Family - Roles of the Family - 2.1 Flashcards
Functionalism Roles of Family (KS)
> Durkheim (Organic Analogy)
Parsons (2 Irreducible Functions, Division of Labour, Functional Fit)
Murdock (4 Functions of Family)
Durkheim - Organic Analogy
> Bodies a system made up of different parts e.g. cells, organs, functioning to maintain it
> Likewise, Societies, made up of structures e.g. education, state etc.
> Family vital maintaining social system, meeting needs of systems e.g. the economy.
Murdock (4 Functions of Family)
> Sexual Function
Reproductive Function
Primary Socialisation
Economic Function
Sexual Function
> Stable Satisfaction of sex drive, with marital partner
> Stops sexual jealousy & disruption from sexual free for all.
Reproduction Function
Having children otherwise society can’t continue.
Primary Socialisation
Process of learning basic norms & values so new members integrate into society.
Economic Function
Meets members economic needs e.g. food & shelter
Benefit of 4 Functions of Family (Murdock)
> Maintains Social solidarity
> Efficiency - explains why it’s universal.
Parsons (2 Irreducible Functions)
> Primary Socialisation
> Stabilisation of adult personalities
Parsons idea of Primary Socialisation
Gives next generation skills & values, allows co-operation & integration
Stabilisation of Adult Personalities & Warm Bath Theory (Parsons)
> Emotional security in relationship, life’s stressful, so breadwinner ‘de-stressed’ by his wife.
> Relieves tensions, can go back to work aiding the economy
Parsons (Functional fit)
> Extended family was multifunctional, unit of production/consumption
> Nuclear family fits complex modern society e.g. geographical & social Mobility.
> Extended family functions now carried out by state e.g. NHS
Geographical Mobility (Functional fit) - Parsons
Easier for nuclear family to move to where jobs are, harder with extended family
Social Mobility (Functional fit) - Parsons
> Status achieved not ascribed, sons can get higher status jobs compared to their fathers.
> Set up own nuclear family due to status conflict if they stayed working in the extended family farms/cottage industries
Criticisms of Functionalism
> Outdated > Ansley > Benefiting Powerful Groups > Downplay Conflict > Socially Constructed
Outdated? - Criticisms of Functionalism
> Nuclear family not dominant in today’s society, alternative family types do essential functions
> Gender roles changed
Benefiting Powerful Groups - Criticisms of Functionalism
> Not society, but powerful groups - Marxists state that family benefits the ruling class
Downplays Conflict - Criticisms of Functionalism
Ignores e.g. Domestic violence & child abuse.
Socially Constructed - - Criticisms of Functionalism
> Family life varies between different cultures & societies - nuclear family not universal
A03 Parsons Functional Fit (Key Studies)
> Young & Wilmott
> Laslett
Young & Wilmott - A03 Parsons Functional Fit
Extended family networks were still strong in East London in 1970’s
Laslett - A03 Parsons FF
Family was nuclear before industrialisation due to low life expectancy
Marxism (Key Studies)
> Engels (Inheritance of Property)
Althusser (Socialisation)
Zaretsky (Cushioning Effect, Unit of Consumption, Ideological Functions)
Marxist view of the Family
> Tool of capitalism reinforces inequalities.
Althusser (Socialisation)
> Socialising next generation into ruling class ideology & unequal social hierarchy
> Ensures they see inequality as natural and normal
Engels (Inheritance of Property)
> Rich fathers pass private property to sons who inherit it.
> So wealth stays in private nuclear families not distributed among society.
> So this reproduces inequality, women are mere instruments for children as only the nuclear family ensures this.
Zaretsky (Unit of Consumption)
> Generating profits for ruling class, workers paid less than the price of the products they produce
> Advertising us to have latest products, children use pester power
> Children lacking gadgets are mocked by their peers
Zaretsky (Ideological Functions)
- Socialises us to see capitalism as fair, natural & unchangeable.
> Hierarchy in the family teaches and symbolises hierarchy in the workplace - we must conform
Zaretsky (Cushioning Effect)
> Family is a safe haven from capitalist world, allows men to feel in control because they can’t feel this workplace due to alienation
> Prevents the working class from recognising their oppression and starting a revolution.
General Criticisms of Marxism
> Ignores Family Diversity
Deterministic
Engels View not applicable in Modern Society
Ignores Family Diversity - General Criticisms of Marxism
> Only focus on nuclear family, ignores other family types
Deterministic - General Criticisms of Marxism
> People aren’t just passive puppets
> Some families reject consumerist lifestyles bringing up their children to be independent thinkers.
Engels View not being applicable in Modern Society - General Criticisms of Marxism
People don’t marry to pass on wealth to children but love - link to Giddens Pure Relationship
Feminism (Key Studies)
> Lib Fem (March of Progress View)
> Somerville (Lib Fem) (Improvement)
> Marx-Fem (Role of Capitalism)
> Ansley (Marx Fem) (Absorbing Men’s Anger)
> Benston (Marx Fem) (Reserve Army of Labour)
> Rad Fem (Men as Enemy)
> Diff Fem (Not all Women have = experience)
Liberal Feminism (March of progress view)
> Legal reforms e.g. Equal Pay & Sex Discrimination, Rape in marriage illegal.
> Family more equal rise of divorce extended family, New Man, women have more choice over marriage/cohabitation/children
> Socialisation of children into equality parents have equal aspirations for them.
> But still changes still needed for equality
Somerville (Liberal Feminism) (Improvement)
> Women’s roles have improved with increased access to divorce, control over their fertility & job opportunities.
Criticisms of Liberal Feminism
> Focuses on White middle class women, not BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups)
> Attitudes not changed despite legal reform
General Marxist Feminist view
> Focus on capitalism, private property & lack of control over production, so needs abolishment
Marxist Feminist 3 Areas of Exploitation
> Women reproduce the labour force
Absorbing men’s Anger
Reserve Army of Cheap Labour
Women reproduce labour force (Marxist Feminist )
> Unpaid work of women in the family stops family disintegrating benefits the upper class
> Socialises the next generation whilst servicing the current generation
Ansley (Marxist Feminist) (Absorbing Men’s Anger)
> Women are emotional support to men, due to anger from capitalist workplace
> Women are ‘takers of sh*t’ absorbing the anger of the working class husband should be directed to capitalist employers e.g. domestic violence.
Benston (Marxist Feminist) (Reserve Army of Labour)
- Women are taken on temporarily, due to need for increased workers, employers increase the rate of exploitation, so production is more flexible
> Women then return to the domestic role after
Marxist Feminist solution to women’s problems
> Abolishment of capitialism & family
Criticisms of Marxist Feminists
> Women are still inferior in non-capitalist areas.
> Women’s oppression didn’t begin with capitalism & they are no longer reserve army of cheap labour.
Radical Feminists on Causes of women’s exploitation
> Patriarchal Family, men benefit from women’s triple shift, they dominated through domestic violence
> They describe relationships between men and women as ‘‘sleeping with the enemy’’ - they practice political lesbianism
A03 Radical Feminism (Key Study)
> Somerville (Exaggerated)
Somerville (Exaggerated)
> Radical feminist arguments are exaggerated, political lesbianism unrealistic due to
biological attraction
> Domestic violence is also suffered by men
Difference Feminists views on the Family
> Women’s experiences are vary due to differences in ethnicities, class, sexualities
> White women neglect black girls experiences of racism.
> e.g. Black feminists see family as source of support for racism
Criticisms of Difference Feminism
> Do share equalities as all groups experience domestic violence, low pay, sexual assault etc.
Personal Life Perspective (Key Studies)
> Smart & Tipper
> Nordqvist (Donor-Conceived Children)
Personal Life Perspective - General View
> Interactionist View, criticises Functionalism & Marxism
> e.g. Ignore family diversity, family members not puppets - they make their own choices about what suits them
> e.g. they are not necessarily manipulated to serve needs of capitalism
5 Types of Relationship - Smart & Tipper
> Focus on non-conventional relationship, but important for us e.g. 5 types
> Friends > Fictive Kin > LGBT ‘Chosen Families > Dead Relatives: Live on our memories > Pets (Tipper): Children saw pets ‘part of family’.
Nordqvist (Donor-Conceived Children)
> Social relationship more important than biological. e.g. more important of the of mum linked with raising child, not childbirth (same-sex relationships)
> If Couples knew donor, had to resolve if they were family. Are they an ‘uncle’?
> Lesbians concerned donor, may be treated as real second parent under the law
Personal Life Perspective’s view on effects of Decline of Nuclear Family
> Not important as less people having kids/marriage increased numbers living alone
> Stability of nuclear families exaggerated (especially by New Right) with increased rates of family breakdown.
> Can still have meaningful relationships, but people not entirely free due to societal/cultural expectations
Criticisms of Personal Life Perspective
> Broad view, including a range of alternative relationships - they do ignore what is special about blood/marital relations
