//Theories of the Family

Question 1

Define the term ‘value consensus’.

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Question 2

According to Murdock, what are the four essential functions performed by the family?

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Question 3

Give two criticisms of Murdock’s functionalist view of the family.

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Question 4

Define the nuclear family.

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Question 5

Define the extended family.

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Question 6

According to Parsons, industrial society needs a geographically and socially mobile workforce. Explain why this is the case.

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Question 7

Explain how the nuclear family meets the needs of a geographically and socially mobile workforce.

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Question 8

What two essential or ‘irreducibly’ functions does Parsons suggest that the nuclear family now performs?

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Question 9

Define the capitalist class.

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Question 10

Define the working class.

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Question 11

According to the Marxist, who or what does the family benefit?

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Question 12

Why did Marx claim there was no family in primitive communism?

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Question 13

According to Engels, why is monogamy essential in class society?

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Question 14

According to Engels, what did the rise of the monogamous nuclear family mean for women?

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Question 15

According to Marxists, why will the overthrow of capitalism mean the end of the patriarchal nuclear family?

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Question 16

What is the Marxist definition of ideology?

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Question 17

Explain two ideological functions of the family.

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Question 18

Identify three ways in which the family is an important market for all consumer goods.

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Question 19

State three criticisms of the Marxist perspective.

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Question 20

What do liberal feminists campaign for?

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Question 21

In what way do liberal feminists agree with the ‘march of progress’ theorists? What evidence do they give for this?

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Question 22

Why are liberal feminists criticised by other feminists?

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Question 23

According to Marxist feminists, what is the main cause of women’s oppression?

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Question 24

Identify three ways in which Marxist feminists see women as being oppressed.

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Question 25

According to Marxist feminists, how will the oppression of women be overcome?

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Question 26

According to radical feminists, what are the two features of the division between men and women in patriarchal society?

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Question 27

Give two solutions that radical feminists propose to overcome women’s oppression.

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Question 28

Why do liberal feminists criticise radical feminists’ views?

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Question 29

What is the main argument of difference feminism?

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Question 30

Why do other feminists reject the argument for difference feminism?

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Question 31

Identify two features that functionalist, Marxist and feminist perspectives on the family can be
said to share.

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Question 32

What is the main emphasis of the personal life perspective?

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Question 33

Give five examples of relationships that may give individuals a sense of belonging.

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Question 34

In what ways does the personal life perspective challenge the conventional ‘blood and
marriage’ view of family relationships?

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Question 35

What problems might be faced by donor-conceived children, their parents and others?

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Question 36

Identify one strength of the personal life perspective.

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Question 37

State one criticism of the personal life perspective.

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Question 38

Identify two ways in which the personal life perspective differs from functionalism.

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