theories of the family

Question 1

Murdock (F)

Answer 1

4 essential function
- nuclear family is ‘natural, normal, and universal’

• socialisation
• stable satisfaction of sex drive
• economic needs
• reproduction

Question 2

Edholm- criticism (F)

Answer 2

‘the unnatural family’
- there’s nothing ‘natural’ or ‘normal’ about the nuclear family
- family is socially constructed

Question 3

Parsons- ‘functional fit’ (F)

Answer 3

Family structure supports society:
- nuclear family: industrial society
- extended family: pre-industrial society

Industrialisation needed:
- geographically mobile workforce
-socially mobile workforce

Question 4

Parsons- ‘irreducible functions’ (F)

Answer 4

• socialisation
• stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory)

Family was reduced to this because of the loss of function (due to health services, schools etc)

Question 5

Fletcher- criticism (F)

Answer 5

NHS means parents are more involved in their children

Question 6

Marx (M)

Answer 6

Used to live in primitive communism

Question 7

Engels (M)

Answer 7

Used to live in a promiscuous horde in pre-industrialisation

Later. monogamy became essential so that private property could be passed down in the family and not lost- this created the patriarchal monogamous nuclear family and represented a ‘world historical defeat of the female sex’

Question 8

Zaretsky- ‘safe haven’ (M)

Answer 8

The family is an illusion of a safe haven from the frustrations of capitalism
- helps cope with exploitation which benefits bosses

However, the family does not meet all it’s members needs (e.g it’s based on the servitude of women)

Question 9

Young and Willmott (LF)

Answer 9

‘March of progress’ view

Men are helping more around the house

Women are working more

Therefore, the family is becoming more symmetrical

Question 10

Future Foundation (LF)

Answer 10

Most men say they do more housework that their fathers.

More women say they do less housework that their mothers.

Question 11

Fran Ansley (MF)

Answer 11

Wives are ‘takers of shit’

Question 12

Dobash and Dobash (RF)

Answer 12

Marriage legitimates domestic violence as it gives men power and authority

This supports rad fems ideas that men are the enemy and family/marriage are key institutions in patriarchy

Question 13

Greer (RF)

Answer 13

Separatism is the answer
- advocates for the creation of all-female or ‘matrilocal’ households

Question 14

Sommerville - criticism of RF

Answer 14

Rad fems fail to recognise the progress made

Question 15

Jones (DF)

Answer 15

Families are a good support system for black women as they serve as a ‘safety net’ against racist society

Question 16

Crenshaw (DF)

Question 17

Tipper (PLP)

Answer 17

Families go beyond blood and marriage.

Study of who kids see as their family- many put pets as close family

Question 18

Weeks (PLP)

Answer 18

LGBT people has ‘chosen families’- created support networks of people who they were close to, especially when their own family abandoned them

Question 19

Nordqvist and Smart (PLP)

Answer 19

Studied families with donor-conceived children and what counts as family

Found some people emphasised social relationships over genetic ones