functional perspective on family Flashcards
(18 cards)
What do functionalists like Murdock suggest
Murdock- studied 250 societies - claimed the nuclear family is universal 4 essential functions of the family,
1-stable satisfaction of the sex dive
2-reproduction of the next generation
3- socialisation of the young
4- meeting members economic needs
important social institution playing vital functions in maintaining society. Rearing and socialising children that is a universal institution.
universal institution
- it lasts for every society in the world.
murdock the only right family is the nuclear family.
Nuclear family
Married parents,traditional roles - functional for them
- functionalist believe this is the only way
- conjugal roles in the family unit - segregated conjugal roles - men - breadwinners
- joint conjugal roles. Role are shared between partners, both do housework, childcare, decisions - making,, spend leisure time together
Murdock evaluation
Feminists critique - say families is patriarchal and oppressive
-feminists argue Murdock ignores power inequality in the family
- he prevents a patriachal view whee the nuclear family supports traditional gender roles.
- AnnOakley
Marxists Critique
- Murdock ignores class inequality’s of families and how students lead to being under a chieveing due to families
functionalist theory is a structural consensus theory what is this
structural = society shapes the individual
consensus = a successful is based on value consensus
- society follows a set or norms and values
what is sub-systems
functionalist regard society as a system made up of differant parts
Functionalist see society as a system made up of interconnected sb-systems
- each sub-system has functions that help maintain social order and stability
Exmaples - damilysocialses children
Education syste teaches skills and values
- teh legal system - enforces rules and norms
-the economic yesterday - provides jobs and homes
Each. One is a subsystem taht helps society function smoothly
Essay - functionalists like parson see society as a system made up of interdependent sub-systems, such as the family,education,and teh economy. Each sub-sysytem performs key functions that help maintain social stability and cohesion.
According to functionalists the fail is a vital ub-system os society, responsible for the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation ofadult personalities
The education system is an important sub-system that prepares young people for their roles in wider society, through both the transmissionofnorm and the teaching of necessary skills.teaching of necessary skills.
what did murdock study
he studied 250 differant cultural societies. he saw in each society teh nuclear family existed melk
Paning it is a universal institution and the nuclear family provides all 4 functions of the family
What are talcott parsons functions of society and evaluation
- Primary socialisation of children
2.stablisation. Of adult personalities (aka the warm bath theory)
3.famil as a usb- system of society
4 parsons functional fit theory
Parsons delivered the family performed two essential functions in modern,industrial society - theese are
1. Primary socialisation of children
- the family teaches children teh shared normasand valuesofsociety (value consensus)
-it helps create a stable adult personality by instilling basic behaviours and moral standards
- this is necessary to integrate individuals into society
.this links to functionalists view that social order depends on socialisation
- Stabilisation of adult personalities (aka the warm bath theory)
- the family provides emotional support and a safe haven from the tstress of everyday ice
This emotional security helps adults unction better at work and in society
- he compared it to a warm bath theory- relaxing comforting and stabilising - Family’s s a sub-system of society
Parsons saw the family as a sub-system within society, wokring alongside other institutions like educational nd teh economy to keep society stable and functional
- Parsons functional fit theory
- the functions of the family change depending on the type of society
- I pre-industrial - extended family is more functional and better suited to the needs of a geographically and socially mobile or force
Evaluation
Feminists, Oakley suggested family ignore women’s oppression and unpaid labour
Ignored family diversity - postmodernists - not al families are nuclear e.g. lone parents,samesex
To idealistic -arxosts - family reinforces inequality and serves capatalism
Essay - parsons argued that family has 2 key function - the primary socialisation of children and teh stabilisation o adult personalities. He saw theese as essential for maintaining a stable, well-functioning society. However, this view has been criticised by feminists who argue that is ignored gender inequality within familiy
what are Parsons 4 functions of the family
1- stable satisfaction of the sex drive = prevents deviant sexual activity and promotes hetrosexuality which ensures reproduction
2-reproduction=without reproduction society cannot continue
3-meeting its members economic needs = shelter, producing food
4- socialisation = primary and secondary - teaching basic norms and value s
Parsons 4 functions of the family change depending
1- stable satisfaction of the sex drive = prevents deviant sexual activity and promotes hetrosexuality which ensures reproduction
2-reproduction=without reproduction society cannot continue
3-meeting its members economic needs = shelter, producing food
4- socialisation = primary and secondary - teaching basic norms and value. s
(basic needs) - production of food, care of the young, socialisation of the new generation into the culture of society.
these need to be met in order for society to survive
that for society to be functional, social solidaity has to occur
social solodarity - how indididuals feel connected and united with one another.
how do functionalists believe social solidaity happens
- for functionalists social solidarity is through social institutions
EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONALIT PERSPECTIVE ON FAMILY
`parsons and murdock have a very rose-tinted, they only consider the positives. however they ignore the dark side of family
leach 1967
suggest that due to familys becoming so isolated, less extended fmailys.
it leads to more emotional stress. family’s demand more from one another which causes conflict
leads to toxic childhood
Evaluation
parsons view of the instrumental and expressive role
very old fashioned due to most married or cohabiting women are breadwinners , nowdays most partners share divisoon of labour and costs.
pasrsons came up with teh best fit theory what is it
as society changes som does faqmily
- industrialisation
what does structural differentiation mean
functions of the family’s ae lost due to institutions.
however this is not true as parents are still responsible for full care of their child.
evaluation,
Deterministic. asumes everyone has been socialised the same. treats everyone the same
Overall functionalism
Murdock
Evaluation
Talcot parsons
Evaluation
