Theories of the family : Functionalism Marxism

Question 1

Functions of the family

Answer 1

Sociologists are interested in the role and purpose of the family and how it fits in to wider society
Sociologists often ask What are the functions of the family?
There are many different perspectives on this Including functionalism and marxism

Question 2

Functionalism - a consensus perspective

Answer 2

Functionalist view is the view that society is a system of interrelated and interdependent units (institutions)
E.g. Education Family Government Media Etc.
These units are held together by a shared value consensus - a shared idea of how society should be
This shared value consensus is maintained by our socialisation into the shared norms and values of society This socialisation helps to meet society needs and goals
Different spheres perform different functions which allow society to operate E.g. Education teaches members Family cares for members This is similar to the body all of the organs working together This idea is called the ‘organic analogy’

Question 3

Functionalist George Murdock 1949 study

Answer 3

George Murdock say family performs four major functions SEER functions
S - Sexual - Stable satisfaction of sex drive Between partner and wife Prevents adultery
E - Education - Primary socialisation of the young Teaching of shared norms and values
E - Economic - Meeting members economic needs Dad breadwinner brings home money
R - Reproduction - Creating a family reproduction of the next generation

Question 4

Criticisms of Murdock

Answer 4

Marxists and feminists (conflict view) would say Murdock harmonious, consensus view of the family is ‘rose tinted’ Ignores the negatives of the family such as exploitation and conflict
Marxists argue the family exists to serve the needs of capitalism
Feminists argue the family exists the serve the needs of the patriarchy

Question 5

Functionalist Talcott Parsons 1955 study

Answer 5

Parsons built on work of Murdock
Parsons believed that the functions that the family performs will depend on the kind of society it is found in and the functions that the family has to perform will affect its shape and structure
Parsons identified two types of family structure and two types of society

Question 6

Types of family structure Parsons

Answer 6

1. The nuclear family Heterosexual parents and dependent children
2. The extended family 3 generations (grandparents) living together under one roof

Question 7

Types of society Parsons

Answer 7

1. Pre-industrial Where we find extended family
2. Modern industrial Where we find nuclear family

Question 8

Explanation Parsons Functional fit theory

Answer 8

As Britain industrialised from late 1800s onwards The extended family gave way to the nuclear family as the most popular family type
Different society = different needs = different family structures needed
Nuclear family ‘fits’ the needs of Modern industrial society
Extended family ‘fits’ the needs of Pre-industrial society
This is called functional fit theory

Question 9

Traditional pre-industrial society

Answer 9

Extended family was dominant family type
People lived in the same villages and worked on the same land Often for their whole lives
The extended family lived and worked together They supported each other serving the functions of Caring for the young and elderly, Educating family members, Looking after the home, Collecting food Etc.
Generations living together may have caused conflict
It is more difficult to move an extended family into another village So many people to uproot

Question 10

Modern industrial society

Answer 10

Nuclear family is dominant family type
People need to move to where the jobs are due to industrialisation The nuclear family less people Easier to uproot than the extended family
Nuclear family is best suited for social mobility as children move out of home when they marry and form their own nuclear families - In extended families son would fulfill same work roles as their fathers The father was head of household No competition Now some sons have better jobs than fathers Extended families would have competition Nuclear family where older son moves out prevents this
The nuclear family sees a loss of functions of the family E.g. No longer work together Loss of functions to institutions E.g. Health services - caring for each other Schools - education

Question 11

Parsons Nuclear family mobility

Answer 11

Parsons talked about the needs of these different types of societies and how the family needs to adapt to these needs Which the nuclear family achieves well
- A geographically mobile workforce - The compact nuclear family is ideal for moving around to work It is not rooted to farmland
- A socially mobile workforce - Individuals now acquire their status based on achievement This is a meritocracy (Industrial) In the past status was ascribed at birth by the status of your father (Pre-industrial) The nuclear family prevents conflicts in the family home E.g. Son having a higher status than his father at work Competition

Question 12

Parsons Nuclear family irreducible functions

Answer 12

Parsons say although there has been a loss of functions of the family due to industrialisation and the move to the nuclear family The family does still perform two irreducible functions According to Parsons
- The primary socialisation of children - Equipping them with the basic skills and society values (Norms and values) To enable them to cooperate with others and begin to integrate into society when they start school Around age 4
- The stabilisation of adult personalities - Adults can relax, support each other and release tensions within the family This allows them to return to the workplace refreshed This is functional for the efficiency of the economy

Question 13

Evidence against Parsons

Answer 13

Other sociologists and historians have produced evidence that contradicts Parsons claims of ‘functional fit’ between the extended family and pre-industrial society and the nuclear family and modern industrial society

Question 14

Was the extended family dominant in pre-industrial society? Evidence against Parsons

Answer 14

Young and Willmott 1973 say the pre-industrial family was nuclear Not extended as Parsons claims Parents and children worked together in cottage industries such as weaving
Peter Laslett 1972 study of English households 1564 to 1821 Found they were almost always nuclear A combination of late childbearing and short life expectancy meant grandparents often did not live very long after the birth of their first grandchild

Question 15

Did the family become nuclear in early industrial society?
Evidence against Parsons

Answer 15

Parsons say industrialisation brought the nuclear family
Young and Willmott argue the hardship of early industrial period actually brought the ‘mum-centred’ W/c extended family based on ties between mothers and married daughters relying on each other for financial, practical, emotional support
The idea that individuals break off or maintain family ties because of financial reasons is called exchange theory
Michael Anderson 1980 study of mid-19th century Preston uses exchange theory to explain popularity of W/c extended family The harsh conditions of the time (Poverty, sickness, early death, absence of welfare state) meant benefits of maintaining extended family ties greatly outweighed costs These benefits : Using kin for childcare while parents worked, taking in orphaned relatives to produce extra income and help towards rent Etc.

Question 16

Is the extended family no longer important in modern society?
Evidence against Parsons

Answer 16

There is partial support for Parsons claim that the nuclear family is dominant family type today
Young and Willmott argue that from around 1900 the nuclear family emerged as a result of social changes that made the extended family less important as a source of support Changes : Higher living standards, married women working, welfare state, better housing Etc. However the extended family has not disappeared Studies show it continues to exist And performs important functions : Financial help, childcare, emotional support

Question 17

Criticisms of Functionalist view

Answer 17

• Tend to ignore ‘dark side’ of family E.g. Male dominance Child abuse Partner conflict
• Ignore diversity of family types found in society
• Parsons view criticised as sexist He sees wife/mother as having main responsibility for providing warmth and emotional support and for destressing her working husband

Question 18

Marxism - a conflict perspective

Answer 18

Marx, Marxism, Marxists are anti-capitalist The Marxist perspective is a critique of capitalism It studies and identifies how capitalism operates Marxists ultimately desire the overthrow of capitalism
Marxists see society as based on conflict Not consensus like functionalists They say this conflict is between the proletariat (Working classes) and the bourgeoise (Upper middle classes that own the means of production) The bourgeoise exploit the proletariat

Question 19

Marxism an introduction

Answer 19

Karl Marx 1818-1883 :
History moves through socio-economic stages or paradigms We are currently in ‘capitalism’ Past paradigms include ‘Feudalism’ ‘Slavery’ ‘Primitive communism’
Capitalism is characterised by property being owned privately by individuals And free markets (Markets can negotiate without government being involved)

Question 20

Bourgeoise vs proletariat

Answer 20

Capitalist society is divided into social classes : Middle and upper classes (Bourgeoise Own most of the property) and Working class (Proletariat Own little to no property)
The bourgeoise exploit the proletariat for their labour The bourgeoise are employers who control means of production (Land, factories, machinery, offices Etc.) They make profit by exploiting the workers (proletariat) for their labour They pay them minimum wage Long hours Harsh conditions and the bourgeoise sell the products they make for a profit They then keep this surplus value for themselves and do not give any of it to the workers They continue to pay them minimum wage The bourgeoise get richer and richer. The proletariat are forced to sell their labour They do not own the means of production so they do not have any other form of income Work under capitalism is Poorly paid Unsatisfying Alienating Something which the workers do not control

Question 21

Proletariat revolution

Answer 21

The exploitation creates potential for the classes to come into conflict Marx believed that because the proletariat live close to each other and work together, they will start to talk to each other and realise their exploitation They will then come together and form “class consciousness”
They will then respond with one of two approaches Either they will argue for better wages/conditions (Trade unionism) This has led to changes such as 5 day working week, 8 hour working day, 1 hour lunch break Etc.
OR Even abolish capitalism all together (Revolution) This would lead to shared capitalism (All work equally and put in what they want and get what they want from it) Leading to classlessness (Equality) and eventually a communist society
BUT This has not happened In the 1800s there were a few revolutions around the world But Marx argued that revolution has to be simultaneous around the world universal. This is because capitalism is very resilient Even though the bourgeoise is the smaller group They hold state power so it is difficult to overthrow them

Question 22

Marxism functions of the family

Answer 22

Marxists have identified 3 main functions of the family which uphold capitalism

Question 23

Marxism functions of the family : Inheritance of property

Answer 23

Marx believed prior to ‘slavery’ paradigm We lived in ‘primitive communism’ paradigm Everyone worked together and shared everything There was classlessness and communism But it was a primitive basic society
Marx friend Friedrich Engels say that during this time humans were a ‘promiscuous horde’ No monogamy People had sex with anyone because the main aim was to have as many children as possible to continue the tribe All children were shared and people did not know whose children were whose
As forces of production developed So did private property (We no longer shared everything) The need for a patriarchal monogamous family developed Because fathers needed to know that it was their sons that they were passing their property on to at the time of their death Laws were created so women had to be faithful to ensure this

Question 24

Marxism functions of the family : Ideological functions

Answer 24

Children are socialised into hierarchy This leads them to believe that subordination to power is legitimate and normal E.g. In nuclear family Parents are bourgeoise Children are proletariat Children have to do as they are told by parents This prepares them for the world of work They see this as normal
This is practice for living under capitalism : It causes bourgeois power to appear ‘natural’ and unchanging
Eli Zaretsky say the home is a ‘haven’ From exploitation of capitalism A place where the suffering of the worker is soothed E.g. When workers get home from a difficult day of work and see their wife has prepared food for them and their children are tucked up in bed They instantly feel soothed They no longer feel angry about how they have been treated This is an ideological function as it prevents them from revolting against capitalism Reinforcing false class consciousness as they believe that no matter what it will be alright because they can just go home at the end of the day

Question 25

Marxism functions of the family : The family is a unit of consumption

Answer 25

Capitalism exploits the labour of workers Selling what they produce for more than they pay the workers to produce these goods
Eli Zaretsky say The family is a target as a unit which consumes goods
Advertisers urge families to ‘compete’ via consumption This is also called ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ E.g. If a family sees their neighbour got a new car and they have an old car They will want a new car to look good next to their neighbour Capitalism benefits as two new cars have been bought
Media targets children who pester their parents This is also called ‘pester power’ Children see toy adverts on TV and pester their parents to buy it for them Children who lack latest gadgets and toys are often stigmatised or bullied by peers So in a bid to protect their children many parents buy their children the latest products Capitalism benefits

Question 26

Criticisms of Marxist view

Answer 26

• Tends to assume nuclear family is dominant in capitalist society This ignores family diversity
• Feminists say the focus on social class and capitalism ignores gender equalities They argue the family primarily serves men/patriarchy rather than capitalism
• Functionalists say Marxists ignore the benefits that the family provides for its members