Sociology Familes And Households:Theroy Of The Family

Question 1

Theory’s on the family:
Functionalism

Answer 1

Murdock
-Satisfaction of sex drive
-reproduction of next generation
-Socialisation of young
-Meeting economic needs

Question 2

Theory’s on the family:
Functionalism
Support to Murdock

Answer 2

Murdock accepts that it can be done by institutions but argues the nuclear family is best

Question 3

Theory’s on the family:
Functionalism
Critique of Murdock

Answer 3

Marxist-
Meets the needs of capitalism not family
Feminists-
Oppresses women

Question 4

Theory’s on the family:
Functionalism
geographical workforce

Answer 4

Parsons
Nuclear family is best suited to move around different parts of the world

Question 5

Theory’s on the family:
Functionalism
socially mobile workforce

Answer 5

Parsons
Most talented people get the best jobs therefore can’t stay at home due to conflict

Question 6

Theory’s on the family:
Functionalism
loss of functions

Answer 6

Parsons
The family has change from being self dependent eg health to now using institutions eg NHS

Question 7

Theory’s on the family:
Functionalism
primary socialisation of children

Answer 7

Equip them with basic skills and values so they can into society

Question 8

Theory’s on the family:
Functionalism
stabilisation of adult personalities

Answer 8

Parsons
Family has to be a place to relax to meet the efficiency of the economy

Question 9

Family structure:
Functionalism

Answer 9

Parsons
-nuclear family is essential to perform functions
-other family types are considered dysfunctional

Question 10

Family structure:
New right

Answer 10

-nuclear family only
-breadwinner + housewife
-lone family’s cannot discipline children and cannot pay tax (dependency culture)

Question 11

Family structure:
New right Critique

Answer 11

-Oakley(1997) belives it oppresses women emotionally and economically
-cross culture studies show great variation in the roles men and women do in the family

Question 12

Marxist perspective on family

Answer 12

-inheritance of property
-ideological functions
-unit of consumption

Question 13

Marxist
-inheritance of property

Answer 13

-keeps the bourgeoisie in control of means of production
-only way to be stopped is the overthrowing of capitalism

Question 14

Marxist
-ideological functions

Answer 14

-Instille beliefs into next generation (socialisation)
-Zaretsky -it’s all an illusion the family cannot meet its members needs

Question 15

Theory’s on the family : Marxist
-unit of consumption

Answer 15

Zaretsky
-exploits the Labour of workers, making a profit by selling the products of their labour
-‘keeping up with the joneses’ buying lastest products
-media targets children ‘pester power’

Question 16

Criticism of Marxism
(Family structure)

Answer 16

-marxist assume nuclear family is dominant
-functionalist belive Marxists ignore the benefits it provides for its members

Question 17

Liberal feminist perspective on family

Answer 17

-women’s oppression is being gradually overcome through changing attitudes and law such as the sex discrimination act(1975)
-they belive changing attitudes and socialisation of both genders is needed

Question 18

Marxist feminists perspective on family

Answer 18

-main oppression is capitalism
-women reproduce work force
-women absorb anger
(Ansley 1972)
-women are the reserve army of labour

Question 19

Radical feminist perspectives on family

Answer 19

-men are the enemy
-the family and marriage are key institutions in patriarchal society