theories about the family Flashcards
the functionalist theory
sees nuclear family as functioning for the greater good of society.
helps maintain social order and stabilise economy.
believes it benefits individuals
sees family as important and necessary
Murdock
reproductive:
children were symbolic of a couple’s emotional commitment to one another. having children functioned to stabilise both the marital relationship and family life.
sexual:
marital sex creates a powerful emotional bond between a couple. sex within marriage contributes to social order and stability because society agreed that marriage is the social goal and that all members of society should aim to achieve it.
educational:
referring to primary socialisation. a major function of parenting is to teach children the dominant values, norms, traditions etc of a society. beneficial to the individual child who grows up as a good citizen, avoiding bringing shame and dishonour on their family.
economic:
he argued that parents shows their commitment to care, protection and maintenance of their children by becoming productive workers. they use their wage to provide for the family.
criticisms of murdocks theory
-very dated and fails to take into account the modern trends. for example, reproduction: women’s attitudes to marriage and child-bearing have changed.
-he emphasises on 2 parents, male and female and is clearly saying there is a right or wrong way to organise family life.
parsons
primary socialisation- family was the main centre of primary socialisation, teaching the behavioural norms and attitudes, preparing them for adulthood in society.
stabilisation of adult personality- the nuclear family acts as a ‘warm bath’ where people can relieve the pressure of work.
Marxists view
see the nuclear family as serving the interests of the ruling class ideology aimed at discouraging working-class criticism of capitalism.
Fredrich Engles
claimed that monogamous nuclear family only became popular after the industrial revolution as the ruling class encouraged it in order to protect the property and wealth they had accumulated.
feminists
believe the nuclear family has harmful effects for women because of the inequality created between men and women.
marxist feminists
they see social class relationships as the main source of social inequality.
they believe all labour is exploited by the ruling class.
Ansley (1972) suggested that capitalism has stripped male workers dignity, power and control at work. causing more domestic abuse at home.
criticism- a lot of women chose to live like this
radical feminists
Delphy and Leonard (1992) claim that husbands exploit their wives despite genuinely loving them.
They argue that a women’s role within a marriage is to ‘flatter’ her husband and to provide emotional support.
On the other hand Firestone (1971) claims that ‘love is the pivot of women’s oppression today. This is an example of the range of ways in which patriarchal nuclear family has exploited women.
she also argues that women should use new technologies for reproducing for example IVF. women shouldn’t be dependant on men to have children.
liberal feminists
Oakley (1981) believed that gender inequality is a product of discrimination by individuals and those who run institutions- largely based on ignorance, prejudice and a mistaken view of the differences between males and females.
suggested that gender role socialisation is a major source of patriarchal discrimination as girls being persuaded to accept her main responsibilities.
new right view on family
the nuclear family form is essential for the functioning of a good society, but that various government policies and social attitudes have combined to undermine the family.
they see the traditional nuclear family as under threat and in decline.
Patricia Morgan argues that gay families are unnatural and says that children for them are just prizes to be shown off to other gay couples.
postmodernists view
Postmodernists argue that we no longer live in the modern world with predictable orderly structures, such as the nuclear family. Instead society has entered a new, chaotic postmodern stage.
more choice in family structures
