Functions/Role/Purpose of the Family LT3 Flashcards
What is a structural approach in sociology?
A sociological approaches which see the behaviour of certain groups of individuals as being determined or influenced by big institutions such as the family, the education system and the justice system.
Who concluded that the nuclear family is universal after they had studied 250 societies?
Murdock (1949)
Which four functions did Murdock argue the universal family was best suited for?
- Stable satisfaction of the sex drive (sexual needs were satisfied with the stability of the same partner)
- Reproduction (families produced further generations of children).
- Primary Socialisation.
- Economic needs.
What is the name of Parsons’ 1955 theory?
‘Functional fit theory’
The functions performed by the “Family” as an institution aren’t universal, however, the family ‘fits’ the needs of the society. (E.g the nuclear family fits the needs of a modern society, whilst the Extended family fit the needs of the pre-industrial society.)
What are Parsons’ two essential (“irreducible”) functions of the family?
Primary socialisations - learning societies norms and values.
Stabilisation of adult personalities- offers emotional for adults e.g allowing them to unwind from the tensions of work.
In which ways does Parsons believe that the Family is losing it’s function?
The family is no longer a “Unit of production” this means that family members go elsewhere for employment and are hardly ever the employer.
The family is also less required for “Welfare needs” and those are catered for by schools, social security and healthcare.
What is the name given to when an institution is “stripped” of its functions?
Structural differentiation.
What is an issue with the functionalist approach to the family?
Functionalists view the family with “rose tinted glasses” and ignore the darkside of family life such as child abuse and domestic violence. (Feminist argument).
Functionalists believe that the family serves to benefit everyone however the Marxists would argue otherwise (families allow legitimate heirs to be established therefore allowing the bourgeoisie to pass their property on)
What does Parsons believe led to the nuclear (2 generation family)
- Geographical mobility where there is now easy movement around the country.
- Social mobility
What did Laslett find was the norm in 1980?
Nuclear families were the norm due to late child bearing and short life expectancies meaning that there were few grandparents, and not because of Parsons’ ‘function fit theory’.
How do Marxists view the role of the family?
Marxists view the functions/roles of the family in negative terms. They believe it benefits the ruling class, and helps to maintain class inequality and capitalism.
In which ways do Marxists believe that the family acts as an institution which maintains class inequality and capitalism?
- Allows inheritance of wealth to happen
- Transmits Bourgeoisie ideological functions
- Acts as a unit of consumption for capitalism
What do Marxists believe is the function for Patriarchal nuclear families?
To provide the ruling class with a legitimate heir for their private property and wealth. Patriarchal control will only end with the creation of communism because private wealth will not be allowed to be passed to future generations.
How does the family transmit Bourgeoisie ideologies?
Marxists argue that through the family, children learn to accept hierarchy and inequality through the family.
This is done by parents exerting control and power over children (age patriarchy) and therefore children accept unequal power relationships. Additionally, family life (especially if it is happy) offers a distraction from the exploitation at work.
How is the family a Unit of Consumption and why do believe this is bad?
Marxists believe that the spending habits of families generate profits for the bourgeoisie.
