Theories and functins Flashcards
What is functionalism?
The idea that society is in consensus and working well, and is like the human body, relying on different systems. Their ideal family is a heterosexual, married couple with two children, that all rely on strict gender roles.
Murdock (1949)
(Functionalism)
Family has specific functions: Reproduction, socialisation, sexual and economic. It is criticised as it doesn’t apply to society anymore. The functions have dissolved into other institutions.
Parsons
(Functionalism)
Families have two main functions: Primary socialisation (to equip children with the basic skills and values that enable them to integrate into society), and the stabilisation of the family (allowing adults to relax and refresh themselves to take part in work to a higher standard, warm bath theory.)
Traditional fit theory.
(Functionalism)
The traditional ‘nuclear family’ of parents and dependant children is the dominant family type. The extended family (three generations in one roof) is pre-industrial. Geographical mobility and social mobility workforce is easier for the nuclear family as they are more likely to have different professions and are equipped to meet the needs of the industrial system.
Criticisms of Functionalism.
It has a too positive view of the family, and neglects to notice conflicts such as domestic abuse (1 in 4 women), and divorce (40% of marriages). It holds an idealistic, endocentric picture and doesn’t consider diversity within the family, (afro Caribbean 50% absent fathers). It also implies children are sponges, however they do questions norms and values.
What is the Marxist view of the family?
Capitalists benefit most from the family. They believe that the working class (waige class) cannot be rich, and the capitalist class stays rich by their means of production. They state that the three ways in which capitalists benefit are through the inheritance of property, units of consumption, and ideological control.
What is ideological control?
Done through primary socialisation to teach children at a young age to understand who is ‘boss’ such as teachers, police, work boss, etc. It teaches them that inequality is justified and inevitable, allowing them to grow knowing that working in capitalist societies is normal and ok. This benefits capitalists as it produces compliant workers that make the profit they earn.
What is Inheritance of property?
The wealthy can pass on their value to their children. The working class doesn’t have much money or anything of value to pass on to their children. This benefits capitalists as the e means of production and profit from capitalist families are inherited by their children, allowing a continued family-owned business, while the poor stay poor.
What is units of consumption?
Units of consumption are used through relative deprivation, pester power and family-sized products. Capitalists benefit from this as they can charge more for demand, receive more sales, and in turn more profit. They may even gain more workers as the working class tries to attend to their family’s demands, allowing even more profit to be made.
What is relative deprivation?
Relative deprivation is when goods are targeted at families when they aren’t always needed, through advertising, and the ‘keeping up with the Jons’s’ theory, that families want to keep up with other families’ buys.
What is pester power?
Pester power is when advertisements are directed at children through TV or the media, meaning children who rely on their parents for money will pester them until they are bought.
What are family-sized products?
Family-sized products allow companies to charge more for families to think they are receiving a deal, on items such as food, tickets, cars, and even houses.
What is a criticism of the Marxist view?
The Marxist view is criticised as it assumes that everyone lives in a traditional nuclear family that dominates society, however, this is outdated and doesn’t consider other types of families, such as the 3 generational, extended family.
What is Marxist feminism?
Supports the Marxist’s critical view on the family, however, believes the emphasis is wrong, and that female oppression is used to benefit capitalists, as they are the ‘takers of shit’. They believe that women’s liberation will only be reached with the removal of capitalist functions. For example, businesses underpay women and take advantage of this allowance to earn more profit at a lower payment rate. Capitalists benefit from women as a ‘reserve army’, and then place them at the bottom of society. This shows how the patriarchy exploits women to benefit the upperclassmen as individuals, rather than the family.
