Func & NR theories on family

Question 1

Murdock (Functionalist)

Answer 1

Favours the NF in which the man takes the instrumental role and the woman takes the expressive role. These roles are based on biological differences between women and men which make them suitable for these separate roles. When women and men perform these roles, the family is functional and can carry out its roles. Family has 4 functions:
sexual
reproductive
economic
educational
these are roles are so important for society that Murdock argues the NF is universal : it exists in all societies.

Question 2

criticisms of Murdock

Answer 2

Murdock is too optimistic and positive in his views; he ignores the negative aspects of family life such as abuse.

Question 3

Parsons (functionalists)

Answer 3

Parsons argue the functions the family performs depend on the type of society. Parson argue that there are 2 types of societies, traditional pre-industrial and modern industrial.
Traditional society - classic-extended family was common bc people worked in agriculture which required a large workforce
Modern society - NF is common bc it fits the modern society as:
There’s need for geographical mobility - people need to be able to move for work, having a smaller family makes that easier. Increased social mobility -if a person becomes upwardly socially mobile they’ll have a different income,lifestyle & values to their kind.The existence of the welfare state-we can now turn to support in times of need which weakens the bonds of extended kinds.

Question 4

Parsons 2

Answer 4

As society changed from tradition to modern, Parsons says the family changed through a process called structural differentiation; it lost some of its functions and became specialised in carrying out only 2:

1. Primary socialisation -passing society’s norms and values onto new generations
2. stabilising adult personalities -family is a warm, friendly place where adults can relax. This theory also known as ‘warm bath’ theory- having a family is like a warm bath all the stresses of everyday life are soaked away

Question 5

criticisms of Parsons

Answer 5

Feminists - criticise the segregated roles in which Parsons says the ideal family is based one on as sexist as it implies women are biologically not suited to paid employment.

Question 6

New right

Answer 6

Agree with functionalists that the NF is based on bio differences between men and women and only within the NF can the roles be performed properly.
They also claim the ideal NF is in crisis because of the :
increasing divorce rates
too generous welfare benefits
the influence of feminism which has devalued marriage

This is causing fd and a decline in the nf. This then leads to social disorder such as, crime.

Question 7

(Murray) As a result of these changes there are now 2 groups in society

Answer 7

Underclass-unemployed, single mothers who are dependent on benefits and therefore a threat to society. They cannot socialise their children properly. At the same time, the men who fathered these children do not have to work as they have no family to support so they also become dependent on benefits and become anti-social. This creates a dependency culture.
New Victorians-respectable m/c who work, pay taxes, marry and socialise their children properly.

To solve the problem fd is causing NR recommend that all parents must be married, mothers should stay at home and families must not receive benefits.

Question 8

Criticisms of Murray (NR)

Answer 8

ignore the fact that many NF’s fail to socialise their children properly
cutting benefits for LPF would make innocent children suffer.