theories of the family Flashcards
functionalist view of the family
- believe it is important
- they believe family are the ‘building blocks’ of society
- believe family forms crucial functions of socialising the young
- believe the main function of the family is to teach children the norms and values
- believe family performs positive functions
- believe we
marxist view of family
- they believe family is a unit of consumption
- believe advertisers target children using pester power to gain profit
- family benefits the bourgeoisie
- family provides workers and feeds capitalism
What is a household?
A household is a person living alone or group of people living together, for example, sharing meals, bills house works etc. This can include students living together at university.
What is a family?
One definition is that it involves a monogamous (one person forever) marriage between a man and a woman, plus their child(ren) all sharing the same residence.
This nuclear family is often held up as the ideal.
However this definition rules out groups that many would see as families, such as married cohabitating couples.
There are a range of other family types in today’s society: cohabitating, same sex, reconstituted.
How does the family fit into the organic analogy ?
- the family works with education, religion and politics to ensure the smooth running of society and has key functions to carry out to ensure society is stable.
George Murdock
- functionalist
- Murdock sees the nuclear family as being a man and woman, living together with their children, co-operating economically and maintaining a sexual relationship.
- argues the nuclear family performs 4 functions to meet the needs of society and its members.
- he argues the nuclear family is universal and found in all societies.
What are the 4 essential functions George Murdock believes the family needs to perform? and how do individuals and society benefit from them?
- Stable satisfaction of the sex drive. Benefits individual by giving fulfilment. Benefits society by stopping a sexual free for all.
- reproduction of the next generation of workers. Gives individual fulfilment. Benefits society by giving new ideas and new working population.
- Socialisation of the young. Individual benefits as they learn norms and values. Society becomes more qualified and skilled.
- Meeting its members economic needs. Society and individuals can live a better quality of life and live more comfortably.
What are some criticisms against George Murdock?
-nuclear family is no longer universal, we have a range of family types that can also meet the needs of society.
- feminists would ague Murdock ignores how oppressive the nuclear family is for women. nuclear family serves the needs of men.
- Marxists would argue Murdock has a very harmonious view of family. They argue family meets the needs of capitalism, and family doesn’t meet the needs of everyone.
according to parsons, what are the two basic types of family in society?
- traditional pre-industrial society
family was a multi-functional unit, extended family - modern industrial society
nuclear family, industrialisation and urbanisation meant people moved around for work, society is meritocratic
new right view of the family
- believe in traditional family values
- oppose sexual freedom
- family should only be nuclear
- reject single parent families as they cause an underclass and criminality
- women’s roles are seen as traditional
- believe men should be the breadwinners
Zaretsky’s view of the family? (MARXIST)
- the family plays an ideological function of offering an apparent haven from capitalism. However, Zaretsky argues this is an illusion and the family cannot meet its members needs.
- he believes the family cushions the effects of capitalism
What is the difference between the expressive role and the instrumental role?
- expressive role is feminine, caring, gentle. women are biologically fit for this role
- instrumental role is masculine, the breadwinner role, men are biologically fit for this role
how are the new rights similar to functionalism in their beliefs of the family?
- both believe nuclear family is the corner stone of society
- both believe family socialises children
according to marxists, how do the family perform ideological functions?
- teach hierarchy eg parental power
- teach that inequality is inevitable
- they believe safe haven is an illusion
What does Zaretsky (Marxist) say about the family?
- believes it cushions and feeds capitalism
- believes that family being a ‘haven’ is an illusion and the family cannot meet its members needs
- believes family is a unit of consumption
- children got mocked for they don’t have the latest gadgets, which feeds into family
