Topic 1 - Traditional perspectives on the role of family Flashcards
Key functionalist ideas:
Society is a social system based on a value consensus
Need for social order and harmony
Need to be socialised into specific norms and values
What is the functionalist idea about institutions to do with organs?
Institutions (organs) in society need to work together for society to function effectively
Who are the two main functionalists in families?
George Murdock
Talcott Parsons
What are Murdock’s conclusion of the family?
Family is a universal human grouping
The nuclear family is present in every society he studied (250 societies studies)
What are Murdock’s 4 basic family functions in all societies?
Sexual
Reproductive
Educational
Economic
Evaluations of Murdock
Ignores the possibility of conflict in the family
What is Parsons functional fit theory?
The particular structure and functions of the given family will fit the needs of society in which it is found. E.G. Extended family was dominant in pre-industrial society as members of the family needed each other
What are parsons 2 essential needs that modern industrial society must have?
A geographically mobile workforce
A socially mobile workforce
What is Parsons idea of structural differentiation?
Different structure (institutions) have taken over many of the functions the family used to have
What is Parson’s function of the family?
Primary socialisation
Stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory)
Criticisms of Parsons
Parsons paints too rosy and idealistic picture of family life
Fran Ansley says women are the ‘takers of shit’
What is the March of Progress theories?
The view that society is in fact improving over time
Stage 1 - Pre-industrial family
Stage 2 - The early industrial family
Stage 3 - The symmetrical family
Who came up with the March of Progress theory?
Young and Wilmott
What is the ISA?
The ideological state apparatus is where social institutions transmit the values of the state
Who argues the family is part of the ISA?
Althusser
What do Marxists argue the family benefits?
The capitalist system
What are the 3 functions Marxists argue the family does?
Inheritance of property
Socialises children into capitalist values
A unit of consumption
What did Zaretsky think?
The cushioning effect - the family acts as a comfort from the stresses of society so the men carry on working
What do feminists argue the family does?
Supports and embeds patriarchy
What do feminists see the family as according to Anne Oakley?
A place of work: women complete the majority of the housework whilst performing other roles
Who argues that women do the dual burden?
Ferri and Smith
Who argues women do the triple shift?
Duncombe and Marsden
What type of feminists advocate for gradual reform?
Liberal fem
What do Marxist Fem’s believe?
The family reproduces labour power as women help men go back to work
What do Radical Fem’s believe?
The family continues to disadvantage women (Germaine Greer)
Society is patriarchal
What do the New Right support and encourage?
Individual freedom
Discourage state intervention
Families and individuals should be self-reliant
What does the New Right see as harmful to society and why?
Lone parenthood as it creates a dependency culture where they rely on the state and this is reproduced by their kids
Criticisms of the New Right:
There is no evidence that children in lone-parent families are more likely to be delinquent
Marxists would say they just want to keep the rich rich
