Topic 1 - Identity: Functions of the Family | Pt.2 Flashcards
What was the name of, and what kind of, sociologist argued that each part of society has functions like different parts of the human body?
Functionalist, Durkheim.
What’s the organic analogy?
A functionalist belief that parts of society work together like organs in the body.
Name 4 family functions. [2 R’s, 1 P, 1 S and 2 E’s]
Any from:
- Regulation of sex
- Reproduction
- Physical care
- Socialisation and social control
- Emotional support
- Economic support
- Place in society
How does the family regulate sex?
Traditionally the family controls sexual behaviour. They give the opportunity to have a sexual relationship with a partner. They also limit sexual behaviour, for example, incest is against the law as well as couples in the UK not being allowed to marry till 16 (and only with consent). However, norms and values about sexual behaviour are changing like how sex before marriage is now socially acceptable.
What is evidence that the family is not performing it’s reproductive function effectively?
- Women are having fewer children due to things like the high cost of having children and the changing role of women meaning they have more control of their lives.
- In the 70’s the average age to have a child was 21 whereas now it’s 27 (30 if they’re married).
- Women now have an average of 1.8 children.
What’s evidence that physical care plays a big role in the families functions?
- 1 million women and 0.75 million men provide 20 hours or more unpaid care each week to a sick, disabled or elderly relative.
- The importance is also shown by the poorer health and life expectancy of men who live alone.
What makes the families social control/socialisation function so important?
- Parents are legally responsible for their children.
- The family socialises young children into a value of consensus which makes up the culture of the society they belong.
- Fear of shaming your family if you committed a crime or did something socially unacceptable can act as a deterrent.
What is the warm bath theory (emotional support function) and who came up with it?
Parsons, a functionalist sociologist, stated that the family acts like a warm bath. The family provides a place where members can relax and release tensions enabling them to return to the workplace ready to meet its demands. This is useful for the economy in society as well as making sure adult personalities are stable.
What causes young people to be more dependent on their parents financially?
Longer time in education, with the leaving age of education being 18.
What’s evidence that the families economic support is important?
- The cost of bringing up a child up to 18 is estimated to be £165,000.
What can threaten the families economic function?
Unemployment and sickness.
How does the family shape your identity and give you a place in society?
They give you a name, a home, relatives, neighbours, a locality, an ethnic group, a social status and a religion.
What two things can cause your identity shaped by your family to change?
- Geographical mobility, moving away from where you live by going elsewhere e.g. To university.
- Social mobility, achieving a higher social class through career or success or by even winning the lottery. You can also get a lower one if you end up somewhere like prison.
How’s the reproductive function changed?
There’s been an increase in having children outside marriage. Nearly 46% of children were born outside of marriage in 2009.
What’s the marxist criticism of the family functions?
Marxists ,such as Zaretsky, say that family functions only benefit the social class that owns businesses and is in control of profit making. The family provides the bourgeoisie with new workers (reproduction) who are well behaved (socialisation) free of charge. The families responsibilities keep the workers working hard to provide the economic support it needs and if the work damages the proletariat the family is there to provide emotional support or physical.
