theories of the family

Question 1

acronym for functions of the family

Answer 1

SERS - socialisation, economic, reproductive, sexual regulation

Question 2

functionalism - view on socialisation according to parsons

Answer 2

the family socialises its children into the correct norms and values, typically done by the mother/expressive role in order for society to function smoothly e.g. manners, queuing

Question 3

functionalism - ao3 for socialisation

Answer 3

marxists argue the family socialises its children into the values of capitalism e.g. always someone in charge at home just like in the workplace

Question 4

functionalism - view on economics according to murdock

Answer 4

the family acts as a unit of consumption via the father acting as the breadwinner/instrumental role, to provide for all its members’ needs e.g. food, medicine

Question 5

functionalism - ao3 for economics

Answer 5

marxists argue this ultimately benefits capitalism e.g. buying a family car benefits car brands

Question 6

functionalism - view on reproduction according to murdock

Answer 6

the family allows for society to continue by creating more members, making it vital for society’s survival

Question 7

functionalism - ao3 for reproduction

Answer 7

postmodernists argue a nuclear family is no longer needed for reproductive needs e.g. introduction of sperm donor babies

Question 8

functionalism - view on sexual regulation according to murdock

Answer 8

the family allows access to sex in a secure and monogamous manner to prevent social disruption where adultery and prostitution is a norm

Question 9

functionalism - a03 for sexual regulation

Answer 9

marxists argue monogamy benefits capitalism as it ensures property and wealth stays within the family

Question 10

functionalism - warm bath theory according to parsons

Answer 10

the family acts as a warm bath to relieve the breadwinner of daily stresses, leaving them refreshed to be economically productive the next day

Question 11

functionalism - ao3 for warm bath theory

Answer 11

ignores the dark side of the family - domestic violence does not make the family a safe place

Question 12

functionalism - functional fit theory according to parsons

Answer 12

in the pre-industrial era, the common family type was extended - grandparents performed childcare, education and healthcare as it fit the argicultural needs of society at the time

after industrialisation, the common family type was nuclear - they were geographically and socially mobile, and due to structural differentiation, the government took over childcare, education and healthcare

Question 13

functionalism - ao3 for functional fit theory

Answer 13

most pre industrial families were nuclear due to low life expectancy
early industrial times led to the rise of mum centred wc families - mother-in-laws, aunties were more involved

Question 14

general ao3 for functionalism

Answer 14

ignores family diversity (fd)
postmodernists argue fd is positive as it shows family types depend on active choices made by people e.g. to divorce, come out as gay
new right argue fd is negative as it takes away from the traditional nuclear family and is the cause of social problems e.g. high crime rates

Question 15

ao3 for functionalism - radical psychiatry and the family

Answer 15

the family is pathological/dangerous to its individuals causing mental illness

leach - the nuclear family is too isolated from society, pressure turns into frustration and anger taken out on the children

parents and children spend too much time together, which emotionally suffocates the children due to high expectations placed on them

Question 16

marxism - view on socialisation according to althusser

Answer 16

the family acts as a ideological state apparatus to brainwash the next generation into capitalist norms and values e.g. a parental figure always being in charge teaches children to always respect hierarchal authority

Question 17

marxism - ao3 for socialisation

Answer 17

functionalists argue this passes on norms and values to allow society to run smoothly
radical feminists argue this passes on norms and values of the patriarchy

Question 18

marxism - view on economics

Answer 18

the family acts as a unit of consumption by purchasing goods and resources required that benefits capitalism e.g. baby food

families are urged to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ by getting the latest goods, and children use their pester power to get their parents to spend in fear of being mocked by peers for not having the latest clothes and gadgets

Question 19

marxism - ao3 for economics

Answer 19

functionalists argue this benefits all the members of the family

Question 20

marxism - rejection of the warm bath theory according to zaretsky

Answer 20

the family acts as a ‘haven’ to relieve the workers of the exploitative capitalist society, where men takes out their frustrations of the system on women who provide free domestic labour for a low status and no pay
capitalism therefore gets a BOGOF (buy one get one free)

Question 21

marxism - view on reproduction

Answer 21

the family reproduces the labour force to create more workers or wage slaves for the bourgeoisie to exploit

Question 22

marxism - ao3 for reproduction

Answer 22

functionalists argue marxists fail to recognise the benefits the family brings to its members such as mutual support and intimacy

Question 23

marxism - view on sexual regulation according to engels

Answer 23

monogamy developed as capitalism did - previously there was a promiscuous horde and no sexual restrictions

as capitalism developed, the bourgeoisie used monogamy to control the woman’s sexuality and make sure their property would stay within the family as the man knew the children were his, leaving the rich rich and the poor poor

Question 24

marxism - ao3 for sexual regulation

Answer 24

historical inaccuracies - monogamy existed in earlier societies

Question 25

liberal feminism - view on the family

Answer 25

there has been a march of progress allowing girls to be resocialised from the expressive role due to legal and social changes e.g. equal pay act, sex discrimination act gives women equal rights in the workplace

the new man has emerged - men now take on housework and have the same aspirations for both sons and daughters

Question 26

liberal feminism ao3

Answer 26

though women now have equal rights in the workplace, they still experience the dual burden - having to do paid work and housework

Question 27

radical feminism (millett) - view on the family

Answer 27

men in the family exploit women for their unpaid domestic work and sexual services making them the enemy

children are brought up with the norms and values of the patriarchy - men are in charge and women are submissive

the only way to fix this is to abolish the family and introduce separatism where women live separately, or practice political lesbianism where women avoid sleeping with the enemy

Question 28

radical feminism ao3

Answer 28

there are some women who choose to be housewives e.g. the emergence of ‘tradwives’

functionalists argue men and women are naturally suited to the instrumental and expressive role

Question 29

marxist feminism (benston, ansley) - view on the family

Answer 29

the nuclear family meets the need of capitalism at the expense of wc women and children by providing the basic commodity for capitalism (next generation of workers) for little cost

women absorb the anger of their husbands after being exploited in the capitalist workplace, maintaining the workforce’s emotional fitness - ‘takers of sh!t’

women are an reserve army of cheap labour - they were used in WW2 to make arms but were pushed back into the home after the war ended

Question 30

marxist feminism ao3

Answer 30

functionalists argue a separation between men and women is necessary as women’s role in the warm bath theory/primary socialisation is essential for society’s continuation

the personal life perspective argue women and the proletariat now have a choice in their family

Question 31

difference feminism - view of the family

Answer 31

the experience of the family cannot be generalised as every woman’s experience is different depending on their race, sexuality, class

white feminists arguing all women’s experience in the family is bad ignores the support that black women get in the family against racism

Question 32

difference feminism ao3

Answer 32

even if all women have different experiences, they are still at a high risk of domestic abuse, sexual assault so some generalisation is okay

Question 33

overview of personal life perspective

Answer 33

argues we should understand the meaning people give to family rather than their functions

focus on how individuals shape their lives rather than society shaping them

Question 34

personal life perspective - beyond ties of blood and marriage

Answer 34

takes on a wider conception of family, intimate connections create a sense of relatedness e.g. pets seen as family members, aunties that aren’t blood related
this shows family is what it means to an individual

Question 35

ao3 for personal life perspective

Answer 35

undermines the value of blood connections

recognises choice, the functions of the family and acknowledges that blood connections ≠ positive