theories of the family and social policy Flashcards
Who was the ‘founding father’ of functionalism ?
Emile Durkheim (1893)
What is functionalist theory based on the idea of?
social order and stability.
What does Durkheim and Parsons use the organic analogy to explain?
They use the organic analogy to explain social order by making a comparison between society and the human body. Just as the human body is composed of different organs which each have separate functions to perform to enable us to operate healthy, the same applies to society.
To functionalists, what is society is composed of?
Society is composed of different parts and each performs functions to enable society to achieve social order and stability.
Functionalist theory explains how much different parts of society contribute to solidarity, value consensus and equilibrium.
What does functionalism emphasise?
Functionalism emphasises integration and harmony between the different parts of society.
What is the focus of functionalist analysis?
The focus of functionalist analysis is always placed on examining how the different parts of society (units, structures, institutions, systems) work together to maintain society and how each part contributes to the general functioning of society. The same holds true in relation to their study of the family.
What functions does the family perform according to Murdock (1949)?
Murdock argues that the family performs 5 essential functions these are:
- Sexual
- Reproduction
- Socialisation
- economic
- emotional
Explain how the family performs the sexual function?
Sexual function - stable satisfaction of the sex drive with the same partner, preventing the social disruption caused by a sexual ‘free for all’
- normalises monogamy - regulated sexual activity allowing society to maintain order
Explain how the family performs the reproduction function?
Reproduction - The family reproduces the next generation, without that society would simply not exist or continue. The family ensures society continues
Explain how the family performs the socialisation function?
Socialisation - socialisation of the young into society’s shared norms and values e.g. primary socialisation. The family ensures children learn the rules and culture of society.
Explain how the family performs the economic function?
Economic- Meeting its members’ economic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter
Explain how the family performs the emotional function?
Emotional - ensures the family is cared and looked after. Provides love and warmth for all the members
Does Murdock (functionalists) accept other institutions that can perform the essential functions?
Murdock accepts that other institutions can perform these functions, however he argues that the sheer practicality of the nuclear family as a way of meeting these 4 functional prerequisites explains why it is universal
Why would critics argue about the functional perspective about the nuclear family?
Critics would argue that other non-nuclear family structures are just as a capable of fulfilling these functions e.g reconstituted families, single parent families, same-sex etc.
They would also question Murdock’s rose tinted consensus assumption that all nuclear families carry out these functions, as not all nuclear families provide these functions e.g relying on government benefits or may not cater towards emotional needs.
They may also argue that Murdock ignores the ‘dark side’ or ‘dysfunctional’ aspect / nature of families e.g children may be brought up in a toxic environment
What does Durkheim (1893) mean in his argument that all parts of society are functionally interconnected?
Durkheim argues that all parts of society are functionally interconnected. He argues that families are linked to other parts of the social system. An example would be religion provides a moral guidance for individuals or the fact your culture is gained and learnt from your family members
What is Parsons ‘functional fit’ theory (1955)
According to Parsons, the particular structure and functions of a given type of family will ‘fit’ the needs of society in which it is found. Reflecting this he argues that when a society changes from a traditional pre-industrial to a modern industrial one the family changes on two levels:
- its structure changes from being extended to nuclear
- it loses many of its functions
What does Parsons means by structural changes?
In Parsons views, when Britain began to industrialise, from the later C18th onwards, the extended family began to give way to the nuclear family. This was because the emerging industrial society had different needs from pre-industrial society and the family adopted to meet these needs.
What two essential needs did Parson see industrial society needing?
1 - a geographically mobile workforce: Parsons argues that it is easier for the compact two-generational nuclear family to be mobile and move around the country for work than it would be for a large three generational extended family.
2 - a socially mobile workforce: Tensions and conflicts would emerge if a socially mobile younger generation, achieving higher status than their parents still lived together at home.
What does Parsons means by Functional changes?
Parsons argues that the evolution of society involves a process of specialization and structural differentiation. This means that as society develops and becomes increasingly complex, institutions specialise in fewer functions. In relation to the family, this process involves the transfer of many traditional family functions to other institutions that have emerged. This means that the family has been stripped of some of its more general non-essential functions, but for Parsons this is a good and positive development as it means it has become a more specialised agency.
For parsons, what two specialised functions does the family still perform, which are common in most families in society?
The primary socialisation of children and stabilisation of adult personalities
What does Parson mean by the primary socialisation of children?
Parson argues that families are ‘factories’ which produce human personalities. He claims that through primary socialisation, children’s personalities are structured through the internalisation of their society’s culture. Children absorb the norms and values of society to the point where they become part of him/her - they are moulded in terms of the central value system of society.
What does Parson mean by stabilisation of adult personalities?
Parson argues that once the personality is established it must be kept stable. Adults need emotional security and this is seen as being best achieved through marital relationships and parenting roles.
According to Parsons, what do marital relationships provide for adults?
Through marital relationships, the male performs an instrumental role by being the provider for his family and as a partner. The female performs an expressive role by being affectionate and having a nurturing role. As well as this, they will look after the families needs by being the caregiver.
These roles are defined by gender specific roles - individuals have awareness of their roles which reinforces the roles and makes it complimentary and thus creates an equilibrium where this is no conflict as there is a division of responsibility
According to Parsons, what do parenting roles provide for adults?
Parenting roles can provide an opportunity for adults to indulge in child-like activities with their children which provides an emotional release from adult responsibilities - cathartic release
What do functionalists such as Parson believe is the best family?
For parsons, the nuclear family is the ideal institution to perform these essential functions in modern industrial society
What are criticisms of the functionalist perspective on the family?
- sees the family too optimistically, paints a too rosy or idealistic picture of family life - when family life is not like this for everyone
- holds an outdated, patriarchal and sexist assumptions about the family
identify two institutions that have taken over functions previously performed by families
education - socialisation
NHS - therapy - emotional
Who is Karl Marx (1818-83) ?
Karl Marx is considered to be one of the world’s greatest intellectuals; he was a brilliant and influential sociologist, philosopher, economist, historian and political scientist
What does Karl Marx’s work represent?
Karl Marx’s works represents a critique of an industrial capitalism. Before the industrial revolution, inequalities existed within society however the process of industrialisation led to the development of a capitalist society where inequalities became far more pronounced and extreme
What is capitalism?
Capitalism is a society which is based on individual and private ownership of wealth. It is an economic system where trade and industry are privately owned rather than owned by the state and the accumulation of wealth is encouraged.
Capitalism is an extremely hierarchical and in-egalitarian society based on a class of owners and non-owners
What is inevitable within a capitalist society?
Within a capitalist society it is inevitable that there will be huge inequalities in income and wealth ; the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer
What does Karl Marx observe about capitalism?
Capitalism led to the emergence of an extreme two class systems: A class of owners & A class of Non-owners
What is meant by a class of owners?
A class of owners refers to the capitalists. The capitalists own industry, are wealthy and powerful. Therefore they are the dominant class and because of their dominance, they are the ruling class aka. bourgeoisie. They are also referred as the elite which are a very small minority within society
What is meant by a class of non-owners?
A class of non-owners refers to a class of workers. They own their labour and skill. They also lack wealth and power. They are referred as the subordinate class as they are inferior to the ruling class. They are also the subject class, as they are subject to the ruling class and their wants. They are also referred as the proletariat or the masses and are a majority within society.
What is false class consciousness?
False class consciousness is where the true nature of their exploitative situation is distorted - they are deluded and blinded to the real nature of their problems (‘the wool has been pulled over their eyes’)
What did Marx argue about the proletariat?
Marx argued that although the proletariat suffer great inequalities they endure them as they suffer from false class consciousness which is a result of ruling class ideology (where RC ideas become dominate and influence how people see things)
What did Marx predict about the proletariat?
Marx predicted that over time the proletariat would gain full class consciousness and they would unite and engage in proletarian revolution. This would lead to the downfall of capitalism and the creation of Marx’s utopian society - communism
Why do Marxists critique the family?
Marxists critique the family because they believe that the way the family functions, serves to preserve and perpetuate the fundamentally unsatisfying and un-liberating patterns of capitalism. They claim it forestalls the emergence of a more enriching society because it operates in such a way that it protects and props up capitalism.
State four process that Marxists claim the families support and reflect capitalist relations?
- Families encourage and reproduce hierarchical in-egalitarian relationships
- Families act as a safety valve dampening down discontentment
- Reproduction of labour power
- Unit of consumption
What do Marxists mean by families encouraging and reproducing hierarchical in-egalitarian relationships?
Marxists argue that there two main ways that families encourage and reproduce hierarchical in-egalitarian relationships:
- Children are socialised to accept patterns of authority, obedience and power. In this way, they become well practised in subordination and become subservient.
- Children observe and accept hierarchy. The family is based on in-egalitarian relationships between adults and children and between males and females and sometimes between older and younger siblings.
Therefore, Marxists argue the habit we have of deferring to authority and accepting the unequal relationships that exist in society as a whole, has its source within the family. It acts as a barrier to the development strong, organised and collective opposition to the status quo and therefore operates in an ideological way to support capitalism
What do Marxists mean by families acting as a safety valve dampening down discontentment?
Sociologist Zaretsky (1976) states that capitalist societies work in alienating and exploiting the proletariat and this leads to feelings of discontentment. As a result of this, family becomes even more important and is placed on a pedestal. It is seen as the source of satisfaction, achievement and fulfilment that cannot be gained elsewhere. In this way, he argues that the family ideologically functions to cushion to effects of capitalism even though it cannot compensate for the real alienation caused by it. Zaretsky observes that the fundamental irony of this is that the less fulfilling work is, the more people cling on to the family as their only hope and source of being valued and satisfied. However, in doing so, they allow the structures of inequality which made them seek refuge in the first place continue. Therefore, the family, in dampening down discontentment while still perpetuating the very system which produces it.
What do Marxists mean by families performing the function of reproducing the labour power?
Marxists believe the family reproduces the labour power by providing a place where children can be borne and reared in relative safety, the family reproduces tomorrow’s labour force with the attitudes required. At the same time, by offering a centre for relaxation, refreshment, rest and recreation as the family ensures that members of the labour force return to work each day fit and healthy so that they can be once more, productive
What do Marxists mean by families being a unit of a consumption?
Marxists believe that the family acts as a unit of consumption, however with capitalism, the family has become the major unit of consumption: Advertisers urge families to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ by consuming all the latest products and creating false needs. The media target children, who use ‘pester power’ to persuade parents to spend more and children who lack the latest clothes or ‘must have’ have gadgets are mocked and stigmatised by their peers. In this way, through its purchasing, the family keeps the capitalist economy from ticking over.
What does Sociologist Engels link economic changes to?
Engels linked economic changes to changes in the family and sexual relationships arguing that the monogamous nuclear family developed with the emergence of the private property
How did the development of the monogamous nuclear family link with the emergence of private property?
Due to industrialisation and capitalism, family structures changed to reflect the needs of a patrilineal and capitalistic society, where males dominated and wealth and property held more importance. This meant that rich males had to ensure the paternity of their children in order to pass down property to legitimate heirs which lead to the monogamous nuclear family as men needed more control over women
What did the development of property ownership lead to?
The development of property ownership primarily through industrialisation and the development of capitalism shifted the balance of power from women to men and led to the creation of a patriarchal system as men were now tied to the workforce. At this time women retreated to the home to look after children for longer periods of time. It is in this context that women become homemakers and carers rather than workers alongside men. In this sense, capitalism led to the exploitation and oppression of not just men as wage slaves but also of women. Furthermore, at this society became patrilineal. Property became the right of males and in order for them to pass it on they had to be certain of the legitimacy of their heirs. They therefore needed greater control over women so that they would be in no doubt about the paternity of their children
Define the term bourgeoisie
The bourgeoisie is the ruling class in Marx’s theory of class struggle under capitalism. The bourgeoisie is the property-owning class who own the means of production (e.g. factories) and employ and exploit the proletariat.
Define the term monogamous relationship
A monogamous relationship is when two individuals are in a partnership (relationship) and there are no more than two people in the relationship.
Define the term matriarchal
Matriarchal refers to a society where women dominate and females holding the most power and influence
Define the term Patrilineal
Patrilineal refers to property and wealth being only passed on to legitimate heirs from father to son
Explain the new right perspective of the family
The new right is a conservative approach, which have a preference for the traditional nuclear family believing this is the ideal family structures. They are also strong, supporters of the institution of marriage and are critical of many contemporary trends which they believe have undermined these structures.
What trends are the new right typically critical of?
- growth in single parent families
- cohabitation
- lone person households
- same-sex families
- increase in divorce
- reconstituted families
- changes in childbearing - people not having children etc
Why are the new right particularly critical of single parents families ?
three main reasons: They believe single parent families are - dependent on the state (expensive) - lack moral responsibility - Dysfunctional as SPFs deprive boys of their male role model.
What type of family is the new right most critical of?
The new right are mainly critical of lone parent families and claim that the collapse of relationships between cohabiting couples is the main cause of an increase in lone families
identify three key factors to why the new right were critical of single parent families
Expensive - There’s either one or no income therefore this type of family is disproportionally more likely to be dependent on benefits. This would be undesirable for the conservatives who do not support things such as welfare and the dependency on the state
Lacking Moral Responsibility -
A- Content to live off the state rather than being self sufficient and independent
B- They represent the breakdown of the traditional nuclear family / many children are born outside of marriage or it reflects a marital breakdown
Dysfunctional -
- They are critical of single parent families as many children are brought up and are denied two parental role models
- They are particularly concerned about the number of young boys who lack a father figure and believe this will lead to behaviour problems.
Contrast post modern ideas with the new right
- They value and celebrate diversity, as it reflects individualism and people being able to choose their own family structures that reflect their own needs and wants in relationships and family units
- Do-it-yourself biography - individualisation thesis
- They don’t view the patriarchal conventional nuclear family as superior, they see all family structures as reflecting individual needs
- Risk society - negotiated family
Explain the postmodern perspective on the family
They believe that postmodern society is a bit like a ‘cultural supermarket’ and individuals have much greater freedom to choose and negotiate their own lifestyle. They have the ability to ‘pick and mix’ their own life and life course reflecting their own individual needs and preferences. In relation to the family, they celebrate greater individualism and believe it is reflected in greater family plurality and diversity.
What trends do postmodernists interpret as positive?
- increase in remarriages and divorce
- same-sex marriages
- increase in cohabitation
- increase in SPFS and lone parents etc
(any trend linking to family diversity)
What view do feminists take on the family?
Feminists take a critical view of the family as they believe it oppresses women. However, feminism is a broad term encompassing different theories and each offering different solutions to the problem of gender inequality.
What is liberal feminist perspective on the family?
Liberal feminists focus on campaigning against sex discrimination and for equal rights and opportunities for women and argue that men would also benefit from full gender equality.
They argue that there are two most effective ways to promote gender equality:
- changing peoples attitudes and behaviours through socialisation
- passing legislation to outlaw discrimination e.g. sex discrimination act (1975).
Although they believe that full gender equality has yet to be achieved they do acknowledge that progress has been made.
