Functionalism in family Flashcards
Organic Analogy:
…
Primary Socialisation:
The way in which our parents and other siblings teach us the Norms and values of our culture
Norms:
Acceptable forms of behaviour linked to those norms
Values:
General beliefs about what is right or wrong in society and standards
Social solidarity:
A feeling of belonging based on shared consensus
Functionalism tends to stress:
Nuclear family is the best fit
Universality of the family in all known societies
Necessity of distinct conjugal roles
Key Functionalist theorists: George Murdock
Nuclear family is universal
Murdock’s 4 functions of the family:
Sexual - monogamous
Reproductive - creating new people for society
Economic - working in and for society
Educational - primary socialisation
Key functionalist theorists: Talcott Parsons
Family needs to adapt to society and will offer the ‘best fit’ available, meeting the needs of society as it changes and develops, rather than being universal
Parsons 2 key functions:
Primary socialisation of children
Stabilisation of adult personalities
Instrumental role:
An economic role - in industrial societies men perform an instrumental role
Expressive role:
Nurture and emotional support - Women perform an expressive role
Parsons - Warm Bath theory
Means a woman should act as a metaphorical warm bath, welcoming her husband home after a hard day at work and looking after his needs
Parsons - Sexual division of labour
Husband and wife have different roles
What is functionalism:
Consensus theory that argues that the family is beneficial for society
