Functionalism and the family

Question 1

Murdock (1949) 4 functions

Answer 1

4 functions: reproduction, sexual, socialisation, economic.

Question 2

Parsons

Answer 2

nuclear family stabilises adult personalities by providing a warm, secure environment, supported by the division of labour

primary socialisation into the norms and values of society.

Question 3

Explain why functionalists thought the extended family had declined

Answer 3

• Need to be geographically mobile as labour specialised
• State took over many functions e.g. welfare, health and education
• Social mobility

Question 4

To what extent is the nuclear family a universal institution?

Answer 4

• Alternative family types exist and are becoming increasingly common
• Nuclear family is the most common type but this may be because it is perpetuated through government (particularly NR) policy and displays of the ‘cereal packet’ family in the media
• Growing individualism means marriage rates are declining, divorce rates are increasing
• Globalisation means there is far more cultural diversity.

Question 5

Explain how a feminist would critique the functionalist explanation of the family.

Answer 5

• Assumes the instrumental and expressive roles are biological rather than socially constructed
• The stabilisation of adult personalities could be seen as a ‘safety valve’ by Marxist feminists (can use Ansley here)
• Marxists also state this explains domestic violence (Dobash and Dobash) as functionalists ignore the ‘darker side’ of the family.