Sociological perspectives

Question 1

Murdock

Answer 1

4 functions
-Sexual
-Reproductive
-Social
-Economic
= Satisfys societal subsystems, education, family, economy

1949

Question 2

Parsons

Answer 2

Functional Fit theory
-Functions family performs depndent on the type of society it is found
-Industrial (nuclear), pre industrial (extended)
-Emerging industrial required a geographically + socially (prevent tension between members) mobile workforce
-2 irreducible functions of primary socialisation + stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath)

1955

Question 3

Engels

Answer 3

Inheritance of private property
-Initially primitive communism, promiscuous horde, forces of production created wealth, developments created a class of men securing means of production
-Monogonmous nuclear family created to preserve wealth
-Defeat of female sex, used as a production mechanism to preserve wealth (births)

Question 4

Zaretsky

Answer 4

Ideological Fuction
-Reproduces key ideology for capitalism
-Socialisation into believing hierarchy + inequality inevitable
-Parental control replicates mangerial control
-Cushioning effect, offering haven from labour exploitation
-Unit of consumption, pester power, keeping up with joneses’
-Produces products for profit, then exploited via sale of consumer goods

1976

Question 5

Ansley

Answer 5

Marxist Feminist
-Takers of shit
-Absorb anger (coping mechanism for alientation + exploitation), reserve army of cheap labour, reproduce labour force

1972

Question 6

Sommerville

Answer 6

March of progress
-Better access to opportunities
-Control over fertility, marriage
-Equal rights, men greater share of domestic labour

2000

Question 7

Greer

Answer 7

Radical Feminist
-Men are enemy, family key patriarchal instution
-Seperatism via political lesbiansim
-Creating matrilocal households

2000

Question 8

Difference feminism

Answer 8

Individual experiences
-Cannot generalise, wider than just gender
-Lesbian, heterosexual, white, black, MC, WC
-Black family postitve, source of support against racism

Question 9

Smart + Nordqvist

Answer 9

PLP + donor concieved children
-criticise traditional structural theories for being deterministic
-Relationships / family, beyond biological / blood ties
-Bottom up theory focuses on indivdual meaning + choice
-Emphasised the importance of time (Erin) spent with child not biological process

2014