Topic 3 - Theories of the family Flashcards

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1
Q

Functionalists beliefs about society:

A
  • society is based on a value consensus (shared norms and values) into which society socialises its memebers
  • the valuse consesus enables memebers of society to cooperate harmoniously to meet societys needs and achieve shared goals
  • society is like a biological organism, lots of diffrent subsystems that depend on eachother
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2
Q

Murdock (functionalist) familys 4 essential functions to meet the needs of society and its memebers:

A

- stable satisfaction of a sex drive (with the same partner, preventing the social disruption caused by sexual ‘free for all’)
- reproduction of the next generation (without which society could not contiue)
- socailistion of the young (into societys shared norms and values)
- meeting its memebers economic needs (such as food and shelter)

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3
Q

Criticisms of Murdock (Functionalist):

A
  • Feminists (see the family as serving the needs of men and oppressing women)
  • Marxists (argue that it meets the needs of capitalism, not thoes of family members or society as a whole
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4
Q

What does Murdock say about nuclear families?

A

the sheer practicality of the nuclear family as a way of meeting these 4 needs explain why it is universal - found in all human society’s without acception.

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5
Q

Parsons functions of the family:

A

Primary Socialisation:
Children internalise society’s shared culture – this is so strong that society’s culture becomes part of the child’s personality.Society would cease to exist without children accepting society’s culture.

The Stabilisation of adult Personalities:
Parson’s argues that the sexual division of labour helps get rid of this stress. Women provide warmth, nurture and emotional support to their male partner who is the breadwinner, experiencing stress and anxiety - therefore stabilising his personality by relieving the tension

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6
Q

‘Fit’ Theory: Parsons (1955):

A

This theory claims that the structure of the family changes over time to suit (‘fit’) the type of society that
exists at that time.

He argued that different types of families suit different types of societies - as society evolves, so the family adapts to meet its needs.

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7
Q

Pre-Industrial Life & Pre-Industrial Families:

A

Parsons argues that Pre-Industrial Society was characterised by rural Life where the family was a UNIT OF PRODUCTION - families made and grew what was needed.

This society & the lifestyle it generated meant that the family had many functions:
family members worked together e.g. on the farm
They produced food for their members
They produced clothes for their members
They would educate children
They would provide healthcare and welfare e.g. looking after elderly grandparents

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8
Q

what type of family does parsons argue is best suited for Pre-Industrial Life?

A

Parsons argues that Extended Families were most suited to pre-industrial society.

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9
Q

Industrial Life & Modern Industrial Families:

A

In Modern Industrial Society Families have moved from being a Unit of Production to being a UNIT OF CONSUMPTION - rather than making things, it consumes things e.g. buying food, services instead of making it, providing the service itself etc.

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10
Q

what type of family does parsons argue is best suited for Industrial life?

A

Nuclear familys

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11
Q

Industrialisation created the need for families to be:

A

> GEOGRAPHICALLY MOBILE
SOCIALLY MOBILE
and the nuclear family was the best ‘fit’ to meet these needs

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12
Q

Geographical mobility:

A

Industrialisation emerged in many different places and brought new opportunities for work. It was easier for the nuclear family to move for work than for the whole of the extended family to be uprooted (eg, think how difficult moving elderly grandparents would be).

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13
Q

Social mobility:

A

Industrial society allowed social mobility - an opportunity for a person’s social status to rise through their merit (ability and hard work) - whereas in a pre-industrial society, where the extended family was the norm, the status of the son would have been ascribed (fixed) by his father. For example, the son would continue to work in the family cattle-farming business. The change from extended to nuclear family prevented conflict between parents and their upwardly mobile children, which could threaten the stability of the family.

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14
Q

Structural Differentiation……

A

Parsons highlights how, during Industrialisation, the families began to lose some of their functions to other newly created institutions.

Parsons calls this ‘Structural Differentiation’ – different structures (institutions) have taken over many of the functions the family used to have.

This means that Extended Families were not necessary any longer – they began to fragment.
The ‘privatised nuclear family’ took over - a self-reliant, self-contained family isolated from extended family members

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15
Q

Loss of functions: Reproduction of the population: Having children was often seen as the main reason for marriage

A

Since the 1970’s there has been a steady increase in the reproduction of children outside of marriage

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16
Q

Loss of functions: Before industrialisation, the family was a unit of production, where work and home were combined.

A

After industrialisation, work moved to outside the home to factories and offices and the family became a unit of consumption.

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17
Q

Loss of functions:The family and kinship network traditionally played a major role in maintaining and caring for dependent children.

A

The modern nuclear family is less dependent on relatives for help with caring for children; welfare services and the NHS have helped with this.

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18
Q

Loss of functions: The family used to be on the only sources of education

A

The welfare state including the NHS is now largely responsible for this.

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19
Q

Evaluation of the Functionalist Theory on the Family:

A

Functionalists are criticised for ignoring the negative aspects the family can bring such as child abuse, neglect and violence.

Feminists would argue that the family serves the needs of men and oppressing women eg women end up staying at home being a housewife and not getting paid for this.

Marxists argue that it meets the needs of capitalism, not those of family members or society as a whole.

Zaretsky argues that the family only provides this emotional support in order to encourage its members to con­tinue to work another day under the harsh realities of capitalism.

Some parents fail to bring up their children to make them socially acceptable and they may be bad role models for the young.

Functionalists ignore the possibility of socialisation being a two-way process in which roles are negotiated or that attempts at socialisation can be resisted by children.

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20
Q

Leach & Cooper (1967):

A

The Nuclear family has become so isolated and ‘inward looking’ that it is actually a very destructive institution which suppresses individuality and teaches blind obedience

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21
Q

What is Marxism

A

Marxism, is a perspective based on the ideas of Karl Marx (1818-83) who is critical of Capitalist society.

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22
Q

Capitalism:

A

a society where goods and businesses are owned privately for the purpose of profit.

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23
Q

It sees capitalist society as divided into two opposed classes:

A

Capitalist class (Bourgeoisie), who own means of production

Working class (Proletariat), whose labour the capitalists exploit for profit

24
Q

Marxists have identified three functions that they see the family as fulfilling for capitalism:

A

Inheritance of property
Ideological functions
Unit of consumption

25
Q

Marxists Functions of Family: Inheritance of property

A

The Capitalists, or Bourgeoisie (ruling class) own and control the means of production - the things necessary to produce things (e.g. machinery, land, materials)
As the means of production changes (e.g. from farming machinery, to factories) so does the family change to suit the new needs.

The earliest society was classless. Marx called this primitive communism (where everyone was equal).
All members of society owned the means of production communally.
Friedrich Engles said There was no family as such; a ‘promiscuous horde’ existed - there were no restrictions on sexual relationships

When industrialisation happened, a class of men became rich and secured control of the means of production - capitalism was born!
So came the development of private property.

According to Friedrich Engels, monogamy became essential so that wealth could be passed onto the rightful heir - men had to be certain of the paternity of their children.
Monogamous Marriage ensured that women would be economically dependant on their male partners & as such would not stray & mother children by other men. Women have become ‘Glorified Prostitutes’ – producers of heirs in exchange for economic security.

26
Q

Marxists Functions of Family: Ideological functions

A

Ideology for Marxists = a set of ideas or beliefs that justify inequality and maintain the capitalist system by persuading people to accept it as fair, natural or unchangeable

The family socialises children into the idea that hierarchy and inequality are inevitable. Parental power over children accustoms them to the idea that someone is always in charge and prepares them for work

Eli Zaretsky (1976): family also provides ‘a cushion’ from the harsh world of capitalism. The family allows the worker to relax, refresh and unwind after a day’s work. This means that the worker can then feel revitalised for work the next day.
although it is an illusion to dampen frustration and prevent him from rebelling. Women’s domestic servitude allows this to happen.

27
Q

Marxists Function of Family: Unit of consumption

A

The family plays a major role in generating profits since it is an important market for the sale of consumer goods:

Advertisers urge families to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ by consuming all the latest products
The media target children, who use ‘pester power’ to persuade parents to spend more
Children who lack the latest clothes or ‘must have’ gadgets are mocked and stigmatised by their peers

28
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It fulfils the needs of its individual members

A

Functiionalism

29
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It is important in socialising children

A

both

30
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: Its structure is determined by economic factors

A

Marxists

31
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It provides consumers to buy goods

A

both

32
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It provides a ‘safety valve’ away from work

A

both

33
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It fulfils functions for society

A

Functionalists

34
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It is universal and necessary everywhere

A

functionalists

35
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It has important reproductive roles

A

both

36
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It keeps women under patriarchal control

A

Marxists

37
Q

Functionalist or Marxists: It performs functions for Capitalism

A

Marxists

38
Q

Criticisms of Marxism

A

Marxists assume that the nuclear family is dominant and ignores the wide and increasing variety of family structures in society today - family diversity
Feminists: Marxist emphasis on capitalism and social class underestimates the importance of gender inequalities.
Functionalists: Marxists ignore the very real benefits that the family provides for its members, such as intimacy and mutual support.

39
Q

Liberal Feminism

A

Women’s oppression is being gradually overcome through changing attitudes and through changes in the law.

40
Q

Radical Feminism

A

Men are the enemy. Men benefit from female oppression. Women do not need men. Women need to be completely free of men.

41
Q

Marxist Feminism

A

It’s not men that are causing female oppression, it’s capitalism. Female oppression is linked to the requirements of employers to maintain th

42
Q

Difference feminism

A

We cannot generalise about women’s experience. Women from different backgrounds ( due to social class, gender ,age ethnicity have different experiences

43
Q

The ‘new’ man

A

Liberal feminists believe in the idea of the ‘new man’, which is a man who will take part in traditionally ‘female roles’ duc as in the housework and childcare and in touch with his ‘feminine side’

44
Q

Liberal feminists evidence:

A

some studies suggests that men are doing more domestic labour. the ways in which parents socialise their sons and daughters are more equal than in the past

45
Q

Liberal feminists criticisms:

A

fails to challenge underlying causes of women oppression and for believing that changes in the law or people attitudes will be enough to bring equality.

Marxists and radical feminists believe instead that far reaching changes to deep rooted social structures are needed

46
Q

Marxist feminism evidence

A

Fran Ansley- women are ‘the takers of shit’ as they absorb all their husbands frustrations/emotions about work

47
Q

Marxists feminism criticism

A

Ignores family diversity, cultural/ethnic diversity and the changing society - men do more manual labour and women are more independent, focuses heavily on class and economy rather than culture or ethnicity and presents women as passive victims of capitalism/patriarchy

48
Q

radical feminism evidence

A

Dobash and Dobash - Study qualitative police records on domestic violence, many were set off by what a man thought was a challenge to authority. They argue marriage legitimises violence against women by putting authority and power to the men making the wives dependent on their husbands.
Germaine Greer (2000) - Argues for creation of all female or “matrilocal” households as an alternative to the heterosexual family.

49
Q

radical feminism criticism

A

liberal feminsts - Jenny Sommerville (2000) radical feminism fails to recognise the considerable progress that has been made eg better access to divorce, better job opportunities, control over own fertility etc

Sommerville argues that heterosexual attraction makes separatism impossible.

50
Q

difference feminism evidence

A

Catherine Hakim (1996) suggests that feminists underestimate women’s ability to make rational choices, arguing that it is not patriarchy or men that are responsible for the position of women in families. She suggests that women choose to give more commitment to family and children and consequently they have less commitment to work than men have.

51
Q

difference feminism criticism

A

neglects the fact that all women share many of the same experiences, for example they all face a risk of domestic abuse, lower pay sexual assault etc

52
Q

Personal Life Perspective on Family

A

Personal life perspective takes a social constructionist view of the family. This means that family relationships are defined by members of society - in this respect, it can change from person to person and over time.

Individuals define what family means to them.

53
Q

What did Nordqvist and Smart (2014) research?

A

Their research highlighted the importance of social relationships over genetic ones.
Participants emphasised the role they played in the life of the donor-conceived child rather than the importance of sharing cells.
One mum in the study emphasised the time and effort it takes to raise a daughter

54
Q

They also found that additional problems could flare up between lesbian couples as a result of one of them being the donor:

A

Equality between the genetic and non genetic parent
Donor’s might be treated as the ‘real’ parent in the eyes of the law, not the non-genetic mother

55
Q

What is good about the personal life perspective? Strengths

A

Recognises how people construct their relationships themselves and define who is their ‘family’ based on the meanings they give to relationships- criticism of structural / top down view

Inclusive definition - Recognises family diversity as a positive, created through people’s different choices - criticises functionalist ‘natural’ nuclear family and ‘best fit’ theories

56
Q

What are the main criticisms of the personal life perspective? Limitations

A

Too broad a view of family - ignores what is special about blood/marriage relationships

Nuclear family is still the most common family type - how can this be explained, unless it is the type that performs functions the best for the individual and / or society

57
Q

All kinds of families that are included for personal life perspective on families

A

Relationships with friends
who may be like a brother
or sister to you.

Fictive kin: Close friends who are treated as relatives. For example, your mum’s friend who you call ‘auntie’

Gay and Lesbian ‘chosen families; made up of a supportive network of close friends, ex-partners and others who are not related by blood or marriage.

Relationships with dead relatives; who live on in people’s memories and continue to shape their identities and affect their actions.

Relationships with pets. For example, Tipper found that children viewed pets as part of the family.