Functionalist View Of The Family

Question 1

Functionalists say the family plays what kind of role in society?

Answer 1

A positive one. It helps maintain society.

Question 2

Murdock says the family fulfils what 4 functions?

Answer 2

Sexual
Reproduction
Education
Economic

Question 3

What to each of Murdock’s 4 functions mean?

Answer 3

Reproduction - allows adults to know the biological parents of children, therefore avoiding incest when carrying on the family line.
Education - passes on knowledge and skills from one generation to the next.
Sexual - contains a controlled outlet for sexual gratification which could otherwise lead to conflict.
Economic - family functions as a productive and consumptive unit, thus ensuring the survival of family members.

Question 4

How can Murdock be criticised when looking at other social institutions?

Answer 4

Murdock doesn’t seriously consider that the functions of the family can be fulfilled elsewhere, and doesn’t explore alternatives to the family.

Question 5

What is Morgan’s criticism of Murdock?

Answer 5

That Murdock’s description is too good to be true as it glosses over negative elements of the family.

Question 6

What is Parsons’ ‘functional fit’?

Answer 6

A fit between society and the type of family that exists. The family adapts and changes to meet the needs of an ever progressing society.

Question 7

Rather than 4 functions, how many does Parsons say the family has?

Answer 7

2

Question 8

What are Parsons’ 2 functions?

Answer 8

Primary socialisation - children are equipped with basic skills and society’s values.
Stabilisation of adult personalities - the family/home is a place where adults can relax and release tensions, ready to return to the workplace and meet its demands.

Question 9

Parsons describes the family as?

Answer 9

Taking a warm bath. It takes away life's problems such as: 
Competition
Money
Stress
Job insecurity
Budgeting

Question 10

Criticise Parsons in a similar way to Murdock.

Answer 10

Parsons sees the family in too positive a light, ignoring the negative issues.

Question 11

Parsons’ image of the family is based on the American middle class family, how is this a weakness?

Answer 11

He ignores other classes, and doesn’t account for any religious or ethnic groups, who may view or use the family differently.

Question 12

Parsons view of socialisation is a one-way process. How is this a weakness?

Answer 12

Ignores effect of children on parents and how that changes them.

Question 13

Give a feminist criticism of the functionalist approach to the family.

Answer 13

Many families are not safe places for women and children, with high rates of domestic abuse in many western countries.

Question 14

Functionalists assume the traditional nuclear family is the dominant type. Why is this bad?

Answer 14

Ignores other alternatives such as single parent, reconstituted, same-sex, cohabitation or extended families.

Question 15

How can the structural nature of functionalism be used to criticise the approach?

Answer 15

It shows the family and its members as being simply passive puppets manipulated by the structure of society to perform certain structures when actually sometimes it’s the other way around.

Question 16

What is the first function the family fulfils for capitalism?

Answer 16

Inheritance of property.
The upper class owns the means of production and to ensure they pass it on to their own offspring, the monogamous nuclear family was created. This meant that men were certain of the paternity of their children and Engles said this was a "world historical defeat of the female sex".

Question 17

What is the second function the family fulfils for capitalism?

Answer 17

Ideological functions
The family passes on beliefs that justify inequality and maintain the capitalist system. The family socialises children into accepting the idea that hierarchy and inequality are inevitable. Parental power accustoms them to the idea that there always has to be someone in charge (usually men) and prepares them for working life.

Question 18

What does Zaretsky say the family does?

Answer 18

Offers an apparent “haven” from the harsh and exploitative world of capitalism, in which workers can ‘be themselves’. Working men can relieve their frustration in the family and makes them feel they have power. Zaretsky says this is an illusion and relies on the servitude of women, meaning they are controlled, their work is unpaid, but as they support workers they benefit capitalism.