Sociology: Traditional perspectives on the family (unit 1)

Question 1

What is a functionalist’s view?

Answer 1

Functionalists believe that the institutions that make up societies have roles beneficial and essential to them. Family is one example of such an institution.

Question 2

What is a nuclear family?

Answer 2

A family that consists of 2 generations.

Question 3

What is Murdock’s 4 functions of the nuclear family?

Answer 3

Education, Sexual, Reproduction, Economic

Question 4

Explain the function of Education.

Answer 4

The education function helps the child for the future life, teaches young children norms, values, beliefs etc.

Question 5

What is Parsons - “Function of the nuclear family” - part 1

Answer 5

This refers to primary socialization , this refers to a person’s early life experiences and interactions . This results in the learning and building of norms, attitudes and values etc.

Question 6

What is Parsons - “Function of the nuclear family” - part 2

Answer 6

This refers to stabilization of adult person which in other words is the “warm bath theory”- This theory is that the man comes home from a long day at work with the woman to deal with the emotional stress to help “warmth” the mood.

Question 7

What is Parson’s functional fit theory?

Answer 7

This is where the family structure would match the societies structure. For example, as Western societies industrialised from the 17th-20th century, there was a shift from the extended family to the nuclear family. Factories that had extended families working hand by hand was not needed as goods were being produced on a mass so the shift changed. This is also known as structural differentiation.

Question 8

Evaluations of the functionalists view of society. (Murdock)

Answer 8

Murdock is pro-western bias, his theory is very outdated (same sex marriage contradicts his nuclear family point), Doesn’t put into account for any other family types.

Question 9

Evaluations of the functionalists view of society. (Parsons)

Answer 9

Parsons is pro-western bias, doesn’t take into account of different social class, outdated.

Question 10

What is the organic analogy?

Answer 10

Discovered by Durkeim; The organic analogy is the idea that society runs like a body together.

Question 11

What is the Marxist view?

Answer 11

The view is that the family is a tool of capitalism to maintain capitalism and reinforce social inequalities.

Question 12

Explain inheritance of wealth : Marxist

Answer 12

This is how the wealth is passed down onto children and lower generations privately to maintain capitalism. - Engels

Question 13

Explain the cushioning effect : Marxist

Answer 13

This links to Zaretsky who believes that due t the warm bath theory, the man returns home all powerful which they don’t feel in the work place which oppresses the man. This keeps the proletariat in a false class consciousness and keeps working for the rich.

Question 14

Explain a unit of consumption : Marxist

Answer 14

By Zaretsky, the family is targeted by advertisers and to keep up with the latest trends. etc “Keeping up with the Jones” or this is achieved through “pester power” and this is done to prevent the child from bullying.

Question 15

Explain Socialisation : Marxist

Answer 15

By Althusser, he states that the family socialises the next generation into the ruling class ideology and the unequal social hierarchy. This is done by the ISA

Question 16

What is the ISA and what does it mean?

Answer 16

The ISA stands for the Ideology state apparatus and it is the social institutions

Question 17

Evaluations of the Marxist view of the family.

Answer 17

Ignores the positive effects it has on the family and its members, They don’t put into account other family types, Discusses the idea that the nuclear family is a social construct and is not good for society.

Question 18

What is the feminist view?

Answer 18

Feminists believe that the family is a tool is a female oppression and typically in nuclear families they view the woman as exploited.

Question 19

What do Liberal feminists view?

Answer 19

Liberal families view that the family is slowly becoming more equal (gradual reform), but doesn’t believe that full equality has been achieved.

Question 20

What is an evaluation of the Liberal feminist view?

Answer 20

Overstates the progress made as women still have the triple shift.

Question 21

What do Radical feminists view?

Answer 21

They view that men is the enemy and marriage and family are the key institutions that allows patriarchy.

Question 22

What is an evaluation of the Radical feminist view?

Answer 22

Jennifer Sommerville argues that they fail to see any improvement whatsoever as for example divorce has been made easier.

Question 23

What do Marxist feminists view?

Answer 23

Sees the family as a tool of capitalism that oppresses the woman

Question 24

What does the New Right view?

Answer 24

They only like the nuclear family and dislike any other family type.

Question 25

What did Charels Murray talk about?

Answer 25

Murray talked about the underclass , he argued that lone parenthood is harmful to society as welfare payments encouraged pregnancies which led to the dependency culture.