Topic 3 - Theories of the Family

Question 1

Who is considered the father of sociology?

Answer 1

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

Question 2

What did Durkheim suggest about society?

Answer 2

“Organic Analogy”

That society has vital institutions that all work interdependently and rely on each other. That society is more important than any individual.

Question 3

What did Durkheim base society on?

Answer 3

Consensus

• Collective Consensus
• Value Consensus
• Social Solidarity

Question 4

What did Durkheim believe about consensus?

Answer 4

That must be constantly reinforced so that the value consensus does that ‘Atrophy’
Individuals are subjected to Positive and Negative Sanctions.
Functionalism emphases harmony, everything pulling in the same direction.

Question 5

What type of perspective is Functionalism?

Answer 5

A main structuralist perspective that looks at society on a macro scale.

Question 6

What did Murdock (1949) argue about nuclear families?

Answer 6

That it performs 4 fundamental roles:

• Stable satisfaction of sex drive
• Reproduction of the next generation
• Socialization of the young
• Satisfaction of members economic needs.

Question 7

Who is seen as the father of Marxism?

Answer 7

Karl Marx

Question 8

What was the main premise of Marxism?

Answer 8

That a ruling class (Bourgeoisie) and lower classes (Proletariat) are in constant conflict and that society is based on the ruling class exploiting the working classes.

Question 9

What did Marx argue about class division?

Answer 9

1. That the r/c wanted to exploit the w/c for profit
2. That the r/c elite and the government have to keep the w/c, happy to avoid unemployment.
3. R/c try to maintain the unequal social structure, keep w/c for r/c gain more.

*Cycle of Poverty- focused on keeping alive, not focused on education.

Question 10

What do Marxists argue about Dominant Ideology?

Answer 10

Ideology forced on the w/c and r/c and that r/c must therefore make society seem normal, making consumer goods and essentials.

• This differs from Functionalist POV of a family and feminist POV.

Question 11

What did Gramussci argue?

Answer 11

Fake class conscious and that the r/c controlled society ideology within society and through the media and institutions and brainwashing society.

Question 12

What did Althusser (1918-1990) argue?

Answer 12

Institutions are the instruments of the ruling class through ideological control.

• Repressive state, institutions within society that suppress an control the w/c
• Ideological state, institution within society that suppress and control w/c through manipulating and conditioning the way they think.

Question 13

What does Marxism not focus on?

Answer 13

They do not focus on gender differences, a weakness compare to functionalism.

Question 14

How do Marxists view Property Inheritance?

Answer 14

A way to maintain class inequality and capitalism.

In a capitalist society ownership is more important and the means of production own society, passing down the wealth and economic power.

Question 15

What do Marxists believe with ideological functions?

Answer 15

1. The family is used to socalise children into a hierarchy and inequality that is inevitable.
2. A man is usually in charge, paternal power
3. Zeratsky, home is haven from capitalism, for their private life, women role is to serve.

Question 16

What is the base feminist perspective on the family?

Answer 16

1. Unequal division of labour and domestic violence

2. Gender inequality is constructed by society

Question 17

What is the Liberal feminists perspectives?

Answer 17

1. Women oppression is gradually being overcome via laws such as Sex Discrimination Act (1975)

• “March of Progress”, as laws gradually led to more equality
• Slow change in division of labor, argued that women have higher aspirations.

Question 18

What is the Marxist perspective of feminism?

Answer 18

1. Women reproduced the labor force, through unpaid labor, socialize them.
2. Ansley (1972) domestic violence is caused by men feeling exploited and alienated at work.
3. Women are cheap labour held in reserve when extra workers are needed and are first to go when not needed.

Question 19

What is the Radical Feminists perspectives?

Answer 19

1. Men are the enemy
2. The family and marriage are key institutions that dominate woman through domestic and sexual violence.
3. Patriarchy needs to be overturned, the family abolished and women must organize to live independently.
4. Greer (2002) advocated the creation of all female matrifocal households.

Question 20

What are criticisms of Liberal, Marxists and Radical Feminists?

Answer 20

1. All western views, these views can vary
2. Very narrow focus only western female view
3. Only perceptive of white western women

Question 21

What do personal life perspective argue that feminists do not look at?

Answer 21

Argue that all type of feminist suffer from 2 weakness.

1. Assume traditional nuclear families, dominant family
2. They are all structural theories, all families all passive puppets and by structure to carry out a specific function.

Question 22

What do internationalists argue about the Structural theories?

Answer 22

Ignore the fact that we have some choice and they argue that we have to understand the meaning families and its members.

Families have differing beliefs and they vary from the insinuations.

Question 23

How do the personal life perspective look at society?

Answer 23

1. This is not a top down structural viewpoint.

2. It is bottom up view point individuals shape their actions and relationships, via associated.

Question 24

What was the Personal Life Perspective view on the family?

Answer 24

1. Nordgvist and SMART (2014) noted that their are family links for surrogate parents and donor conceived children.
2. Arguing against Functionalists, traditional view of the family, need a wider view.
3. They noted the issue of social relationships over genetic ones such as in the area of donor conceived children.