Theories of the family/Perspectives

Question 1

Murdoch

Answer 1

4 functions of the family:

• Economic
• Stable satisfaction of sex drive
• Socialisation
• Reproduction

Question 2

Counters for murdoch

Answer 2

• others say these functions can be done elsewhere, family isn’t so important for them.
• Marxist (fam meets needs of capitalism)
• Feminist (Fam meet needs of men)

Question 3

Parsons Functional Fit Theory

Answer 3

• Function depends on society and the family will change to fit the needs of society.

Society has 2 needs that need to be met:

• Geographical mobility (Smaller nuclear family allows family to be more mobile)
• Social mobility (Smaller nuclear family allows family to be more mobile)

Parons says the family has changed from extended to nuclear for these needs.

Question 4

Parsons 2 functions of the family

Answer 4

• Primary Socialisation

- Stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 5

Counter for functional fit theory

Answer 5

Young and Willmott - Preindustrial period, families were actually nuclear not extended so what parsons has said is wrong.

A PROPER BUNCH OF SHIT

Question 6

Marxist functions of the family

Answer 6

• Inheritance of Private Property (Engels)
• Ideological Function (Zaretsky)
• Unit of Consumption

Question 7

Engels

Answer 7

Family was a ‘promiscuous horde’ but as wealth and private property became the norm the nuclear family was bought about for fathers to give their true sons their land.

This bought about the nuclear family and ensures rich stay rich.

Question 8

Zaretsky

Answer 8

Family has an ideological function to act as a haven for its members from capitalism, however this is an illusion as family cant meet the needs of its members.

e.g. famiy is based on womens domestic exploitation so it isn’t a haven for her.

Question 9

Criticisms of the Marxist view

Answer 9

• Assumes nuclear is dominant

- Feminist (ignore female exploitation) & Functionalist (ignores the good of family)

Question 10

Liberal Feminist

Answer 10

making progress, women position is getting better due to things like 1975 sex discrimination act.

MoP View

Question 11

Marxist Feminist

Answer 11

3 functions for capitalism:

• reproduce labour force
• absorb anger (Ansley)
• act as a reserve army of labour

Question 12

Ansley

Answer 12

Women are the ‘takers of shit’, they soak up frustration caused by capitalism.

Question 13

Radical Feminists

Answer 13

Men are the enemy and see the family as a root cause of womens opressions

Question 14

Greer

Answer 14

Calls for the creation of all female households - links to political lesbianism.

Question 15

Sommerville

Counter for Greer and Political lesbianism

Answer 15

Attraction makes political lesbian unlikely, radcial feminist also ignore progress.

Question 16

Personal Life Perspective

Answer 16

All feminism suffers 2 weaknesses -

• Assume nuclear family is dominant
• assume members of family are passive

Question 17

Personal Life Perspective view of family

Answer 17

Say we need to look at meanings people give to family, says there are five things that also may be family:

• Pet
• Dead Relatives
• Friends
• Gay chosen families
• Fictive Kin