Theories of the family Flashcards
What are the // Functionalist // theories of the family ?
• Organic Analogy - Society works like the body, in which it is made up of interdependent parts, e.g, the education system, government, religion etc / working together to maintain a social system
• Murdock - 4 essential functions
1) Socialisation of the young
2) Satisfaction of the members economic means
3) Reproduction
4) Stable satisfaction of sex drive
• Parsons - Functional fit / functions of family depend on its society
- Nuclear family has 2 functions
1) Primary socialisation / basic skills and society’s values
2) Stabilisation / Enabling adults to relax so they can return to the workplace & perform their roles effectively
What are the // Marxist // theories of the family
• Engles - family exists so men can pass their private property onto their offspring, notably a son
• Zaretsky - Units of consumption ‘ keeping up with the Jones’s’
- ‘cult of private life’ - it serves as a distraction from capitalist exploitation
• Poulantzas - Nuclear families are brainwashed into thinking capitalism is fair / conforming
What are the // Feminist // theories of the family ?
• Liberal feminists - ‘March of progress’ view / gender inequality is gradually being overcome
• Marxists feminists - Capitalism is main form of women’s oppression
1) reproducing the work force
2) absorbing mens anger
3) reserve army of cheap labour
• Radical feminists - Men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic labour & sexual services / dominate them through threat of violence / Patriarchal system needs to be overturned, women need to be independent
• Difference feminists - Not all women share the same experience of oppression
What are the // New Right // theories of the family ?
• Biologically-based division of labour / the division of labour between a male breadwinner and a female homemaker is natural and biologically determined
• Families should be self-reliant / no assistance from the state
