Informal Agency of Social Control - Family

Question 1

Marxism

Answer 1

• Nuclear family is tool of RC
  -institution that teaches members of society to submit to RC authority
• Althusser (1971) argued that in order for capitalism to survive people must be taught how to think and behave
  -family was best mechanism for this

Ideology is best tool for getting people 2 think the way you want them 2

Socialisation immerses its members into a false consciousness

Question 2

Feminism

argue that gender is socially constructed.

Gender roles are learnt rather than determined by biology

Most significant institution of socialisation into roles/behavioural norms is family

Answer 2

Two key functions of family are:

• Socialising girls to accept subservient roles within family
  -whilst socialising boys to believe they’re superior
• Socialising women into accepting ‘’housewife’’ role as the only acceptable role for a women

Question 3

(-) Weakness of both of these

Answer 3

Ignores the rise of family diversity e.g same sex families

(Traditional Marxists perspective is dated
-fails to recognise rise of gender equality
-Women don’t marry for economic security. Instead love and affection)