Theories of the family Flashcards
Functionalist perspective of the family
Murdock argues there are 4 functions of the family that meet the needs of its members
- Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
- Reproduction of the next gen
- Socialisation of the young
- Meeting members economic needs
Critisims of Murdock
Murdock accepts other institutions can perform these needs but he argues that the sheer practicality of the nuclear family explains why it is found in almost all societies.
Some argue that these functions can be performed by other institutions
Marxists and feminists see his view as rose tinted and argue functionalism neglects conflict and exploitation
- feminists view family as oppressing women
- Marxists argue it meets the needs of capitalism
Parsons ‘functional fit’ theory
Apart from murdocks functions, the family may meet other functions such as political or religious functions. Parsnos argue the functions depend on the society.
The functions the family performs depends on the size of the family as there are 2 types
- nuclear
- extended
The nuclear family is more seen in industrial society whereas extended is seen in pre-industrial traditional families
When britain began to industrialise the extended family gave way to the nuclear
A geoographically mobile workforce
In modern society jobos need workers who are able to easily relocate and it is easier for a nuclear family to relocate then a extended family
A socially mobile workforce
In modern society your status is not ascribed and is more achieved. The son of a manual worker can be a doctor trhough hard work.
The nuclear family meets needs better as in an extended family a father will always be head of the home regardless of ascribed status which may lead to tensions and conflicts dependant on the son having a higher status then his father in society.
The solution is for adult sons to move out and form their own families encouraging both social and geographical mobility
Loss of functions
Parsons argues as society industrialises the family loses functions. He argues the modern nuclear family performs two essential functions
- Primary socialisation of children to equip them with the basic skills to intergrate with others
- Stabilisation of adult personalities as they can relax and release tensions in the home so they can return to the workplace relaxed.
Marxist perspective of the family
The function of the family is purely for benefit of the capitalist class
Inheritance of property
In modern society it is the cappitalist class who own the means of production
Marx argues in the earliest classless society there was no restricitons on modes of production and they were owned by all
Family enables mode of production to stay in the capitalist class
Ideological functions
- Children are socialised into the view hierarchy and ineqauality are inevitable
- Parental control tells them there is always someone in charge, usually a man and this socialises them into believing this is right in terms of their future work life
- Zaretsky says the family acts as a safe haven where workers can return upon being exploited by the capitalist class and recharge.
A unit of consumption
- Children must own latest clothes and gadgets to avoid bullying
- Keep up with the Jonses by consuming latest products
- Media targets children who pester parents to spend more
Criticisms of the marxist perspective
- feminists argue the focus on class disregards the gender differences
- Functionalists argue marxists disregard the real functions.
Feminists perspectives on the family
Oppression of women.
Liberal feminism
- Changes in the law are beneffing women and making the faamily more equal SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT
- Similar views to Y&W who argue gradual changes are being put in place
- People are socialising children more equally
Criticisms of liberal feminists
Other feminists argue they are not challenging underlying causes of deep rooted feminism
Marxist feminists
- Main cause of womens oppression isnt men but is capitalism as women perform key functions for capitalism
- Reserve workforce : They are a form of cheap labour when men are not around, easily dismisable
- Reproduce the labour force and socialise them
- Absorb anger Fran annseley saw women as shit takers and this explains DV
Radical feminism
Men are the enemy and marriage and family are key sources of oppression in women.
- Patriarchal system must be overturned through seperatism and this means men and women live seperately
- Greer argues for matrilocal homes
- Somerville argues agsinst this as heterosexual attraction makes this unrealistic
Difference feminism
- We can not generalise all womens experiences. eg black sociologusts see the family as supportive and resistance against racism
- Other fem argue against and say that we are disregarding womens universal experiences.
Personal life perspective on family
Personal life argues all theories ignore these two things
- increased diversity of families today
- They are all structural theories assuming all members of the family have been manipulated to act a certain way.
The sociology of personal life
- Takes a bottom up approach, and investigates individuals perspectives.
- Emphasises meanings individuals hold and how this moulds their relationships and actions.
Beyond ties of blood and marriage
- Tipper found children saw pets as part of the family
- Relations with friends we class as siblings
- Fictive kin, calling moms friends aunty
- Relations with dead relatives who continue to mould the way we act - constanly mourn and do not forget these.
Donor concieved children
Norqvist and Smart found the issue of blood and genes raised feelings - some parents emphasises a social bond.
- Erin was the mother of a egg donor child and she argued being a mother was the time and love given, not the genes
- Diff feelings may spark if someone makes a commment such as implying the donor baby looks like them
- Where donors are known there are diffculties in defining family.
- Lesbian couples, there may be problems with the donor being the ‘real’ mom.
Criticisms of PLP
- We are ignoring the special about relations based on blood or marriage
- Rejects other structural theories
- They argue relations arent always pos, DV SA
