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Summary AQA A Level Sociology Paper 2 Revision Notes on Theories of Families
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This document covers the different theories and their perspectives on the family. All content follows the AQA specification.
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FUNCTIONALIST THEORY ON THE FAMILYMURDOCK: a social group characterised by common residence, economic cooperation and
reproduction. Includes adults of both sexes, who maintain a socially approved sexual
relationship, and one or more children.
1. Sexual Function: A stable environment for sexual relationships.
Families teach how to express sexuality in a socially approved context i.e. teaches
heterosexuality is the norm and other relationships are abnormal e.g homosexuality, incest.
Best because: Stops spread of diseases and fights which could threaten society.
2. Reproductive Function: Produces and cares for children.
The family ensures reproduction and provides a stable environment to rear children.
Best because: Can reproduce and teach and model the gender norms.
3. Educational Function: Socialises children.
The family provides primary socialisation; they are taught society’s value consensus, norms
and collective conscience.
Best because: It provides a safe environment for children to learn, no other institution could
provide such attentive care as the mother is the natural caregiver.
4. Economic Function: Societies divide labour through gender, men hunt and build,
women cook and clean.
The family provides food and shelter and other material needs for the family.
Best because: The mother can do the housework and caregiving so the husband can focus on
work to support the family.
AO3 CRITICISMS OF MURDOCK
- Other institutions can perform the functions. Prostitutes/pornography can perform
the sexual function, nurseries can provide the education function. Murdock would
say they could, but it is easier in a family setting.
- Lone parent families can get work, state benefits allow people to leave unhappy
families and it may be better than a nuclear family. Many issues with Murdock’s
definition of the “universal” nuclear family.
- Murdock’s argument that all families have a common residence is not universal.
Nayar tribe live in matrifocal families, husband and wife do not share residence.
- We do not have an agreement on what is an “approved relationship” - same sex
families exist in society and their children are not any worse off. The idea that a
family must have adults of different sexes is dated and false, many children are
brought up to be healthy and happy by lone parents or same sex parents.
- Contains one or more children: Murdock is wrong, a family may not have children.
, PARSONS: pre-industrial society was characterised by rural life where family was a unit of
production: Farmed their own land together as a family.
- Structural Differentiation: Different structures have taken over many of the functions
the family used to have.
Extended families began to decline as industrialisation created the need for families to be
geographically and socially mobile.
Geographically Mobile Workforce
- Pre-industrial society: Extended families were the norm as people stayed in the same
place, working on the same farm.
- Modern society: Nuclear families became the norm as job opportunities became
available elsewhere. Easier to move away with immediate family.
Socially Mobile Workforce
- There is a need to be socially mobile and versatile between the family and the
workplace.
- To alleviate tension; a nuclear family is better equipped than a pre-industrial
extended family.
The modern nuclear family has evolved alongside industrial society and as a result has lost
some functions. Parson: Nuclear family specialises in…
- Primary socialisation of children: Teaches children the norms and values of society.
- Stabilisation of adult personalities: Adults can relax allowing them to return to
work.
AO3 CRITICISMS OF PARSONS
- Laslett’s study of parish records suggests 10% of pre-industrial households were
extended and the majority were nuclear. The average age of marriage was mid 20’s
and average life expectancy was late 40’s, so it would have been unusual to know
your grandparents.
- Nuclear families were still common in the industrialisation era – Willmott and Young
found extended families still live on the same streets in Bethnal Green.
- Feminists: Do not like the ideal family type functionalists present, the family serves
the needs of men and oppresses women. Nuclear family is best for men but worst
for women. Life was better for women BEFORE.
- Marxists: Agree family is not beneficial for all members, the family meets the needs
of capitalism, not the needs of family members and society as a whole.
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