Family- Theorist Perspective

Question 1

Marxist

Answer 1

Meeting the needs of the CAPITALIST system
Engles (1884) said the family had an ECONOMIC FUNCTION of keeping wealth within the BOURGEOISIE by passing it on to the next generation as INHERITANCE.
(rich person dies and their kids get their money)

Question 2

Functionalist

Answer 2

Emphasises the POSITIVE ROLE of the family.
Murdock (1949) says the family has 4 functions:
Sexual- provides stable sexual relationships
Reproductive- provides new members of society
Economic- pools resources and provides for the members
Education- teaches children the norms and values of society

Question 3

Feminist

Answer 3

Believe family EXPLOITS and oppresses women. It helps to MAINTAIN the existing SOCIAL ORDER.
Liberal- emphasise the cultural norms and values which are reinforced by the family.
Radical- highlights how HOUSEWORK is and are of EXPLOITATION.
Marxist- essential to the success of capitalism, family PRODUCES and CARES for next generation of workers.

Question 4

New Right

Answer 4

Believe the NUCLEAR family is the bedrock of society.
Charles Murray (1989) says the nuclear family is under threat. WELFARE BENEFITS are too high and create a "culture of dependency"- individuals find it easy to claim benefits rather than work.

Question 5

Postmodernist

Answer 5

Say DIVERSITY in family structure is a GOOD thing.
Judith Stacey (1900) says that there's such a diversity of family types, relationships and lifestyles that there will never be one dominant group. People can MOVE from one structure to another.