Theories of the Family

Question 1

Engels
Marxism

Answer 1

Blames the private monogamous nuclear family for maintaining capitalism. He said men had to be certain of the paternity of their children to ensure their legitimate heirs inherited from them. This brought women’s sexuality under male control.

Question 2

Murdock
Functionalist

Answer 2

The nuclear family performs four essential functions for society:
-stable satisfaction of the sex drive
-reproduction
-socialisation
-meeting its members economic needs

Question 3

Parsons
Functionalst

Answer 3

The nuclear family is geographically and socially mobile.
Warm bath theory- the home allows the instrumental male to soothe the stresses of work by spending time with his family.

Question 4

Young and Wilmott
Liberal feminism

Answer 4

‘march of progress’
Men are doing more domestic labour and the way children are socialised is more equal than in the past.

Question 5

What year was the Sex Discrimination act?

Answer 5

1975

Question 6

Greer
Radical feminism

Answer 6

Heterosexual relationships are inevitably oppressive because they involve “sleeping with the enemy” so all-female households should be created as an alternative to the heterosexual family.