Theories Of The Family Flashcards
What does Murdock argue are the four essential functions that the family performs? Functionalists
Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
Reproduction of the next generation
Socialisation of the young
Meeting its members economic needs
How is Murdock criticised?
These could be performed well by other institutions or by non nuclear family structures
Marxists and fems reject his rose tinted consensus view. It neglects conflict and exploitation
What two family structures does Parsons distinguish?
The nuclear family
The extended family- three generations living under one roof
What two types of society are there according to Parsons?
Modern industrial and traditional pre industrial
Nuclear family fits the need of industrial and and extended fits pre
What are the two essential needs to Parsons in industrial society?
A geographically mobile work force- in trad society people spent their whole lives in the same village. Now industries increase and decline in areas so people are required to move where jobs are. It is easier for the compact nuclear fam to move.
A socially mobile workforce- requires a skillled workforce. Essential that talented people take the best jobs, even from humble backgrounds. No more ascribed status, doing what your dad does. In the extended family adult sons lived at home but if they have a higher achieved status there may be tension. Adult sons should leave home and form their own nuclear family
What does Parsons argue about a loss of functions?
As a result of a loss of functions that extended families provided, the nuclear family specialises in just two essential functions-
Primary socialisation of children
The stabilisation of adult personalities
What is the function of inheritance of property in the family according to marxists?
Inheritance of property- family is determined by the mode of production. The mode of production now is the capitalist class. Marx called the earliest, classless society ‘primitive communism’. All members owned the means of production commonly. There was no family. Increasing wealth meant private property. This lead to a nuclear family. According to Engels monogamy became vital to capitalism- passing inheritance down the family. Women oppressed under patriarchal control
What are the ideological functions as a function of the family according to marxists?
The family provides key ideological functions for capitalism. By socialist kids into the idea that inequality is inevitable. Parental power over children accustoms them to the idea that there is always someone in charge, preparing them for working life.
How is a unit of consumption a function of the family according to Marxism?
Capitalism exploits the labour of workers, making a profit by selling the products of their labour for more than it pays them to produce. The family therefore play a major role in generating profits-
Advertises urge families to consume all the latest products
The media target children’s whose ‘pester power’ persuade parents
Children who lack the latest fashion are mocked by peers
How is the Marxist perspective of family criticised?
Tend to assume the nuclear family is dominant. This ignores the wide variety of family structures Feminists argue that the Marxist emphasis on class underestimates the power of gender inequalities. Functionalists argue that they ignore the benefits of the family
What are liberal feminists concerned with?
Campaigning against sex discrimination and equal rights. Women’s oppression is becoming gradually overcome through laws and changing attitudes.
Although full gender equality hasn’t been achieved in the family, there is progress.
How are liberal feminists criticised?
Failing to challenge the underlying causes of women’s oppression and for believing that changes in laws will be enough to bring equality.
What do Marxist feminists argue?
The main cause of women’s oppression in the family is not men, but capitalism. Women’s oppression performs these functions for capitalism -
- Women reproduce the labour force through their unpaid domestic labour, by socialising the next generation of workers and servicing the current ones
- women absorb anger that would otherwise be directed at capitalism
- women are a reserve army for cheap labour that can be used and tossed away after if needed
Family should be abolished during the socialist revolution
What do radical feminists argue?
Men are the enemy
The family and marriage are key institutions in patriarchal society- men benefit from unpaid domestic work and sexual services
What do radical feminists argue should happen?
The family, the root of patriarchy should be abolished. This must be done through separatism
Some argue for political lesbianism
Germaine Greer argues matrilocal households should be created
How is radical feminism criticised?
Fails to recognise that women’s position has improved greatly
Heterosexual attraction means separatism would fail
What do difference feminists argue?
We consider that all women live in conventional nuclear families and share similar experiences.
We cannot generalise- sexuality, ethnicity, class.
By regarding the family purely as negative it neglects black women’s experience of racial oppression, which is a positive source of support against racism.
What does the personal life perspective argue theories of the family suffer from?
They tend to assume that the Nuclear family is dominant- ignores increased diversity
They are all structural theories- they assume that family members re passive puppets manipulated by the structure of society. Interactionists and postmodernists reject the structural view- we have some choice
We must focus on the meanings we give
What kind of relationships do personal life sociologists argue are significant?
Relationships with friends Fictive kin Gay and lesbian chosen families Relationships with dead relatives Relationships with pets
How is the personal life perspective criticised?
Helps us to understand how people themselves construct families
Too broad a view, by including a wide range of personal relationships we ignore the very special blood or marriage relationships
