All theories for families and households
✨Functionalism
The ideal family Structure is the traditional nuclear family, a two-generation family. Couples should
be heterosexual and married, as this provides stability for the children (less likely to break up).
Murdock argues that the nuclear family performs for essential functions that meets the needs of
society. Firstly, sexual reproduction, adults can satisfy their sexual needs in marriage. Secondly,
reproduction, families give birth to the next generation. Thirdly, socialisation teaching children the
norms and values. Fourthly, economic providing food and shelter. The new right would agree with
functionalists arguing that all other family types are not natural they are abnormal and not effective
for bringing up and socialising children for society. Unlike the traditional nuclear family which
consists of mother, father, and their dependent children.
According to Parsons, the primary socialisation of children is one of the essential functions of the
family. The family is the best place in which children learn about societies shared norms and values.
This is important for social order, as children understand and accept how to behave society will
continue to run smoothly. An example of a norm land in the family is queuing in the line. An example
of a value learnt in the family is being respectable to others. However, Parsons assume that all
childhoods are happy, ignoring issues such as child poverty, over 4 million children in the UK are in
poverty. During the covid pandemic many were furloughed and unemployed meaning they were
constantly worrying over finances causing domestic stress. They may have taken their anger out on
the children by hitting and screaming at them leading to abuse having an effect on the parent child
relationship.
Adults can relax and unwind in the family. Families help to keep the economy going by making sure
adult workers are happy and satisfied, so they work to the best of their ability. Parson calls this the
warm bath theory the family is like a bubble bath, a relaxing place for adults. Adult partners provide
emotional support and parenting enables adults to indulge in their childish side such as playing
games. Zaretsky argues that the idea of the family being a safe haven is an ideological illusion the
family is not a haven it relies on the domestic exploitation of women who perform Labour of love at
no cost to the ruling class. This benefits the ruling class as well workers returned to work refreshed
and to be exploited.
According to Parsons, the roles of men and women in families are necessary for the economy to run
efficiently. Roles are based on biological differences, therefore they are seen as normal. The man
performs the instrumental role, this involves being the breadwinner handling the family finances and
making the big decisions. Whilst the women perform their expressive role, this involves cooking the
food cleaning and caring for the children. Radical feminists would be critical of these gender roles
arguing that they are patriarchal. Women are subordinate to men. Men are the head of the
household and the dominant one and so men are reluctant to do housework because this is seen as
women's work, this reinforced gender stereotypes.
, ✨ Feminism
Liberal feminists take a march of progress view, arguing that women's position in the family is
improving for example, women are now in paid work they get to help make big decisions and family
finances. Reform is needed to create gender equality in the home because they acknowledge the
fact that not only women take care of children, they are giving both parents an oppurtunity to stay
at home and take care of children this is thanks to changing social attitudes they now realise that
men play a vital role in children's lives. However, Radical feminists argue that changing the law isn't
enough to end patriachy. Maternity and Paternity rights have failed to bring about gender equality
because women still spend extra time looking and caring after children than men despite the
paternity rights act. After maternity leave, they work part time or leave their job permanently to
take care of their children. Extended leave from work can have a negative effect on womens career
as their pay decreases because they missed out on a very important meeting.
Radical feminists argue that revolution is needed to establish gender equality, massive social change
is essential. Very critical of marriage, arguing it is a patriachal institution, giving men economic and
sexual power over women. For example, Dobash and Dobash argue that marriage legitimated
domestic violence against wives by giving husbands all the power and authority, making wives
economically dependent on their husbands. Every week in the UK 2 women are murdered by their
male partner or their ex-partner. The familial ideology of the "good wife" is toxic, justifying violence
against women. However, radical feminists have been criticised for neglecting men victims of
domestic violence. 1 in 6 are victims of domestic violence. Many male victims do not report crimes
to the police because they are embarrassed and afraid of stigmatisation, they believe no one is going
to belive in them.
Marxist feminists argue that women are doubly oppressed by capitalism and patriachy. Gender
equality will only be possible if capitalism is ended. Womens unpaid domestic labour keeps
capitalism going, women perform labour of love at no cost to the ruling class. For example, Benston
argues that women are the 'slaves of the wage slaves' women look after the working men by doing
all of the domestic chores, such as cooking, cleaning and looking after the kids. This keeps capitalism
going because the men do nothing when he comes home they can go to work the next day feeling
refreshed to be exploited. However, functionalists would disagree, as they argue that the womens
biological nature is the expressive nature arguing that it is her job to be in the house, additionally
they argue the house is a bubble bath; a place to go and relax.
Difference feminists argue that in order to bring about gender equality, we must acknowledge and
address the intersectionality of patriachy, considering the impact of all social factors on womens
experiences of family life including gender, social class, ethnicity and age (not just gender). Western
feminist, can be seen as culturally biased, as it tends to focus on the experience of middle class
women. For example, all single mums experience patraichy, but black mums face racism too.
Moreover, single mums from working class backgrounds, experience hardships such as material
deprivation, which can lead to domestic stress, while middle class mums have economic capital and
do not experience hardships. However, radical feminists would argue that patriachy is universal,
experienced by all women in all families regardless of their background for example not all women
