilise adult personalities and so the divide were a way of conquering this.

Question 3

What do functionalist sociologists believe?

Answer 3

They believe that society functions on a value consensus, where everyone agrees on the the cultural norms and values of society.

Question 4

Define the term ‘privatised nuclear family’ and the list the two reasons for why is has emerged:

Answer 4

The ‘privatised nuclear family’ is a self-sufficient nuclear family.
It has emerged because:
1. The need for social mobility surrounding employment etc.
2. With the development of the Welfare state, NHS, etc, the nuclear family is less dependent on the extended family, this has weakened the bond.

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Parson’s expressive and instrumental role?

Answer 5

Expressive role:

  - Provides warmth and security
  - Provides the emotional support for children and partners

Instrumental role:

  - Is the breadwinner of the family
  - Leads to stress and anxiety which the women relieves sexually or emotionally

Question 6

Name some characteristics of the privatised nuclear family:

Answer 6

• Self-sufficient
• Members free time is spent on family leisure or completing jobs around the house
• They know more about pop culture than their neighbors
• Isolated

Question 7

What family type did Brannen, 2003, develop? What are the characteristics of it?

Answer 7

The Beanpole family:
- It is a multi generational family extended family
- Has a long and thin family tree as people are
having less children i.e. there are less aunts and uncles.
- People are also living longer so more than one
generation are alive at one time

Question 8

What family type did Young and Willmott, 1973, develop? What are the characteristics of it?

Answer 8

Symmetrical family:
- Argued the modern family family type is symmetrical.
- Strong bonds between partners means relationship
is now symmetrical and less patriarchal.
- More equal child care, domestic chores and decision making.
- Both are more likely to be in paid employment.

Question 9

Define the nuclear family and name some characteristics of it:

Answer 9

This is two generations living in household - children and parents. The ‘cereal packet family’, ‘Family size stuff’, subconsciously aiming to influence family sizes. Google images of a “family” is normally nuclear.

This family type is in decline but still most dominant.

Question 10

Define the extended family and name one reason why is is rarely seen in modern society:

Answer 10

This is where all kin live close by to each other beyond the nuclear family.

As a result of healthcare developments and geographical mobility there can be clear difference in one family’s social class e.g. one sibling in a family could be a lawyer the other a binman.

Question 11

Define the modern extended family:

Answer 11

A family that stays in frequent contact but does not live near each other. Instead, stays in contact through social media and frequent visits.

Question 12

Define what a reconstituted or blended family is:

Answer 12

A family consisting of, for example, children from previous marriages or previously married partners.

 - ⅓ of marriages end in remarriage. 
 - Stepfathers are more common than stepmothers as children normally end up staying with the mother after separation. 9/10 children end up with the mother. 
            - Practically, men tend to work more so the mothers are seen to be socially more capable and efficient as raising the child.

Question 13

Define some characteristics of a lone parent household and why they are so common:

Answer 13

• One of the biggest changes of family structure in the UK.
• Since 1971 the amount of lone parents has 3x
  They are common because;
  1. Women are now more economically independent.
  2. Changing social attitudes - less stigmatisation.
  3. Reproductive technological advancements.

Question 14

Name some A03 evaluative explanations for the functionalist perspective of the family:

Answer 14

• The theory ignores the darker side of the family e.g. child abuse, rape in marriage.
• The roles of the family are now more interchangeable; Willmott and Young, 1973.
• It ignored the exploitation of women.
• There are different family structures now.

Question 15

What did Leach, 1967, argue?

Answer 15

Leach 1967, argued that the privatisation of the nuclear funnily put to much stress onto the unit, as they can demand too much from each other.
- This could link to the 42% divorce rate.