Theories of the Family Flashcards
What does SERS mean?
- Socialisation
- Economic
- Reproduction
- Sexual regulation
What do Functionalists say about Socialisation in the famiy?
- It teaches basic norms and values
- It integrates kids into society via things like manners
- Teaches kids that mother is expressive and father is instrumental
What is the Functionalist view on the Economic values of the family?
- Parsons: Functional fit theory, the traditional nuclear family allows for a geographically/socially mobile workforce
- The family works together to meet the economic needs of all members
- The man should be the main source of income
What is the Functionalist view of Reproduction in the family?
- Murdock: Families have a key role in producing the next generation
- The family is vital for creating new members of society to maintain its functions
What is the Functionalist view of Sexual regulation in the family?
- Murdock: The monogamous marriage satisfies the adult sex drive in a stable manner
- It avoids social disruption which would lead to a “Sexual free for all”
What is the Marxist view on Socialisation in the family?
- Althusser: The family is an ISA which socialises kids into accepting the hierarchy (e.g. paternal power)
What is the Marxist view of the Economic values of the family?
- Zeretsky: Safety valve leads to “Buy One, Get One Free” for workplace
- The family is a “unit of consumption” which means they buy goods in bulk
- Advertisers know this and use children’s “pester power” to encourage families to “Keep up with the Joneses”
What is the Marxist view on Reproduction in the family?
- The family creates new members of the labour force
- They aren’t new members of society, they’re wage slaves
What is the Marxist view on Sexual Regulation?
- The “mode of production” determines family structure
- Marx: Society used to be classless and under “primitive communism”
- this led to a “promiscuous horde” which eventually adapted to capitalism and formed the traditional nuclear family
What are the 4 types of feminism?
- Liberal
- Radical
- Marxist
- Difference
What do Liberal feminists think about the family?
- Match of progress approaches
- Divorce Reform Act (1969) which increased divorce rates after adding more grounds for divorce
What do Radical feminists think about the family?
- It’s designed to benefit patriarchal power
- Oakley: Women do 77 hours of housework - “no pay, low status”
- Women are at a greater risk of domestic violence and assault
What do Difference Feminists think about the family?
- Each woman’s experience is different
- Intersectionality: many things make up who you are, not just being a woman
- Black women see the family as a source of support against external, racist oppression
What do Marxist feminists think about the family?
- Women meet the needs of capitalism to reproduce the patriarchy and inequality in 3 ways
- Women reproduce the labour force (Benston)
-
Women absorb anger (Ansley “takers of sh¡t”
-Women are a reserve army of cheap labour
What are the criticisms of Liberal feminism?
- Duncombe and Marsden: triple shift (job + housework + emotional support)
What are the criticisms of Radical feminism?
- Hakim: Women “exercise rational choice** and still choose domestic roles
What is the criticism of Marxist feminism?
- Warm Bath Theory
What is the criticism of Difference feminism?
- Any of the other strands of feminism
