Gender Inequality- Functionalism

Question 1

Who stated that women are located in the home due to biological functions?

Answer 1

Murdock

Question 2

What roles did Parsons say women and men have?

Answer 2

women- expressive (caring)
men- instrumental (practical)
This explains the differences in the labour market

Question 3

What is ‘Human Capital Theory’?

Answer 3

Men are work orientated, women prioritise being home makers. This means women develop lower levels of human capital than men.

Question 4

What are three criticisms of the functionalist view on gender inequality?

Answer 4

-Oakley shown gender is a social construct.
- Ethnocentric.
- Ignore constraints in society which disadvantage women.

Question 5

What functionalists discuss gender inequality

Answer 5

Murdock - biology
Parsons - roles
Human capital theory - priorities

Question 6

What do functionalists believe overall?

Answer 6

• Men and women have different roles due to biology.
• This is functional for society to run.
• Nuclear family necessary for most stable society.

Question 7

What does Murdock say?

Answer 7

Studied over 200 societies and found women are located in the home due to their biological function to bear children and couldn’t do the strenuous tasks. Division of labour was evident and functional.