These thorough notes look at the Functionalist Perspective of the family as part of the Sociology AS level Family unit. They're detailed and examine many well-known functionalist such as Peter Murdock and his concept of the economic, sexual, reproductive and educational functions of the family in g...
The Functionalist Perspective of the Family!
The Functionalist Perspective!
George Peter Murdock!
Explains the family’s importance to society.
George Murdock argued on the basis of his studies of 250 societies in different cultures that the
nuclear family was a universal social institution and that it existed universally because it has
fulfilled four basic functions for society - sexual, reproductive, economic and educational
(social).
These functions make the family institution indispensable since no other institution exists that can
contribute to these functions to the same efficient level as the family.
Sexual Function –
The family provides stable sexual relationships for adults and controls the sexual
habits/relationships of its members.
For instance, the family has a ‘sexual’ function. The husband and wife have the right to sexual
access to each other and in most societies there are rules forbidding sexual acitivity outside of
marriage which provides sexual gratification for the spouses and strengthens the family since the
powerful and often binding emotions that accompany sexual activities helps unite husband and
wife. As well as that, the sexual function also serves to stabilize society. No society leaves people to
express their sexual behaviours as they want, but there are a whole set of written and unwritten
rules/norms that prohibit certain ways of sexual behaviour.
The relationship between husband and wife fulfils sexual desires and the rules that largely contain
sexual acitivity within the family such as rules forbidding sexual activity outside of marriage
prevent the disruptive effects on social order that would result if the sex drive were allowed
‘free play’. The family thus provides both ‘control and expression’ of sexual drives and in doing so
performs important functions, not only for its individual members but also for the family as an
institution and for society as a whole.
Economic Function –
The economic function is most readily and satisfactorily achieved by the family. The family boosts
the economy by pooling resources and providing for all of its members in terms of food and
shelter.
The economic cooperation within the family provides ‘rewarding experiences’ for the spouses
working together, which ‘cement their union’. As well as that, Murdock believes that the division
of labour within a nuclear family based on biological differences between a man and a
woman makes an efficient cooperating unit where the man specialises in certain activities and
the woman in others. For instance, in traditional societies, the men would go out and hunt to kill
animals which provides meat for their wives to cook ad skins for them to make into clothing.
Reproductive –
The reproductive function produces new generations of young people to replace the old
people which is very important because with the absence of biological reproduction, society would
cease to exist. For instance, the Shakers, a religious group that believed in the second appearance
of Jesus Christ, witnessed a strong decrease the numbers of its members because it rejected sexual
relations.
Educational –
Murdock’s use of the term ‘education’ may be equated to the socialization of children.
The family acts as the primary agent of socialization teaching children about the norms and
values of society, which keeps the values of society going.
Criticisms of Murdock!
This functionalist perspective has been criticized for idealising the family. As the sociologist
D.H.J. Morgan points out, Murdock’s nuclear family is a remarkably harmonious institution
with the husband and wife having an integrated division of labour and a good time in bed. However,
to Morgan, this largely ignores disharmony and conflict within the family. (P too).
In his enthusiasm for the family, Murdock fails to consider whether other social institutions could
provide its functions and does not examine alternatives to the family.
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