The family and social structure

Question 1

Who argued the ‘universal functions of family’?

Answer 1

Murdock (1949)

Question 2

What is the criticism of Murdock’s definition of family?

Answer 2

Too deterministic and out-dated

- Fails to acknowledge changes in family unit since the social policy changes.

Question 3

What were Murdock’s 4 functions of family?

Answer 3

• The sexual function
• The reproductive function
• The economic function
• The educational function

Question 4

What did Parsons argue were the main functions of the family?

Answer 4

1. Primary Socialisation

2. Stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 5

Who argued that the structure of family changes to the needs of society?

Answer 5

Talcott Parsons (1965)

Question 6

Who argued that family developed so that men could be certain of the paternity of children?

Answer 6

Engel (1884) - passing property down to their offspring

Question 7

Who sees family as a prop in a capitalist system?

Answer 7

Zaretsky (1976)

Question 8

Why did Zaretsky argue that family was a prop in capitalism?

Answer 8

The unpaid domestic labour of housewives supports future generations of worker at no cost to employers.
Also large consumptions of capitalist commodities.

Question 9

Who argued that family was an ideological state apparatus to control the proletariat?

Answer 9

Poulantzas (1969)

Question 10

Who argued that family was an ‘ideological conditioning device’?

Answer 10

David Cooper (1972)

Question 11

Why is society patriarchal in the eyes of radical feminists?

Answer 11

Women are dominated by men due to biology and men use violence or ideology to control women

Question 12

Why is society patriarchal in the eyes of marxist feminist?

Answer 12

Men’s financial power keeps women in their place. Women do more unpaid work and receive lower wages making them financially dependent on men.

Question 13

Why is society patriarchal in the eyes of liberal feminists?

Answer 13

Socialisation into gender roles and sexist discrimination restricts women’s opportunities.

Question 14

Who argues that women are still subservient to their husbands?

Answer 14

Germaine Greer (2000)

Question 15

Who argues that wives are used to produce and rear cheap labour for employers?

Answer 15

Margaret Benston (1972)

Question 16

Who argues that wives suffer as a result of frustration experienced by their husbands?

Answer 16

Fran Ansley (1972)

Question 17

Who argues that women are still disadvantaged within the family, but not as much as radical make it out to be?

Answer 17

Jennifer Sommerville (2000)

Question 18

Who believes that women are better off outside traditional families?

Answer 18

Nicholson (1997)

Question 19

Who believes that women cannot be exploited by men in lesbian families?

Answer 19

Calhoun (1997)

Question 20

Which neoliberal thinker identifies the decline in nuclear families?

Answer 20

Patricia Morgan (2003)

Question 21

Who argued that Thatcher’s policies actually promoted family diversity?

Answer 21

Abbott and Wallace (1992)

Question 22

Who argued about family and industrialisation were connected?

Answer 22

Talcott Parsons

Question 23

Who created the term ‘beanpole’? And what does it mean?

Answer 23

Julia Brannen (2003) - strong intergenerational links between grandparents, children and grandchildren; whilst connections with siblings and cousins are weaker

Question 24

Who coined the term ‘dispersed extended family’? And what does it mean?

Answer 24

Peter Willmott (1988) - most people live in nuclear families but contacts with extended family members who may live some distance apart remain important.

Question 25

Who argued that relationships have changed with modernity?

Answer 25

Giddens (1992)

Question 26

What is ‘plastic sexuality’?

Answer 26

This means that sex can be for pleasure rather than conceiving children with your perfect marriage partner.

Question 27

What is ‘confluent love’?

Answer 27

Love that is dependent upon partners benefiting from the relationship

Question 28

Who argued the individualisation thesis?

Answer 28

Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (1995)

Question 29

Who conducted the ‘Pam and Dotty’ study about postmodern relationships?

Answer 29

Judith Stacey

Question 30

Policies that don’t support conventional families

Answer 30

1. The gradual liberation of divorce laws
2. The recognition of gay and lesbian relationships
3. Increased provisions of state funding for childcare

Question 31

Policies of the New Right government

Answer 31

1. They changed taxation policies so marriage couples could claim more than cohabitating
2. They made divorce easier to obtain in 1984
3. They gave illegitimate children the same rights as those born within marriage

Question 32

Policies of the New Labour government

Answer 32

1. They allowed civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples
2. They gave employees the right to time off work for family reasons
3. They introduced a Working Families Tax Credit

Question 33

What is the sexual function of family? (Murdock)

Answer 33

The family prevents disruption to society by limiting sexuality to monogamous relationships, preventing the conflict that might otherwise result from sexual desire

Question 34

What is the reproductive function of family? (Murdock)

Answer 34

The family ensures the reproduction of a new generation vital for the survival of society

Question 35

What is the economic function of family? (Murdock)

Answer 35

The family acts as an economic unit ensuring the survival of its members by providing food and shelter

Question 36

What is the educational function of family? (Murdock)

Answer 36

The family provides a stable environment in which children can be socialised into the culture of their society