Theories of the family Flashcards
Families & Households
In short, explain the functionalist view on the family.
The functionalist view sees the family as essential for maintaining social stability, performing key functions like socialising children, providing emotional support, and upholding societal values.
In short, explain the marxist view on the family.
The Marxist view sees the family as reinforcing capitalism by socialising children to accept inequality and supporting the power of the ruling class.
In short, explain the feminist view on the family.
The feminist view sees the family as reinforcing gender inequality, with women often in subordinate roles, performing unpaid domestic labor and caregiving to support male dominance in society.
In short, explain the new right view on the family.
The New Right views the traditional nuclear family as crucial for social stability and believes family breakdown leads to social problems.
In short, explain the postmodernist view on the family.
The postmodernist view sees the family as diverse and flexible, rejecting the idea of a single “correct” family structure. It emphasizes individual choice and the variety of family forms in modern society.
What did Parsons say about the family?
Talcott Parsons argued that the family performs two main functions in society, primary socialisation into norms and values, and the stabilisation of adult personalities by providing emotional support.
What did Durkheim say about the family?
He argued that the family contributes to social cohesion by transmitting shared values and norms, helping individuals internalise societal rules.
What were Murdock’s 4 key functions?
1= Sexual – Regulating sexual behaviour and relationships.
2= Reproductive – Ensuring the continuation of society through reproduction.
3= Economic – Providing for the material needs of its members.
4= Educational – Socialising children and teaching them societal norms and values.
What did Engels say about the family?
Engels said that the nuclear family was created as a way for the bourgeoisie to pass down their property to their children, reinforcing class inequalities and the continued oppression to the proletariat.
What did Zaretsky say about the family?
Zaretsky said that the family acts as a ‘safe haven’ from the harsh capitalist world, keeping workers productive. He said that it supports capitalism by reproducing the workforce.
What did Marcuse say about the family?
Marcuse believed that the family encourages individuals to buy goods and services to maintain their social status and fit into capitalist culture, reinforcing the cycle of consumption and exploitation.
What did Giddens say about the family?
He argued that traditional family structures have changed, with greater emphasis on individual choice, gender equality, and personal relationships. Giddens introduced the concept of the “pure relationship,” where couples stay together based on emotional satisfaction and mutual fulfilment, rather than social or economic necessity.
What did Stacey say about the family?
She emphasized that families are shaped by individual choices and social change, leading to a variety of family forms. Stacey believed that the rise of more diverse family structures, such as single-parent families, stepfamilies, and cohabiting couples, reflects a move away from traditional norms and a shift towards greater personal freedom and equality within family relationships.
What did Murray say about the family?
Murray believed that breakdown in the nuclear family caused social problems. He said that the overgenerous welfare state benefit system created a perverse incentive to be a single parent and a dependency culture.
What did Oakley say about the family?
She argued that the traditional family structure reinforces gender inequality, with women often confined to domestic and caregiving roles.
What did Ansley say about the family?
She argued that the family serves the interests of capitalism by maintaining a patriarchal system. In her work, she suggested that women act as “takers of shit” within the family, meaning that they bear the emotional and psychological burdens of their husbands’ frustrations with work and society.
Why is the functionalist view of the family criticised?
Some argue that functionalists ignore the negative aspects of family life, such as domestic violence. At the time of Parsons and Murdock, these issues were not looked at.
Why is the marxist view of the family criticised?
The marxist view is criticsed for being too negative. It focusses on benefits to the economy and ignores benefits to individuals and society. It also assumes the worker is male and women are housewives, a view that is now outdated.
Why is the functionalist view of the family criticised?
Some argue that functionalists ignore the negative aspects of family life, such as domestic violence. Also, at the time of Parsons and Murdocks writing, these issues were not discussed.
Why is the marxist view of the family criticised?
The marxist view of the family is criticsed for being too negative. It focussed soley on it’s benefits to the economy and not any possible benefits to the individual or society.
How is the feminist viewpoint of the family criticsed?
They have been criticsed for portraying women as too passive. It plays down their ability to make changes and improve their situation, especially with all the increased choice in todays society.
