Theories Flashcards
Parsons
Functional Fit Theory:
- functions of the family depend on society its founded in
- nuclear= industrial society (a geographically mobile workforce is needed, easier to move only 2 generations.
a socially mobile workforce gained, people gain status through work, avoids tension due to differences in generational statuses)
Domestic Division of Labour
roles in a nuclear family are segregated.
- husband= instrumental role (breadwinner, provides for family)
- wife= expressive role (homemaker, meets needs of family)
Murdock
family performs 4 functions for society
(1) Stabilisation of the sex drive (having 1 partner to stop social disruption)
(2) Reproduction (keeps society going)
(3) Education (teaching shared norms and values of society)
(4) Economic (meeting needs eg: food, clothes etc)
Evaluation:
- functions can be done by any family type
- (Marxists)= family meets needs of capitalism, not society
- (Feminists)= family only benefits men, functions exploit women
Young and Willmott
(march of progress view- believe family is slowly improving and is more equal)
- there has been a trend towards join conjugal roles due to:
- women’s changed positions (eg: married women working)
- men help with housework
- couples spend leisure time together
This is a result of social changes (causing higher standards of living) including:
- women’s changed positions
- geographically mobility (live far away from where they grew up)
- new technology, labour saving devices
Evaluation:
Oakley= family is not symmetrical, only some husbands help (not enough to create a trend), only 15% have high participation in house work, 25% had high participation in childcare. Men only took pleasurable tasks
Marxism
Family meets the needs of capitalism- doesn’t benefit society
(1) Inheritance of property
- in early ‘primitive communism’ there was no private property (means of production owned by everyone) and family didn’t exist.
- forces of production developed, so did private property. The nuclear family was essential to pass land onto legitimate heirs
(2) Ideological Functions
- family socialises children to accept inequality (parental power teaches authority and obedience)
- Zaretsky= family gives a private life away from exploitation
(3) Unit of Consumption
- capitalism gains profits (sell goods for more than cost of labour)
- family is important to sell goods to (market): ads urge families to ‘keep up with the Jonses’ by consuming latest goods
- ‘Pester Power’ by children urges parents to spend more on must have products
Personal Life Perspective
criticise assuming the nuclear family is dominant
- take an ‘interactionalist approach’ (focus on meanings)
- eg: a range of other relationships exist but not defined as ‘family’, but still give belonging and identity
Tipper= children frequently saw pets as part of their family
-Nordqvist and Smart= researched donor conceived children, parents emphasise importance of social relationships over genetic
Evaluation:
their view is too broad. emphasis on social relationships take away from those based on blood/ marriage
Feminism
Liberal:
- gradual move towards equality. This is due to law (eg: sex discrimination act)
- Have a March of Progress view= no full equality but some improvements
EVALUATION: does not explain causes of oppression
Marxist:
- capitalism causes oppression, perform functions only for capitalism
- reproduce labour force (unpaid domestic labour eg: socialising children)
- Absorb anger (Ansley= women are ‘takers of shit’)
- Reserve army of cheap labour (eg: WW2)
Radical:
- all societies are founded on patriarchy (men cause oppression)
- family must be abolished (only way is through separatism from men)
EVALUATION: fail to notice improvement in position (eg: job opportunities)
Difference:
- cannot generalise- groups have different experiences
- criticise other feminists who assume ALL women share equal experiences
