Ideology Of Nuclear Family In Contemporary Society Flashcards
What is the focus of postmodernism in relation to family structures?
Focus on how families serve society and the tenets of their structures
Emphasizes the diversity and complexity of family forms.
What is the nuclear family (NF) considered vital for?
Economic policy and socialization of children
Murdock argues it is essential for societal function and continuity.
According to functionalism, what threatens family stability?
Sudden changes in society
Functionalists believe stability is crucial for the family unit.
Who criticized the welfare benefits system, claiming it creates a culture of dependency?
Murray (New Right)
Claims that high benefits discourage work.
What does Murdock suggest about the Nuclear family across cultures? (Functionalism)
Exists in every culture and is vital for societal function
Murdock surveyed 150 societies to support this claim.
What is Stacey’s view on family types in contemporary society? (Postmodernism)
There has been a decline of the dominant family type, leading to more diverse structures
Reflects changes in social norms and values.
What is the ideology of the nuclear family according to Spencer? (Functionalism)
Family is an institution with specific functions in society, including socialization and teaching of N+Vs
Emphasises the importance of the nuclear family for societal stability.
What role does the nuclear family play in capitalism according to Marxism?
Ideal family for society to function and encourages marriage
Marxism critiques the nuclear family as benefiting capitalism.
What do radical feminists argue about the traditional family structure?
It is a form of patriarchal control that benefits men due to women’s unpaid domestic labour e.g. childcare
Highlights the inequalities within the family structure.
According to liberal feminism, how can social equality for women be achieved?
Through legal means and social reform
Focuses on gradual change rather than radical overhaul.
What is the main cause of women’s oppression in the family according to Marxist feminism?
Capitalism, not men
Women are exploited for the profit of the capitalist system.
Fill in the blank: In contemporary society, the nuclear family is seen as the _______ family for societal function.
ideal
Reflects the traditional view of family roles.
What did Engels adapt in his theory regarding the family?
Evolutionary theory to explain family dynamics
He discussed how capitalism and globalization affect family structures.
What does the functionalist view suggest about the socialization of children?
It is critical for developing adult personalities
Emphasizes family roles in shaping future generations.
Dobash and Dobash
Feminism, men dominate women through domestic violence symmetrical and asymmetrical forms of abuse
Murdock
Studied 250 societies. Concluded some kind of family included a male and a female; nuclear family dominant.
NF exists in every culture and is therefore most vital for society to work
Podenoe
Recreating necessity of NF in marriage
Encourage marriage
Giddens
‘Confluent love’ describes a type of relationship characterised by emotional intimacy, mutual respect and individual autonomy where partners’ commitment is based on personal fulfilment and continuous negotiation
Morgan (postmodernism)
Focus on family practices than family itself. Individuals create family by daily activities. From this, we should be less concerned about what family is, but what it means to individuals and how they want to sustain themselves
Marxism
Capitalism creates family structures
Murray (New Right)
NF is under threat. Welfare policies, underclass etc have contributed to its decline.
Benefits (Murray)
Welfare policies have created a ‘culture of dependency’ where people are more likely to take benefits than work, see it as acceptable.
Bad because have children brought up in families who don’t work and see it as okay e.g. lone parents. Reinforces to new generation that work and family is not important because you can live off benefits, threatens ideology of NF
What does an over generous welfare state lead to?
Encourages formation of lone parent families as by having less income, lone parents will have more access to benefits
New Right
Believe that the decline of the NF and growth of family diversity are the cause of many social problems
Dependency culture
Murray: where the welfare state created a dependency culture in which people assume the state will support them and their children
