Functionalism & New Right Flashcards
Murdock (1949)
family performs 4 essential functions for soc & its mems
Stable Satisfaction of Sex Drive
Functions of the Family
w/ same partner preventing the soc disruption caused by sexual ‘free for all’
Meeting it’s Members’ Economic Needs
Functions of the Family
food & shelter
Socialisation of the Young
Functions of the Family
into soc’s shared norms & values
Reproduction of Next Generation
Functions of the Family
w/o soc wouldn’t continue
Evidence Supporting Murdock
studied 250 socs of dif cultures = good breadth - saw in each of these socs nuclear fams existed - saw them providing the 4 funcs
Criticism of Murdock
funcs can be performed by other institus / non-nuclear strucs - but convienience is why seen so widely
rose tinted view that fam meets needs of mems & soc - ignores conflict & exploitation
fems - fam serves needs of men
m’s - serves cap
Parsons’ Functional Fit theory
= 2 basic funcs of fam as soc has changed & needs have adapted
Primary Socialisation
sim to Mur’s edu role Parsons agreed fams teach soc n’s & v’s - specif ns&vs of fam/commun - other instits schools etc taught uni n’s of wider soc
Stabalisation of Adult Personalities
helped prevent dsyfunc adult behav - encourage conform to soc norms - provide emotional sup
warm bath theory - man relax into fam like warm bath - takes away stress - husband = instru role focus = ach work success - fin sup = bread winner - wife = expressive role - focus PS of children & emo needs = home maker
Types of Society
modern Indust - nuclear fits needs = dom fam type
trad pre indust = extended fam
Parsons & Different Types of Societies’ Needs
post-indust soc had 2 essen needs = geo mobile workforce - ppl need to move to where jobs are = easier for compact nuc fam to move
socially mobile workforce - mod indust based on evolv sci & tech needs tech skilled work force = essen talented ppl = able to win promo & take NB jobs - fam hierarchy w/in Hholds can make soc mobility dif so nuc = better
Evidence Supporting Parsons
comp to Murdock does take account for changes over time
Young & Willmot (1973) Criticisms of Parsons
pre-indust fam = nuc X extended
hardship created mum centred WC Ex fams
nuc fam = bc of soc change (Ex fam less NB now for sup) but studies show still exists too offer childcare etc
Criticisms of Parsons
Laslett (1972) 1564-1821 fams almost always nuc
Anderson (1980) exchange theory to explain E fam - harsh conditions meant fam ties = beneficial
Loss of Function
pre-indust fam = multi func unit = prod & comsump = m self suf than mod - met most indu & soc needs
when soc indust fam changes struc to nuclear & loses func - no longer prod unit work moves to facs = consump unit loses m other funcs - means nuc fam specialises in essential funcs of PS & SofAPs
New Right
gained influ 1980s - based on idea trad nuc fam & v’s = best for soc
think pols on welfare, children, div & fam have undermin
Family Diversity Causes Problems
oppose fam div & mod changes - argue this esp growth of lone parent fams cause soc probs
1. lone mums can’t discipline children properly
2. lpfs leave boys w/o male role model - edu failure, delinq & soc instability
3. likely to = poorer so burden on tax payer & welfare
Dependency Culture
Charles Murray 1988
gov welfare pols eg state funding & soc attis = underm nuc fam
= over gen bens to single mums - dads can to opt out of respon for raising & providing for fam
gov do econ func - dont have working p - no incen to keep fam together - encours larger fams which are less likely to be self suf
Deviant Sons
Charles Murray 1988
m young men chose not to work - may turn to crime & drugs - grew up w/o male role model / wage earner
lack of male role models - w/in female headed underclass depen on bens respons of norm soc breakdown - harms econ growth
Evaluation of New Right
crit for blaming vic
m’s argue = pol pos = ideo justi for cap pols
makes moralistic value judgements on which fam = better = little X evi LPFs are part of depen cul
fems - sexist views of women
Statistics
Supporting New Right
single parent fams 2x m likely to experience pov
kids from broken homes = 9x m likely to = young offens
family breakdown costs UK £40 billion a year
Harry Benson (2017)
Supporting New Right
link between broken homes & teenage mental health = well estab
boys m likely to have behav probs & girls emo probs
1/8 teenagers report poor mental health & poor home life is commonly cited as the reason
