the functionalist perspective on the family

Question 1

explain the functionalist view of the family

Answer 1

• society is a system of interconnected parts - compared to human body
• body parts = institutions within society (family, religion, etc) maintaining social order
• everything has a function so that society can work
• ignore the negative aspects the family can bring eg child abuse, neglect and violence

Question 2

what did Murdock argue?

Answer 2

• the nuclear family was a universal feature of all human societies
• four essential functions of the nuclear family

Question 3

describe the ‘four essential functions’ of nuclear family

Answer 3

1. sexual - stable sexual relationship for adults (prevents sexual jealousy)
2. reproductive - continuing to create members of society (cannot run without)
3. economic - must produce resources for the family (eg food and shelter)
4. educational - teach norms and values of society to youngers

Question 4

ao3: Murdock

Answer 4

• feminists: arguing that family is essential is ideological as traditional family structures typically disadvantage women
• it’s feasible that other institutions could perform the four functions
• anthropological research: shown there’s some cultures which don’t appear to have ‘families’ (eg the Nayar)

Question 5

what does Parsons’ argue? (functional fit theory)

Answer 5

• type of family that “fits” a society changes as society itself evolves
• functions of the family also change alongside societal developments

Question 6

describe the family in pre-industrial society

Answer 6

• dominant family type: extended family
• families often lived together or close by
• family performed wide range of functions:
  
  • educating children
  • producing food
  • caring for the sick
  • providing all-round support

Question 7

describe the family in industrial society

Answer 7

• from the 1800s in uk
• dominant family type: nuclear family (parents and children only)
• better suited to:
  
  • increased geographical mobility (easier to move for work)
  • the demands of a rapidly changing, industrial economy
• reduced need for extended family support because:
  
  • the state began to take over key functions (eg education and healthcare)

Question 8

describe the two core functions in society (parsons)

Answer 8

• primary socialisation: teaches children the norms and values of society
• stabilisation: stabilises personalities and emotional relationships. parents also provide security to help individuals cope in wider society

Question 9

describe ‘warm bath theory’

Answer 9

• according to parsons, working life in industrial society in stressful
• the family is a place where the working man can return and be ’de-stressed’ by his wife
• this reduces conflict in society

Question 10

ao3: functionalist fit theory (parsons)

Answer 10

• too ’neat’: social doesn’t happen in such an orderly manner:
• Laslett: church records show only 10% of households contained extended kin before industrial revolution -> suggests the family was already nuclear before
• young and wilmott: Extended Kin networks still strong in East London as late as 1970s

Question 11

ao3: functionalist perspective on family

Answer 11

• downplaying conflict: both sociologists paint a rosy picture of family life, presenting it as harmonious and integrated. however, they downplay ’darker side’ of family, eg violence against women and child abuse
• out of date: parsons view of instrumental and expressive roles is old-fashioned. may have held some truth in 1950s but today, with majority of women in paid work and blurring of gender roles, it seems that both partners take on roles
• ignores exploitation of women: functionalists ignore how sexual division of labour disadvantages women. most women still take on the main caregiving role, which increases workload. these gender roles are socially constructed, not biological and often lead to women’s oppression
• too deterministic: overlooks how children actively shape own personalities. it wrongly assumes people passively absorb society’s values from their parents, ignoring individual choice and variation