Topic 1 - Traditional perspectives on the role of family

Question 1

Key functionalist ideas:

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is the functionalist idea about institutions to do with organs?

Answer 2

Institutions (organs) in society need to work together for society to function effectively

Question 3

Who are the two main functionalists in families?

Answer 3

George Murdock
Talcott Parsons

Question 4

What are Murdock’s conclusion of the family?

Answer 4

Family is a universal human grouping
The nuclear family is present in every society he studied (250 societies studies)

Question 5

What are Murdock’s 4 basic family functions in all societies?

Answer 5

Sexual
Reproductive
Educational
Economic

Question 6

Evaluations of Murdock

Answer 6

Ignores the possibility of conflict in the family

Question 7

What is Parsons functional fit theory?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are parsons 2 essential needs that modern industrial society must have?

Answer 8

A geographically mobile workforce
A socially mobile workforce

Question 9

What is Parsons idea of structural differentiation?

Answer 9

Different structure (institutions) have taken over many of the functions the family used to have

Question 10

What is Parson’s function of the family?

Answer 10

Primary socialisation
Stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory)

Question 11

Criticisms of Parsons

Answer 11

Parsons paints too rosy and idealistic picture of family life
Fran Ansley says women are the ‘takers of shit’

Question 12

What is the March of Progress theories?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Who came up with the March of Progress theory?

Answer 13

Young and Wilmott

Question 14

What is the ISA?

Answer 14

The ideological state apparatus is where social institutions transmit the values of the state

Question 15

Who argues the family is part of the ISA?

Answer 15

Althusser

Question 16

What do Marxists argue the family benefits?

Answer 16

The capitalist system

Question 17

What are the 3 functions Marxists argue the family does?

Answer 17

Inheritance of property
Socialises children into capitalist values
A unit of consumption

Question 18

What did Zaretsky think?

Answer 18

The cushioning effect - the family acts as a comfort from the stresses of society so the men carry on working

Question 19

What do feminists argue the family does?

Answer 19

Supports and embeds patriarchy

Question 20

What do feminists see the family as according to Anne Oakley?

Answer 20

A place of work: women complete the majority of the housework whilst performing other roles

Question 21

Who argues that women do the dual burden?

Answer 21

Ferri and Smith

Question 22

Who argues women do the triple shift?

Answer 22

Duncombe and Marsden

Question 23

What type of feminists advocate for gradual reform?

Answer 23

Liberal fem

Question 24

What do Marxist Fem’s believe?

Answer 24

The family reproduces labour power as women help men go back to work

Question 25

What do Radical Fem’s believe?

Answer 25

The family continues to disadvantage women (Germaine Greer)
Society is patriarchal

Question 26

What do the New Right support and encourage?

Answer 26

Individual freedom
Discourage state intervention
Families and individuals should be self-reliant

Question 27

What does the New Right see as harmful to society and why?

Answer 27

Lone parenthood as it creates a dependency culture where they rely on the state and this is reproduced by their kids

Question 28

Criticisms of the New Right:

Answer 28

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